North Dakota
| Program | # of Grants | EDA Funds |
|---|---|---|
| Disaster Relief | 2 | $1,682,659 |
| Technical Assistance |
1 | $100,000 |
| Planning | 12 | $702,000 |
| Total | 15 | $2,484,659 |
EDA awarded 15 grants totaling $2.5 million in the State of North Dakota during fiscal year 2012. These projects supported disaster recovery, technical assistance, and strategic planning allowing communities across the state to develop bottom- up, regionally-owned economic development initiatives. EDA’s investments will create jobs and position North Dakota communities to maximize their economic assets and potential for long term economic growth. These investments are expected to create or retain 146 jobs according to grantee estimates.
Investment Spotlight: EDA Investment Helps to Preserve Flood-Prone Town
The city of Minnewaukan, situated on the western shore of Devil’s Lake in north-central North Dakota, is the economic and tourism hub of its region and for the neighboring Spirit Lake Nation. Over the last 18-years, the water levels in Devil’s Lake have continued to rise, inundating the town and threatening City water and sewer services to 300 residents and jeopardizing businesses in the downtown. By 2010, it was clear that a significant portion of the community needed to be relocated to a new town site on higher ground out of the flood-threatened areas.
In FY 2012, EDA provided a disaster relief award of $1.3 million to fund the construction of a new water line, distribution system, and access roads for displaced businesses and a school in Minnewaukan. This infrastructure will allow critical civic and business relocations to the new town site to proceed. With EDA assistance, the community’s very existence is preserved, allowing Minnewaukan to maintain its important role in the region.