North Dakota Rural Electric Cooperatives Foundation

ND REC FOUNDATION'S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUSTAIN QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RURAL PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES AT NO CHARGE TO THE INDIVIDUALS OR BUSINESSES. THE FOUNDATION WORKS TO RECEIVE GRANTS MOST RECENTLY FOCUSING ON THE LINE WORKER TRAINING FACILITY AS WELL AS FOOD ACCESS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES.ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS OF THE FOUNDATION SINCE ITS INCEPTION IS TO COLLECT CONTRIBUTIONS TO BE USED TO BUILD A NEW LINE WORKER TRAINING FACILITY THAT WILL BE USED JOINTLY BY NDAREC AND BSC. PRIMARILY THE BUILDING WILL BE LEASED BY BSC TO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO STUDENTS INTERESTED IN BECOMING LINE WORKERS. EDUCATION AND TRAINING COURSES WILL ALSO BE HELD BY NDAREC IN THE FACILITY FOR CURRENT LINE WORKERS TO TEACH NEW SKILLS, PROVIDING SAFETY TRAINING, AND OTHER RELEVANT EDUCATION AND TRAINING NEEDS.DURING 2023 ND REC FOUNDATION RECEIVED A 5-YEAR GRANT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PAYING FOR EMPLOYEES' TIME TO PROVIDE DIRECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SMALL-AND-MID-SIZED FOOD AND FARM BUSINESSES BY PARTNERING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION TO DEVELOP A STATEWIDE ACTION PLAN THAT WILL BE AGGREGATED WITH OTHER REGIONAL STATE PLANS TO FIND COMMON GOALS AND OBJECTIVES TO HELP WITH LOCAL AND STATEWIDE OBJECTIVES.ND REC FOUNDATION ALSO CONTINUES TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE RURAL ACCESS DISTRIBUTION COOPERATIVE IN NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AS THEY CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THE OPERATING OF THEIR COOPERATIVE FOCUSED AROUND LOWERING TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND INCREASING PURCHASES TO RECEIVE MORE FAVORABLE PRICING FOR RURAL GROCERS WITHIN THE COOPERATIVE AND ALSO PROVIDING ACCESS TO GROCERY ITEMS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES WITHOUT A GROCERY STORE.IN 2023, ND REC FOUNDATION WAS AWARDED TWO OTHER GRANTS:1. A LOCAL FOODS PROMOTION PROGRAM 3-YEAR GRANT FROM USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT TO ASSIST WITH PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AROUND FOOD WAREHOUSING IN A REGION WITHIN NORTH DAKOTA AND HOW THIS MIGHT HELP TO REDUCE COSTS, INCREASE LOCAL PRODUCERS MARKETING REACH, AND PROVIDE RURAL COMMUNITIES MORE ACCESS TO FRESH, LOCAL FOODS.2. A GRANT FROM A PRIVATE ENTITY TO ASSIST WITH THE WAREHOUSING FEASIBILITY STUDY.