USDA To Extend REAP Zones

Press Release

USDA To Extend REAP Zones

Gov. John Hoeven today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will continue for two more years the designation of North Dakota's two Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP) Zones, the Southwest Zone and the Center of North America Coalition for Rural Development Zone (CONAC) in north central North Dakota.

Two years ago, the agency had planned to discontinue the designation for the zones which would have affected access to USDA Rural Development programs. At the urging of Hoeven and the state's congressional delegation, USDA officials agreed to authorize the continuation of the designation through 2007. Hoeven received word today from Undersecretary for Rural Development Thomas Dorr regarding the extension of the designation through September 30, 2009.

"The REAP Zones are working in our rural communities by bringing USDA Rural Development programs to targeted areas," Hoeven said. "They are helping to create employment opportunities and restore commercial connection with markets, suppliers and centers of information and finance."

The two programs began as pilot ventures in 1995 in southwest and north central North Dakota to meet the objectives of stabilizing population and helping to restore economic vitality to the areas.

In addition to federal funding, North Dakota has contributed up to $75,000 in state dollars in each of the last three bienniums to the designated zones.

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