Non-profits discuss the impact grants have made in area communities
MINOT, N.D., May 22, 2019 – With its latest contributions, Farm Credit has awarded more than 250 grants totaling more than $4 million in western North Dakota communities since 2012. Today in Minot, the leaders of three Farm Credit organizations, and several of the non-profits they support, met to discuss the impact the grants have made.
The Rural Community Grant Fund was established as a partnership between Farm Credit Services of Mandan and Farm Credit Services of North Dakota—the two largest providers of agricultural loans in western North Dakota—and AgriBank, their St. Paul, Minn.-based funding bank, to help communities impacted by oil development. Through the fund, Farm Credit provides grants to support infrastructure or development initiatives encompassing housing projects, medical facilities, health, safety and environmental programs, and other critical needs.
“Our goal with these grants is the same as the purpose of our loans—to help rural people grow and thrive,” said Jeff Swanhorst, CEO of AgriBank. “Farm Credit is also helping invest in the vibrancy of communities throughout rural America.”
“Farm Credit has 16 offices with over 200 employees in western North Dakota focused on that mission every day,” said Aaron Vetter, CEO of Farm Credit Services of Mandan. “Our employees live and work in the communities where these grants are made, and that gives us a special sense of pride in the work we do.”
“We want to celebrate our recipients and thank them for their service to our communities,” said Claude Sem, CEO of Farm Credit Services of North Dakota.
“The grants received from the Rural Community Grant Fund have improved the care and safety of our patients. It has made a direct impact on our patients now and [in] the years to come,” said Al Evon, foundation director, Trinity Health Foundation – Minot.
“The Rural Community Grant Fund provided new structure helmets for the Beulah Rural Fire Department, which replaced outdated helmets and improved firefighter safety,” said Bryce Brady, volunteer firefighter, Beulah Rural Fire Department.
Sem encouraged worthy organizations to apply for funds. “The Rural Community Grant Fund reviews grant applications three times a year,” he said. “We invite worthy organizations to apply online at www.AgriBank.com, www.farmcreditnd.com or www.farmcreditmandan.com.”
Clara Sue Price, a board member of Farm Credit Services of North Dakota, talked about the good work the fund has done to support local rural communities. “For us these grants are personal—Farm Credit doesn’t just provide loans in western North Dakota, these are the communities we call home—where our friends and family are.”
Fred Stern, a board member of Farm Credit Services of Mandan, described how the needs of the communities have evolved since the program began in 2012. “We have funded programs from emergency services to medical facilities to housing projects, all of which meet critical needs in western North Dakota.”
ABOUT AGRIBANK
AgriBank is part of the customer-owned, nationwide Farm Credit System. Under Farm Credit’s cooperative structure, AgriBank is primarily owned by 14 local Farm Credit Associations, which provide financial products and services to rural communities and agriculture. AgriBank obtains funds and provides funding and financial solutions to those Associations. The AgriBank District covers a 15-state area stretching from Wyoming to Ohio and Minnesota to Arkansas. For more information, please visit 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, 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 branch offices located in Minot, Bottineau, Carrington, Crosby, Rugby, and Williston, including Bowbells Crop Insurance (Bowbells), and Ward County Crop Insurance (Minot). For more information, visit 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, recordkeeping and payroll services, crop, forage and livestock insurance, life and disability insurance, 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 full-time offices in Beulah, Bowman, Carson, Dickinson, Mandan, Mott, Washburn, and Wishek. For more information, visit www.farmcreditmandan.com.