The U.S. Department of Commerce has awarded three grants totaling $682,500 for North Dakota economic development.

Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., announced the awards on Tuesday.

The grants for $227,500 each are as follows:

— To Souris Basin Planning Council to support Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville and Ward counties.

— To Lewis and Clark Regional Development Council to support Burleigh, Emmons, Grant, Kidder, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sheridan and Sioux counties.

— To North Central Planning Council to support Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Ramsey, Rolette and Towner, including the Spirit Lake Nation and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa reservations.

The funds will be used to establish an economic development planning framework, process and strategy to support private capital investment and job creation in the regions.