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Community Development & Rural Prosperity News
July 2025
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 2025 Rural Grocery Store Sustainability Grants Now Open
Rural grocery stores in North Dakota are essential to both local economies and community life. But many small-town grocers face real challenges:
🍞 Rising food costs
đźš› Limited distribution options
🧑‍🍳 Staffing shortages
đź›’ Competition from big-box stores
The Rural Grocery Store Sustainability Grant Program helps communities tackle these challenges head-on. Whether it’s exploring innovative business models or creating partnerships between grocers, this grant empowers local solutions with long-term impact.
Applications are NOW OPEN for the 2025 grant round!
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We are excited to launch a Virtual Rural Grocery Store Cohort for all 2025 grant applicants. This peer learning group will provide an opportunity to connect, share project updates, hear from guest speakers, and access new resources together.
Cohort Details:
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Launch: After award announcements in late September 2025
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Meetings: Bi-monthly via Microsoft Teams
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Participation: Camera optional; audio/mic required
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Commitment: Regular attendance encouraged
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Duration: Through mid-2027
Our goal is to build a strong statewide network of rural grocery innovators, because shared knowledge drives lasting solutions.
If you are interested in being part of this cohort, reach out to Anya Hondel at ahondel@nd.gov.Â
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As part of our ongoing efforts to support long-term community resilience, the city of Ellendale is participating in strategic planning sessions as a pilot community for the Community of the Future case study. This work will help shape new tools and strategies for communities navigating major economic transitions.
Additional sessions are are being planned, and the insights gathered will guide the development of the full program
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 ✨Spotlight on Hazelton ✨
A Model of Collaboration & Community-Led Solutions
Hazelton, North Dakota, is a great example of how rural communities can innovate to keep essential services alive.
The Hazelton Development Corporation used a previous grant to conduct a feasibility study, exploring new strategies to sustain their community-owned grocery store.
“Our grocery store is a lifeline for elderly residents, farm families, and our entire community,” said Beverly Voller of the Hazelton Development Corporation. “Rural grocers face many challenges—from rising prices and transportation costs to staffing shortages and the pressure of big-box stores. This grant gave us the opportunity to explore collaborative solutions and work with other grocers to keep our store sustainable. We’re building partnerships that will help us provide groceries for our communities long into the future.”
Now, Hazelton is implementing a regional cooperative grocery distribution model, inspired by the successful Rural Access Distribution Cooperative of Northeast North Dakota. This approach brings small towns together to reduce costs, share resources, and improve product availability.
“As a technical assistance provider for the Rural Food Sustainability Grant, I’m working with grocers in Emmons and McIntosh counties to find collaborative ways to cut costs and expand offerings,” said Chris Gessele, Cooperative Development Specialist with NDAREC. “This grant funding didn’t just provide capital—it sparked conversations and partnerships that might not have happened otherwise. It’s about communication, creativity, and passion for rural quality of life.”
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Want to Learn More?Â
Catch up on our webinars and resources
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Learn more about program details, applications, and additional resources.
Or contact:
📧 Anya Hondel – ahondel@nd.gov
📧 Nicolette Blumler – nblumler@nd.gov
Thank you for helping strengthen North Dakota’s rural communities!
— The Community Development & Rural Prosperity (CDRP) Team
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