Two area grocery stores are among recipients of more than $4 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development to North Dakota agriculture producers and rural small businesses to make investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements that will lower their energy costs, generate new income and strengthen the resilience of their operations.

NDGS Inc., which operates a grocery store in Watford City, was awarded $130,861 to install a more energy-efficient refrigeration equipment. The project will save the business $12,761 and replace 207,474 kilowatt hours or 79% per year, which is enough electricity to power 19 homes.

Harvey Warehouse Grocery Inc., a family-owned grocery in Harvey, was awarded $103,987 to install energy-efficient refrigeration equipment. The project annually will save $10,643 and replace 234,725 kwh or 41%, enough energy to power 21 homes.

Rural Development also awarded farm grants of $49,724 for a solar array system in Mountrail County that will save $3,291 a year; $39,701 for a grain-drying system in Sheridan County that will save $749 a year; $183,346 for a grain-drying system in Ward County that will save $7,553 a year; and $304,844 for a grain-drying system in Wells County that will save $12,838 annually.

“The grant awards announced today by USDA Rural Development are not just historic in the number of projects supported or the energy efficiencies that will be realized, but they’re also historic in the level of investments made and the dollars saved by our state’s rural small business owners and ag producers,” said Erin Oban, state director for Rural Development.

USDA continues to accept applications and will hold funding competitions quarterly through Sept. 30, 2024. For additional information on application deadlines and submission details, see page 19239 of the March 31 Federal Register.