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HGTV’s Home Town Coming to North Dakota

A group of community members who helped revitalize their hometown will headline the Rural Developers’ Assembly on Sept. 4, 2019. Josh Nowell, Mallorie Rasberry and Jim Rasberry are involved in HGTV’s Home Town, now filming its fourth season, but they got their start in downtown revitalization. They will share the comeback story of Laurel, Miss., and help attendees develop their own action plan to revitalize their communities. The event will be held at the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“North Dakota’s electric cooperatives want to do their part to ensure we have sought-after and livable communities. People look for communities that provide a high quality of life, which includes not only basic needs, but also amenities that are appealing to all generations,” says Josh Kramer, NDAREC executive vice president and general manager. “Successful communities have a spark that drives them – usually that spark is a group of people. Josh Nowell and Mallorie and Jim Rasberry will share their story about the power of people and how they came together to make their community what it is today. Hopefully, this can be replicated in communities across North Dakota.” 

Together, Nowell and the Rasberrys have collectively restored more than 60,000 square feet of commercial space and 40 historic homes and retained more than 25 downtown businesses. In addition, they operate three retail stores, a national furniture line and a bed and breakfast – all while running their individual small businesses and raising families. 

This presentation is part of the 2019 Rural Developers’ Assembly, which is coordinated by the Rural Electric and Telecommunications Development Center (RE&T Development Center). The purpose of the RE&T Development Center is to add new wealth to the economy by creating, retaining and expanding rural cooperatives and other primary sector business enterprises. It is hosted by NDAREC and supported by USDA Rural Development and North Dakota’s electric and telecommunication cooperatives. USDA Rural Development is a proud sponsor of this event. 

NDAREC is the statewide trade association for 16 electric distribution cooperatives and five generation and transmission cooperatives operating in North Dakota. The distribution cooperatives provide electricity to more than 250,000 North Dakotans. NDAREC services include legislative advocacy, line worker safety training and professional development services, cooperative business development, and communication services including publication of the North Dakota Living magazine.