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BUILDING NORTH DAKOTA

USDA Rural Development


Dear friends of Rural Development,
 
While its a couple months from the end of the calendar year, we've wrapped up our fiscal year here at Rural Development. We had another very impactful year with $300 million flowing from our 40 programs into North Dakota's rural communities via loans, grants and loan guarantees. As I remind people whenever I speak of our efforts, it's about so much more than numbers and dollars--it's about making a real difference in the lives of people. It's building the health care centers that allow us to take better care of each other, it's financing homes where families can feel safe and secure, it's investments in businesses, broadband, water systems and electrical infrastructure that give rural America a quality of life as good as anywhere in the country. We were proud to announce some major investments with cooperative business partners in October, National Cooperatives Month. I wrote a bit on my commitment to co-ops in this op ed, Count Your Cooperatives, that ran in a number of North Dakota newspapers. 
 
Here's to another year of progress and people!

Ryan



IN THIS ISSUE....






CALENDAR....
 

Nov. 4: Ideas to Action Summit, Grafton.
 
Nov. 8-9: Women's Business Summit, Bismarck.

Nov. 10: Hearth Act Presentation, Bismarck.
HearthHearth Act Presentation

Join us for a special presentation on the HEARTH Act of 2012 to be given by Cynthia Morales, with the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs. The HEARTH Act (Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership) of 2012 restores the authority of federally recognized tribes to develop and implement their own laws governing the long-term leasing of Indian lands for residential, business, renewable energy, and other purposes. Upon one-time approval of their regulations by the Department of the Interior, tribes then have the authority to process land leases without BIA approval, thereby greatly expediting leasing approval for homes and small businesses in Indian Country. If you have questions please contact our office at 701.530.2037. Event details are below.

Russell Reid Auditorium
HERITAGE CENTER
614 Boulevard Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58502
November 10, 2015
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 
 
SpiritLakeMallSpirit Lake mini-mall to be updated


In Fort Totten, Senator Heitkamp and USDA announced that the Spirit Lake Tribe will receive nearly a $1 million grant for the renovation of a mini-mall. The 12,750-square-foot building currently houses Paul's Grocery and Luis Caf�. After renovations, the building will also include space for small business entrepreneurs. Read more in the Devils Lake Journal article. 


 

HazenHospitalGround broken for new hospital in Hazen


Sakakawea Medical Center in partnership with USDA Rural Development broke ground on a new medical campus in Hazen. The project will construct a 54,000-square-foot building that will combine the hospital, clinic and long-term care facility in to one central location. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. Read the news release.

   
 

ProjectsUSDA funding benefits several businesses 

Rural Business Development Grantmore than $638,000 in business grants was awarded to 12 North Dakota recipients. The grants will help support the start-up or expansion of rural small businesses. Read more. 

Rural Cooperative Development Grant: two recipients each received a $200,000 grant to help rural cooperatives and small businesses expand, create jobs and strengthen their capacity to serve residents and communities. Read more.   

Electric Loan Program: two electric cooperatives received $57 million for infrastructure improvements. The financing will help electrical providers increase capacity and modernize operations to meet North Dakota's demand for services. Read more. 
 
 
EnergyProgramHow can the Rural Energy for America Program work for you?

Application Deadlines
: REAP grants $20,000 or less the deadline is October 31, 2015 and April 30, 2016. Unrestricted grants deadline is also April 30, 2016.


E
xamples of how the program was used in 2015:  

  • Refrigeration replacement in grocery stores allowing for significant energy savings. (ex. Millers Foods in Edgely, ND)
  • Heating and Air Conditioning replacement for rural small businesses. (ex. Jim's Super Valu in Grafton, ND)
  • Lighting replacement was utilized in a grocery store and a manufacturing company. (ex. Agri-Cover Manufacturing in Jamestown, ND)
  • Geothermal heating and cooling systems were installed in farm shops as a form of renewable energy systems application to replace traditional fossil fuel energy.
  • Grain Dryer replacement on the farm to reduce energy consumption.
  • Solar Array installation at a rural business used to offset energy costs. (Northern Plains Electric Cooperative)
  • Other examples of energy efficiency improvements include:
    • Thermostatic controls for heating and cooling
    • Insulation in existing buildings to reduce energy usage
    • Airtight window, doors and duct work to reduce energy consumption
    • Small wind turbine to help reduce energy costs 
    • Anaerobic digester used to break down animal waste materials into biogas that can be used to fuel vehicles or generate electricity
    • Renewable biomass conversion to heat and biofuel.
    • Irrigation pump replacement for energy savings.
How to start an application: first visit the energy program webpage to learn more and find application toolkits. Then, call the state energy coordinator at (701) 530-2037 for further assistance and to help guide you through the process.   

Things to know after receiving a grantThere are reporting requirements following a successful grant award, including a site visit and inspection of the finished project by USDA personnel. In addition, after complete installation, USDA reports its findings to Congress each year on the energy saved or replaced through the REAP program. A simple one-page report detailing energy generated or saved is required of each grantee or borrower and submitted to the state office each year for three years for renewable energy projects and two years for energy efficiency projects. Sometimes performance exceeds expectations and sometimes it falls short, but the data helps the agency and future applicants identify the most promising technologies and practices.
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