Ellen Huber, rural development director for the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives, speaks during a grant announcement on Aug. 4, 2025, in Mandan. The association is working to help sustain rural grocery stores. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
A pilot program aims to help sustain rural N.D. grocery stores by developing a joint distribution network and keeping more locally produced food in the state, organizers announced Monday.
The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives is leading the project with a $12.6 million investment from the Bush Foundation.
N.D. has 90 small-town grocery stores, down from 137 in 2014, according t…