bookmobilesideBismarck (CSi)  U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp’s and Senator John Hoeven’s Offices, along with Congressman Kevin Cramer  have announced a total of $577,700 in federal grants for projects in Sargent, Kidder, and Stutsman Counties to help improve water treatment, buy a new ambulance, and buy a new bookmobile.

James River Valley Library System in Stutsman County – $41,200. Federal funds will be used to help cover purchase price of  a new bookmobile to provide books to communities that cannot reach the downtown library.

Library Development Director, Bill Kennedy says, the bookmobile’s estimated price tag is $215,000 and it will take approximately 12 months to build the new bookmobile.

Heitkamp says, “Investing in small communities around North Dakota guarantees that they remain great places to live and work. These federal grants will provide Sargent, Kidder, and Stutsman Counties with the federal funding to go forward with important projects that help strengthen our state and keep us safe – like a treatment plants to keep water clean, a new ambulance to protect residents, and a new bookmobile to make library books accessible to more North Dakotans.”

Cramer added, “These loans and grants fund essential services which enhance quality of living while making communities more attractive to investments which lead to job creation,” said Cramer.

Hoeven said, “The period of growth we’re experiencing across North Dakota means that we have a greater demand for services in our rural communities.We’ve been working hard to support growth in the rural parts of our state, and these USDA funds will help communities work on important projects that will help ensure the continued health and safety of residents.”

 

Other federal grants/projects:

City of Forman in Sargent County – $461,000. Federal grant will be used for upgrades to the water treatment plant and new water meters.

 

Kidder County Ambulance Service, Inc. in Kidder County – $75,500. Federal funds will be used to purchase a new ambulance.

 

The federal funds come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.