ST. PAUL, Minn. — Farm Credit organizations serving western North Dakota have awarded 18 grants totaling $392,926 through the Rural Community Grant Fund to support programs that enhance quality of life in local communities.

Area grants are: $50,000 to Powers Lake School for a classroom expansion; $38,797 to Burlington Rural Fire Department for a firetruck acquisition; $25,000 to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Crosby for technology cabling upgrade; $25,000 to Mountrail Bethel Home Inc. for patient beds; $10,650 to Burke County for automated external defibrillators; $10,000 to Military Affairs Committee Williston Basin for a veteran memorial monument; $10,000 to Bowbells Senior Citizens for a community center roofing upgrade; and $9,000 to Pick City Fire Department for wildland gear upgrade.

The Rural Community Grant Fund is a partnership between AgCountry Farm Credit Services and Farm Credit Services of Mandan, the two largest agricultural lenders in western North Dakota, along with AgriBank, a St. Paul-based funding bank. The fund supports communities impacted by mineral development.