Agriculture Diversification and Development Fund (ADD)

Medium

The Agriculture Diversification and Development Fund (ADD) was established to support new or expanding value-added agriculture businesses that demonstrate financial feasibility, enhance profitability for farmers and ranchers, create jobs and grow North Dakota’s economy through a grant program.

Medium

Eligibility

Value-added agriculture business registered with the North Dakota Secretary of State’s office or a North Dakota resident that diversifies a crop or animal industry and provides collateral uses for agriculture resources. Businesses with a majority ownership comprised of North Dakota residents will have priority over majority non-North Dakota-owned applications. Companies outside North Dakota must have an established relationship with a North Dakota partner which includes individual, company or agency to validate the credibility of the proposal and comply with the intent of the Code. The types of projects may include but are not limited to:

Food production and processing facilities
Feed or pet food processing facilities
Commodity processing facilities
Agriculture product manufacturer
Animal production facilities

Priority consideration is given to projects most consistent with the mission of the Agriculture Diversification and Development Committee as established in North Dakota Century Code 4.1-01.7. Emphasis will be given to those proposals deemed most likely to generate economic returns and support agricultural-based prosperity of a region or sector of the state.

Funding Amount / Limit

Grants: Proposals are limited to $500,000. The Committee reserves the right to increase or decrease requested funding based on its findings and on its level of available funds. The Committee does not provide salaries or operating expenses normally associated with standard business practices.

Project Scoring

Each request and application will be judged on these criteria with a total of 100 points maximum awarded

Probability of Success and Extent of New Wealth Creation: Up to 30 points
The Committee’s objectives and mission are plainly stated. North Dakota is dependent upon the revitalization of the agricultural economy. The creation of new industry, jobs, and wealth are critical to any project award; preference will be given accordingly. Economic Value Added (EVA) is a prime consideration of all requests.

Current Financing and Owner Equity: Up to 30 points
Enhanced consideration will be given to projects which demonstrate a commitment for funding from the applicant or from other private or public sources. Applicants do not need to receive financing from a North Dakota based financial institutions to be eligible for this program.

Technical Qualification and Competence of Project Principals: Up to 30 points
In evaluating the application, strong consideration is given to the technical qualification and competence of project principals. Preference will be given to principals with a strong background and experience related to the proposed project area. Principals will demonstrate an understanding of industry trends and their impact on business.

Committee Opinion and Sustainability Efforts: Up to 10 points
Committee members are allowed flexibility in scoring projects for merit and for projects that clearly demonstrate scientifically based and researched sustainability efforts. These include evidence of locally or sustainably sourced materials, carbon offsets, sustainable materials management, and sustainable sources of energy. Committee members are provided 10% scoring discretion based largely on individual judgement of the likelihood of success of each proposal and/or for the inclusion of sustainability efforts.

Administration and Reporting

Successful applicants are expected to adhere to the conditions outlined in the ADD guidelines. Following approval of the project, a formal grant agreement will be executed between NDDA and the applicant.

Under the terms of some agreements, the applicant may be required to submit to the NDDA periodic interim reports outlining progress on both timeline and budget compliance, including amount of finance already used, jobs maintained/created and up-to-date revenues and expenses.

Awardees will be required to submit a final written report to the Committee describing the work performed and the results obtained upon completion of project. The report should also indicate how the project benefited North Dakota’s economy and job creation in the state.

How to Apply

Applicant must complete the ADD application form (PDF) by downloading it to their desktop. If it is completed from a browser, the form will not work properly. Refer to the download instructions below under Related Resources if assistance is needed downloading the form.

The business plan must include a description of project, market overview and viability, competition, composition of leadership team and full sources and uses of funds. The completed application must include original signatures of the applicant. Applications are accepted on an “on-going” basis. The first 10 eligible applicants will be invited to present their proposal to the Committee. If an application is received after the deadline, it will be presented at the following scheduled meeting.

To email the application and supporting documents: Send to tjdavis@nd.gov.

To postal mail the application and supporting documents: Send to

North Dakota Department of Agriculture
Agriculture Diversification and Development Fund
600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 602
Bismarck, ND 58505

ADD Meeting Dates

2025

Meeting Date	Location	Application Deadline
February 26-27	Bismarck	January 1
May 28-29	Minot	April 1
July 23-24	Medora	July 1
November 19-20	Jamestown	October 1

Applications are due as noted in the table. The first 10 eligible applicants will be invited to present their proposal to the Committee.

ADD Committee

The North Dakota Agriculture Diversification and Development Committee consists of 11 board members. The Agriculture Commissioner appoints five members and the Governor appoints one member.

The remaining committee members include the North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner, the Director of the Department of Economic Development & Finance, the President of the North Dakota State University, or their designees. The remaining two members must be representatives from the Independent Community Banks of North Dakota and North Dakota Bankers Association.

	Rachel Retterath Washburn Chair Commissioner's Appointee		Matthew Glessner Grand Forks Vice Chair Commissioner's Appointee
	Dan Kalil Williston Commissioner's Appointee		Bill Ongstad Harvey Commissioner's Appointee
	Keith Peltier Amenia Commissioner's Appointee		Wade Boeshans Washburn Governor's Appointee
	Dennis Walsh Harvey Independent Community Banks of North Dakota		Dianne Pierce Scranton North Dakota Bankers Association
	Kevin Sonsalla Bismarck Commerce Representative Statutory		Doug Goehring Bismarck Agriculture Commissioner Statutory
	David Cook Fargo NDSU President Statutory