Submitted Photo The Dunseith Fire Department will use a $41,056 grant to purchase and install solar panels to reduce its utility expenses.

BISMARCK – The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and City of Turtle Lake are among North Dakota entities sharing in $12 million in grant and loan investments announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development North Dakota to improve infrastructure and support nonprofits and small businesses.

Turtle Mountain Chippewa will use a $41,056 grant through the Community Facilities Program to purchase and install solar panels for the Dunseith Fire Department. Utilities are a major part of the fire department’s expenses, and this project should help lessen that expense and make the fire department sustainable for years to come.

The Turtle Mountain Public Utilities Commission will use $9.39 million across three grants through the Water and Environmental Program to replace and repair the existing Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa water distribution systems. Improvements include repairs to the booster station, which is unable to provide enough pressure to the system. Additional improvements include replacement of nonworking water meters, well field improvements to existing wells and water treatment plant electrical improvements. The completion of the projects will bring this area of the system up to current standards and increase the quality of service to customers.

The Turtle Mountain Recovery Center will use a $24,900 grant through the Community Facilities Program to purchase a transportation vehicle for the center. The TMRC needs the transportation vehicle to transport their patients to and from the new Recovery Center.

The Turtle Mountain Animal Recovery Center will use a $42,000 grant through the Community Facilities Program to purchase a utility task vehicle, computer, scissor lift and generator for the use of the Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue, which provides services to the 20,127 residents of Rolette County and the Turtle Mountain Reservation.

The computer will replace an aging computer and work more efficiently with existing software and outside systems. The 80-kilowatt generator will provide backup power to the new building during power outages. The scissor lift will be used to reach high areas in the new shelter where large items are stored and to repair and maintain equipment in the higher shelter areas. The utility vehicle will be used to safely access small and often remote areas for rescues and moving equipment and supplies.

The shelter typically rescues 70-100 animals per month from the area.

The City of Turtle Lake will use a nearly $1.62 million grant through the Water and Environmental Program to repair and replace sanitary sewer lines throughout the city. Original service lines were installed in the 1930s and are well past their useful life. Turtle Lake suffered damages to the system that were directly attributed to the winter storm and flooding events in the spring of 2022. This project will address the aging infrastructure while adding resiliency by providing protection against future storm and flooding events.

The North Central Planning Council will use a $500,000 loan through the Intermediary Relending Program to create a revolving loan fund to promote small businesses, create or retain jobs and provide economic and social development opportunities for rural areas in North Dakota. The regional council serves the counties of Benson, Cavalier, Eddy, Ramsey, Rolette and Towner.

The Roosevelt-Custer Regional Council will use a $120,000 grant to conduct a feasibility study on the tourist destination business “Enchanted Theme Park,” located in Regent. The study will set a foundation to assist with the creation of a successful business plan