North Dakota

The North Dakota Legislature recently passed a bill to provide a $125,000 appropriation for Individual Development Accounts to be administered through the Community Action Agencies in all 53 North Dakota counties.  IDA’s are long-term matched savings accounts for low to moderate income people to be used for a targeted asset goal.  In order to qualify, a participant must not be above 200% of the federal poverty level.  Currently there are 173,000 North Dakotans who are at or below this 200% rank.

Dr. Donna Beegle will be coming to North Dakota this fall after we had to reschedule her appearance due to flooding this spring.  On Wednesday, September 23, Dr. Beegle will speak at the Ramkota Hotel in Bismarck beginnint at 10:00 am.  Dr. Beegle will discuss “See Poverty, Be the Difference”.  She is the only member of her family that has not been incarcerated.  After growing up in generational migrant labor poverty, leaving school for marriage at 15, having two children and continuing to cope with poverty, she found herself at 25 with no husband, little education and no job skills.  What followed was a gain in self confidence, many diplomas and degrees and a changed life.

After we hear from Dr. Beegle, Horizons communities will have the opportunity to participate in a “partnership” day with multiple North Dakota agencies.  Staff members from USDA Rural Development, Department of Commerce, ND Housing & Finance, and many, many other agencies will be there to help support you and your community with projects you are working on through Horizons.  A more complete agenda will come soon but please mark this date on your calendars early.  It is a GREAT opportunity for all past and present Horizons communities and we do hope to see many of you there.

Horizons will cover the travel costs for 2 vehicles for each past and present Horizons town.  There will be no registration cost and the entire event will be from 10-4 PM on Sept. 23.  A registration form will be coming soon.

Discover how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Stimulus Plan) can assist you and your strategic plan for the development and growth of your community.  On Wednesday, May 27th at the Bismarck Ramkota Hotel, a workshop will be held from 10-2:30 for community members interested in learning more about how these stimulus dollars could help your community.  Various speakers will be there to share information on energy and community based programs under the Recovery Act.  Shane Goettle, the Commission of the Department of Commerce will be there for a noon luncheon discussion and an opportunity to connect with each other on programs and solutions will be in the afternoon.

Horizons will pay mileage for 2 vehicles for this event.  There is no cost for this event sponsored by the NDSU Extension Horizons program and ND Department of Commerce. Please contact Sandy Erickson though by May 22 to register so we can prepare for meals.  Sandy can be reached at 701-328-9718 or sandra.k.erickson@ndsu.edu

Our Horizons friends in Linton have suffered a devastating blow with two floods this spring seriously affecting that community.  While the water is receding, the clean-up has just begun and help is needed.  Their most immediate need is  for fans and dehumidifiers right now for homeowners and renters in the area.  If you have either of these items to donate, the Emmons County Unmet Needs Committee is the best place to donate to.  The contact - Kristen Vetter, Evacuee and Volunteer Coordinator, 701-254-4811, kristen.e.vetter@ndsu.edu.   She will assist with drop off instructions.

BEK Communications Cooperative implemented a donation drive of goods (appliances, furniture, etc).  Clothing and outdated food will no longer be accepted.  Storage space is limited and please contact Michelle Masset at Emmons County Social Services (701-254-4502) before dropping off a donated item.

Fundraising efforts have begun to help pay for the un-met needs for rebuilding and not covered by FEMA or insurance.  Donations are encouraged and can be sent to: Emmons County Flood Relief, BNC National Bank - Linton Branch, P.O. Box 910, Linton, ND 58552. Checks should be payable to Emmons County Flood Relief.

Our thoughts are with people in all flooded areas of the state of North Dakota.  This has certainly been a challenging, frustrating spring for many.

NDSU has many great flood resources you may find useful.  Information on livestock, stress, food safety, family management issues and more can be found at this site: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/disaster/flood.html

All of our communities are working hard on finishing up Leadership Plenty and moving into visioning and committee work.  Please make sure you take a look out there at some of the things going on.  It was fun to read the “news” about McClusky’s newsletter, I laughed when I saw that  Lakota is looking for “blockheads”, and a big ”hats off” to Rolla for a colorful event. Check out their sites and all Horizons community blog sites.  There is so much going on!  

Are you wondering what people in your community are thinking?  Add an opinion poll to your blog.  Thanks to Cheryl Jacobs again in SD for this great file on how to quickly add a poll.  Good luck.

Adding an Opinion Poll

Cheryl Jacobs from the South Dakota Horizons program had some great suggestions to encourage communities to keep blogging!  Thank you Cheryl for these great ideas.  We want North Dakota communities to keep blogging - it is a required part of the Horizons program.  Your blog entries have been informative, inspiring and just plain old great!  Keep it up and consider some of these ideas to keep blogging:

• Hold a blog night in your community. Some of our communities invited people to a workshop at the local school computer lab to learn to blog, make it a fun night and get people interested in Horizons.
• Offer some incentives or have a contest
• Get creative, take photos or video about a “feel good” story in your community. How is Horizons making a difference in your community.

Keep plugging away!  It has been great to read your comments and blog entries and many people are looking at what is happening in your community throughout this process.

Check out the newsletter attached from the ND Department of Agriculture.  There is great information on project and new opportunities across the state.  There is a lot of information on local foods, farmer’s markets and community gardens so I would encourage you to take a look.

ND Department of Ag Newsletter

Our thoughts go out to friends and family all over the states of North Dakota and Minnesota that have been affected by flooding and rough weather.  The stories have been amazing and I am so impressed by the wonderful people and hard work they have put into fighting this flood.  I discovered a great blog from a former Fargo resident about the 3.5 million bags filled by volunteers for Fargo.  Check this link out for a rather interesting take on this amazing feat.  Be patient - there are quite a few graphics and it may take a bit to load.

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