MANDAN, N.D., Oct. 17, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden and North Dakota State Director Erin Oban joined the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) leadership and staff of their Rural Electric and Telecom Development Center to announce a grant awarded by USDA RD to the NDAREC.
“Cooperatives play a vital role in enhancing the quality of life in rural areas. October is National Cooperative Month, and at USDA Rural Development, we recognize the significance of these businesses in fostering economic growth, creating jobs, and building resilient communities,” said Gooden. “To support this crucial work, USDA Rural Development is pleased to award the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives with grant funds that will allow their team to continue delivering excellent technical assistance to rural North Dakota.”
The NDAREC was awarded a $200,000 grant, through the Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program. This funding will be used to provide technical assistance to cooperatives and mutually owned businesses to service rural areas in North Dakota.
“The leadership of the NDAREC and of their member co-ops across the state are focused on the success and future of the rural people and areas they serve,” said Oban. “They’ve become trusted partners and creative problem-solvers, creating lasting impacts for our rural communities, small businesses, and friends and neighbors. These investments from USDA Rural Development are investments that make immeasurable returns for North Dakota.”
In addition to the award announcement, Gooden provided remarks to a gathering of rural and Tribal community, cooperative, and economic development professionals attending the Rural Developers’ Assembly hosted by the NDAREC Rural Electric and Telecom Development Center in Mandan. Earlier in the day, Gooden and Oban also traveled to Fort Yates, N.D., where they announced investments from USDA Rural Development to expand and improve rural broadband infrastructure across the country through the ReConnect Program, including a grant of more than $22 Million to Standing Rock Telecommunications, Inc., to enhance high-speed internet services to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
Background: RCDG
The Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program, or RCDG, improves the economic condition of rural areas by helping individuals and businesses start, expand, or improve rural cooperatives and other mutually owned businesses through Cooperative Development Centers. For more information on RCDG, visit our website at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/rural-cooperative-development-grant-program/nd.
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 health care; 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.
To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery subscriber page.