White Earth Investment Initiative Receives

White Earth Investment Initiative Receives $750,000 Loan From USDA Rural Development

OGEMA, Minn. May 12 – A number of businesses on the White Earth Indian Reservation will be getting a boost thanks to Rural Development in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the White Earth Investment Initiative (WEII), a non-profit community development corporation.

USDA Rural Development State Director Steve Wenzel presented WEII officials with a $750,000 check at a 1 p.m. ceremony today at the Community Development Bank in Ogema. The funds come in the form of a low-interest loan to WEII, and will be used to establish a revolving loan fund to assist business located on the White Earth Indian Reservation. The funds will also be used to assist tribal members and descendants with business loans in Mahnomen, Becker and Clearwater counties.

“President Bush and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns have strongly emphasized the importance of economic development and job creation in rural areas,” Wenzel said. “These USDA Rural Development funds will help the WEII further develop businesses on the reservation, and within the White Earth Tribe.”

USDA Rural Development has been active in and around the White Earth community throughout the past year. USDA Rural Development funded projects include $614,000 for a fire hall in the White Earth Village and $991,000 to the city of Ogema for a municipal water system.

USDA Rural Development provides funding to rural communities for housing, clean water, economic development, job creation, renewable and wind energy, hospitals, clinics, high-speed Internet and other infrastructure projects.

For more information, call the local office in Detroit Lakes at (218) 847-5694, or visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/mn.

Several businesses located on the White Earth Indian Reservation will be receiving a boost thanks to USDA Rural Development.

Rural Development officials, White Earth officials, and representatives from the office of Congressman Collin Peterson stopped for a picture with the check.