Rural Community Grant Fund | Video

Chris Williams | 7/10/2012

Financial help may be coming soon to rural oil towns in western North Dakota. AgriBank has teamed up with Farm Credit Services to start a unique grant fund specifically designed to help communities affected by oil development.

The grant is for $50,000 and can be used in a number of ways. Tioga Public Schools Superintendent Dwayne Johnston is applying for the grant. He hopes to use the money to provide a better environment for students, and teachers.

"What we’re really trying to do is create temporary classrooms for the influx of students, as well as affordable housing for the teachers we need for those students."

The school has already bought some trailers for new teachers, but they still need a couple more. Johnston hopes the grant money will help residents as well.

"What we’re hoping to do is to minimize the impact on the local tax payers as much as we can."

The purpose of the grant isn`t only for education. It`s for any entity affected by oil development.

"Were looking at a variety of potential items: housing facilitates, emergency equipment, could be educational. Again, we have not restricted the application process,” said AgriBank CEO Bill York.

Applications will be evaluated on a quarterly basis, and there is no end in sight for the grant.

"We will evaluate it on an annual basis, but it is our intent to continue to fund the program for the extended future," York said.

Johnston is hopeful that he will receive money from this grant.

"Any funds that we might possibly receive from AgriBank would be very appreciated. Again, both of these projects are going through one way or another."

COMMENT ON THIS STORY