The North Dakota Land Board set aside $25 million in Energy Impact Grant funds for K through 12 schools in oil country.
Lance Gaebe is the North Dakota Land Commissioner. The board awards grants to western North Dakota to deal with impacts of oil and gas development, he said.
“The Land Board awards the grants to cities, schools, townships, and counties to help address the needs of growth and activity and damages that might be the result of oil and gas activity,” Gaebe said.
The grant is very open ended, Gaebe said. The main focus of the grant is public safety.
“A lot of funds have gone to help with schools for temporary classes; or the immediate needs that could not have been planned for,” Gaebe said.
Gaebe said the Land Board has also offered grants to emergency response units in western North Dakota.