About
Lewis & Clark Development GroupThe Lewis & Clark Development Group is a collaboration of three separate non-profit organizations, Lewis & Clark Regional Development Council (LCRDC), the Lewis & Clark Certified Development Company (LCCDC), and CommunityWorks North Dakota (CWND), joined to provide programs and loans to support businesses, local governments, and individuals in expanding affordable housing opportunities and advancing economic and community development across North Dakota. Each of these three entities serves specific purposes and offers unique services but share staff and resources.
Lewis & Clark RDC: Founded in 1969, LCRDC is a quasi-governmental nonprofit corporation that delivers a variety of economic and community development programs and services. LCRDC provides business loans under a host of revolving loan funds it has created and grants to cities and counties for infrastructure and public improvements.
LCRDC is governed by an independent board of directors consisting of local business, agricultural, government, and tribal interests.
Our Impact: Over the years, LCRDC has delivered more than $75 million in grants and loans, leveraging hundreds of millions more in total investments, creating thousands of North Dakota jobs
Lewis & Clark CDC: LCCDC is a private non-profit corporation certified to administer and facilitate the SBA 504 loan program throughout North Dakota. LCCDC works with the SBA and private-sector lenders to provide financing to small businesses through the CDC/504 Loan Program, which provides growing businesses with long-term, fixed-rate financing for major fixed assets such as land and buildings. LCCDC is governed by an independent board of directors.
CommunityWorks North Dakota: CWND is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing affordable housing and development opportunities. It is part of the national NeighborWorks America network. CWND benefits communities throughout North Dakota in many ways by providing
- Affordable first and second mortgages for individuals and
- Financing for predevelopment, acquisition, and construction of multi-family low-income housing.
Governed by an independent board of directors, CWND’s core purpose is to revitalize communities and improve the standard of living and quality of life for residents throughout North Dakota.
By the Numbers: Our Impact on North Dakota
$638,000,000
Total private, public, and philanthropic investment
3772
2865
143
Our Staff
Our History
1969
First organizational meeting of a the Lewis & Clark 1805 RC&D Project held with representatives from Grant, Mercer, Morton, and Oliver counties is held on March 21. Governor William L. Guy signs Executive Order #49 on September 18 dividing the state into eight planning regions.
1971
Bylaws are amended to add Burleigh, Emmons, Kidder, McLean, and Sheridan Counties and include city representation to the Board of Directors.
1973
Incorporation papers filed, changing name to Lewis & Clark 1805 Resource Conservation Planning and Development Council. Certificate of Incorporation signed by the North Dakota Secretary of State. First board meeting of the 10-county regional council held in Mandan on February 20. IRS grants 501(c)(4) designation. Lewis & Clark RC&D receives HUD designation as an Area Planning Organization. First employees are hired. John O’Leary is named executive director and is joined by project coordinator Duncan Warren and planner John Sem.
1974
Name change to Lewis & Clark 1805 Regional Council for Development is approved on July 10.
1975
The Economic Development Administration designates the entire 10-county area as an Economic Development District.
1984
Paul Rechlin becomes executive director, serving until 2014.
1989
Name changed to Lewis & Clark Regional Development Council (RDC).
1993
Governor Ed Schafer directs that state Community Development Block Grant funds from HUD be allocated to each of the eight regional councils, with funding decisions to be made locally by each regional council, marking the first time Lewis & Clark RDC could make its own funding decisions. Economic Development Administration (EDA) awards $500,000 grant, with $168,000 in local matching funds, helps create the CAPITAL 1 Revolving Loan Fund for economic development, marking the first time the RDC has its own financing funds.
1995
CommunityWorks North Dakota is founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the mission of addressing housing issues, particularly for low- and moderate-income individuals. By partnering with local lenders, government officials, communities, and other interests, CommunityWorks has provided much-needed assistance and development to many families and communities across the state. CAPITAL II Revolving Loan Fund created with Rural Development approval of a $500,000 loan to the Council, which is matched with $168,000 in local funds.
1997
CommunityWorks partnered with MetroPlains Development, a for-profit development company, to convert an abandoned, historic school house in Beulah into 28 affordable apartment units. The “Beulah Schoolhouse Apartments” earned national and state accolades, including the HUD Top 100 Best Practices Award and the North Dakota Governor’s Award for the Best Multi-Family Project.
2001
CommunityWorks received its first of six Champion of Affordable Housing Award from the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency. It received the honors again in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.
2003
CommunityWorks coordinated a $700,000, 72-home rehabilitation project to benefit low-income and elderly homeowners living in rural areas of the state. To recognize this accomplishment, CommunityWorks was presented with the Award of Excellencefrom the Federal Home Loan Bank-Des Moines in 2003. CommunityWorks and MetroPlains worked together again to develop “Library Square”, a 46-unit apartment building in Mandan for low-income, elderly residents of the community. The new building has helped to revitalize Mandan’s downtown community, which had been devastated by an underground diesel
2004
CommunityWorks was certified as a Community Development Financial Institution(CDFI) by the U.S. Treasury Department. CommunityWorks was accepted into the NeighborWorks Campaign for Home Ownership joining 150 other organizations around the country to promote homeownership for low- and moderate-income households.
2009
Lewis & Clark Certified Development Company (CDC) is incorporated on September 5. Lewis & Clark CDC approves and funds its first loan.
2010
Lewis & Clark CDC is granted IRS 501(c)3 status in January; in December, the Small Business Administration (SBA) approves certification as a Certified Development Company.
2012
Awarded the contract to provide administration of the North Dakota Opportunity Fund (on behalf of the North Dakota Mandan Consortium,) creating a $9.7 million revolving loan fund.
2014
Lewis & Clark CDC is granted permanent status as a Certified Development Company by SBA. Brent Ekstrom becomes only the third executive director
2017
The organization is rebranded as the Lewis & Clark Development Group to provide a common identity reflecting the collaborative work of the Lewis & Clark Regional Development Council (RDC), Lewis & Clark Certified Development Company (CDC), and CommunityWorks North Dakota.
2018
NeighborWorks America® gives CommunityWorks North Dakota an exemplary rating – the highest rating possible for organizations within the NWA network. Brent Ekstrom, Lewis & Clark Development executive director, wins the National NeighborWorks Association Emerging Network Leader Award for improving and deepening CommunityWorks’ response to affordable housing and community development throughout North Dakota.
2019
Lewis & Clark Development Group celebrates 50 years since the founding of the Lewis & Clark 1805 RC&D Project. Ground is broken on Century Cottages in Bismarck. The $8.5 million project, another collaboration between CommunityWorks and Mountain Plains Equity Group, will provide a 35-apartment complex for seniors and those who need assistance to live independently. CommunityWorks also partners with Missouri Slope Areawide United Way to create a new ‘Center for Opportunity’ to help address homelessness and provide a pathway out of poverty for individuals and families in the
2020
Lewis & Clark Development Group spearheads economic response and recovery efforts for businesses and communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. North Dakota Opportunity Fund (NDOF) Disaster Loan Assistance Program is launched to help small businesses. Lewis & Clark RDC receives funds through the federal CARES Act to coordinate economic recovery, response, and resiliency programs in Burleigh, Emmons, Grant, Kidder, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sheridan, and Sioux counties.