BISMARCK, N.D., Dec. 17, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director Erin Oban today announced that USDA is investing over $1 million in Tribal college campuses and facilities across North Dakota.
“The North Dakota Tribal College System just celebrated 30 years of service and the positive impacts they have made by providing education to and expanding opportunities for their students, families, communities, and Tribal Nations,” said Oban. “USDA Rural Development has been a committed partner to the members of the ND Tribal College System to ensure their missions and impacts continue for decades to come.”
In FY2024, USDA invested more than $8 million in Tribal colleges located in 12 states through the Tribal College Initiative Grant. Included in that investment are grant funds of $278,216 to each of the following Tribal colleges located within North Dakota:
- Cankdeska Cikana Community College in Fort Totten, N.D., will use funds to improve campus facilities, with updates to include replacing flooring in seven areas, replacing heating, air conditioning, and ventilation controls, and installing a roof over the Head Start entrance.
- Sitting Bull College in Fort Yates, N.D., will use funds to make updates to include adding an additional concrete pad / seating / pergola for an outdoor classroom for educational purposes and for use by the Standing Rock Tribe communities for special instructional events.
- Turtle Mountain College in Belcourt, N.D., will use funds to replace the skylight in the center of the main campus building, extending the opportunity to use the facility for special instructional events beyond the student body to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indian Tribe.
- United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, N.D., will use funds to finance street improvements on their campus grounds. The project will consist of the realignment of All Nations Circle and Sisseton Street east intersection to improve safety and allow for future improvements. In addition, a parking lot capable of adding 43 stalls will be a portion of the project. Improvements will benefit UTTC students and faculty/staff as well as visitors and guests.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and healthcare; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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