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The Rural Development Finance Corporation is a North Dakota nonprofit finance and development corporation whose member-owners are all the North Dakota Rural Electric Cooperatives, nine of the North Dakota Rural Telecommunication Cooperatives and the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives. Funding for these programs comes from fee income generated by Dakotas America LLC, a certified development entity providing New Market Tax Credits in the Dakotas. More information on Dakotas America can be found at www.dakotasamerica.com.
RDFC provides low interest loans to businesses and political subdivisions in communities of 10,000 or less people and to cooperatives who have a major economic benefit for rural people. RDFC considers authorization of a grant program on an annual basis to be used to support community owned entities, non-profits and community-based projects.

RDFC Biennial Reports

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RDFC Board of Directors

Meet the Board

Loan & Grant Information

2024 Grant Guidelines

Download Forms

Vision

Rural communities enjoy a vibrant and fulfilling
quality of life through RDFC initiatives.

Mission

RDFC encourages economic diversification and
community vitality through the generation of
funding that supports sustainable asset building.

Values

  • RDFC considers proposals to help build assets in rural communities and cooperatives

  • RDFC values allowing communities to define their needs and methods for building assets

  • RDFC employs maximum flexibility in our work and funding

  • RDFC values leveraging of resources

  • RDFC manages fiscally sound programs

USDA Meat & Poultry Intermediary Lending Program

In 2023, RDFC applied for a federal grant through the United States Department of Agriculture – the Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILP) – and received a $10 million grant. These grant funds have been placed in a separate bank account within RDFC to start a separate revolving loan fund. MPILP funds will be loaned at a low interest rate to meat and poultry businesses looking to start up, expand or operate a processing facility. Once these funds have revolved, the funds can then be loaned to projects within the food chain system.

 

 

       RDFC Members

North Dakota's Telecommunications Cooperatives:

BEK  
Consolidated Telcom
Dakota Central
Dickey Rural
Northwest
Polar
Red River Communications
Reservation Telephone
SRT
United
WRT
Broadband Association of ND (BAND)

North Dakota's Electric Cooperatives:

Burke-Divide
Capital
Cass County
Cavalier Rural
Dakota Valley
KEM
McKenzie
McLean
Mor-Gran-Sou
Mountrail-Williams
Nodak
North Central
Northern Plains
Roughrider
Slope
Verendrye
Lower Yellowstone
North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC)

Communities build, grow with development financing

For the growth challenges now facing North Dakota communities, the Rural Development Finance Corporation (RDFC) is playing a valuable role for co-ops.

  • Valley City-Barnes County Development Corporation – Pace-Flex Pace numerous interest buy down loans for various businesses in Valley City including the purchase of businesses and inventory, building improvements, and multi-family and affordable housing projects.
  • Strasburg Grocery – Participation Loan up to $12,500 at 2 percent interest with 1 percent origination fee, with Strasburg EDC, for the startup of a grocery store operated by the owner of the Blue Room bar and grill.
  • Giants Snacks – Participation Loan up to $335,000 at 2 percent interest with 1 percent origination fee for the purchase of equipment for business expansion purposes.
  • Lidgerwood Progressive Development Corp. – CCL up to $400,000 at 2 percent interest with 1 percent origination fee for 10 years. Funds will be used for construction costs and equipment purchases related to a new retail grocery store.
  • City of Glen Ullin – CCL up to $44,000 at 2 percent interest with 1 percent origination fee for 10 years. Funds will be used to chip seal 8 existing blocks of pavement and 16 new blocks of new pavement.

RDFC values the Seven Cooperative Principals and Six Cooperative Values

6 Cooperative Values 7 Cooperative Principles
  1. Equity
  2. Self-help
  3. Self-responsibility
  4. Solidarity
  5. Equality
  6. Democracy
  1. Voluntary and open membership
  2. Democratic member control
  3. Members’ economic participation
  4. Autonomy and independence
  5. Education, training and information
  6. Cooperation among cooperatives
  7. Concern for community

 

For questions or inquiries regarding RDFC contact:
Brenna Ohman, Executive Director

For overall rural development questions contact:
Ellen Huber, Rural Development Director
Mary Helvig, Rural Development Specialist
Brian Gion, Cooperative Development Specialist
Chris Gessele, Cooperative Development Specialist

 

Owned by North Dakota’s rural and electric cooperatives and the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives