Today three Farm Credit organizations announced more than a quarter of a million dollars in grants for projects that support Western North Dakota communities.
St. Paul based AgriBank joined Farm Credit Services of Mandan and Farm Credit Services of North Dakota in announcing the first ever awards made under the Rural Community Grant Fund. The organizations started the fund to support infrastructure and development projects that benefit communities in Western North Dakota. Eleven grants totaling $266,984 were awarded to worthy community projects, focused on supporting those cities and towns that have been impacted by oil and mineral exploration and production.
“Farm Credit’s mission is to meet the needs of rural America,” said Bill York, CEO of AgriBank. “We are proud to work with the North Dakota associations to support these critical efforts in local communities in a way that carries out that mission.”
“It was great to see the large number of requests for our first funding review. I feel good about how these 11 projects met the grant fund objectives,” said Mike O’Keeffe, CEO of Farm Credit Services of Mandan. “Our first review was a rewarding experience for our association. I look forward to distributing the funds and assessing our next set of grant requests.”
“We are pleased to provide these grant funds to communities in western North Dakota that have been significantly impacted by oil exploration. AgriBank and Farm Credit Services pride themselves on being part of the rural community,” said Claude Sem, CEO of Farm Credit Services of North Dakota.
Awarded recipients include the following:
· St. Andrew’s Health Center: $25,000 to install an automated security system for the health center in Bottineau, ND.
· Southwest Healthcare Services: $25,000 towards the purchase of two new stretchers for the emergency department in Bowman, ND.
· Halliday Rural Fire Protection District: $7,050 to replace and upgrade fire equipment including a new foam system, water pumps and motor.
· Halliday Public School District: $28,150 to install a safety fence at the elementary school.
· Killdeer Area Ambulance District: $30,000 to build an ambulance garage and training center.
· NDSD Medical Transport: $26,784 to purchase a new monitor and defibrillator in Linton, ND.
· Parshall Telepharmacy: $20,000 to build a telepharmacy to serve Parshall area residents.
· Ray Fire Protection District: $30,000 to upgrade current response equipment with the purchase of a new first response vehicle.
· Sakakawea Medical Center: $20,000 to improve the medical facility in Hazen, ND.
· South Heart Fire District: $30,000 to build a fire truck storage facility closer to the South Heart community.
· Tioga Public School District: $25,000 to provide temporary housing for teachers as the community’s student population continues to grow.
About AgriBank
AgriBank is one of the largest banks within the national Farm Credit System, with over $78 billion in total assets. As agriculture’s borrower owned financial leader, AgriBank complements the market facing focus of affiliated Associations to serve rural America in a District that stretches from Ohio to Wyoming and from Minnesota to Arkansas, representing nearly 40% of farmland and over 54% of cropland in the United States. The affiliated Associations and AgriBank are collaborating in successfully shaping the future of agriculture. For more information visit http://www.agribank.com.
About Farm Credit Services of North Dakota
Farm Credit Services of North Dakota is a member owned agricultural credit association providing loans to farmers and ranchers for real estate, machinery, and livestock and operating needs. FCS of ND also offers life and disability and crop insurances to the rural community. FCS of ND serves 17 counties in northwest North Dakota through eight branch offices located in Minot, Bottineau, Carrington, Rugby, and Williston, including Bowbells Crop Insurance (Bowbells), Schaan Crop Insurance (Rugby) and Ward County Crop Insurance (Minot). For more information visit http://www.farmcreditnd.com.
About Farm Credit Services of Mandan
In addition to operating and real estate loans, Farm Credit Services of Mandan offers agribusiness financing, livestock and equipment loans, leasing services, tax, accounting and payroll services, crop, forage and livestock insurance, life and disability insurance, stock financing for energy, feed, or food processing, and a cash patronage program. Farm Credit Services of Mandan is a member owned agricultural financing cooperative that serves a twenty county area in southwest North Dakota, with fulltime offices in Beulah, Bowman, Carson, Dickinson, Mandan, Mott, Washburn, and Wishek. For more information visit http://www.farmcreditmandan.com.
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