Building a Stronger Walsh County - WCJDA Board Advances Business Support as Career Builders Makes an Impact
At its August meeting, the Walsh County JDA board of directors approved community share participation in Bank of North Dakota (BND) Flex PACE program loans to support two businesses.
The BND Flex PACE program partners with a community stakeholder(s) to buy down the interest rate on eligible business loans made through local lenders. The program is intended to help business start-ups or expansion projects by deferring that portion of the debt to assist businesses making investments in their communities. The program lowers the borrower’s interest rate, making financing more affordable and accessible for businesses investing in real estate, equipment, and working capital.
The JDA’s portion of the interest buy-down is a deferred loan, that serves as a local match as required by the Flex PACE program; BND’s portion of the interest buy-down becomes a grant once the borrower pays the principal of the loan. How the interest buy-down is split between BND and the Community Share partner differs depending on where the project is located.
D3 Cylinder Repair
D3 Cylinder Repair of rural Lankin is one of the projects approved for the Community Match by the JDA board. Owned by Brad Pokrzywinski, D3 Cylinder Repair opened in late 2024.
Pokrzywinski’s project was conversion of a pole shed into a full shop with heated concrete floors, spray insulated walls and ceiling, water and electrical, as well as installation of a large overhead door.
In partnership with Citizens State Bank of Lankin and BND, the request of the JDA was for an interest buy-down of $23,241.96 to support long-term financing of the building renovation project. It was approved unanimously by the board.
Pokrzywinski shared that word has spread quickly about this important service being available in Walsh County and his customer base continues to grow with work coming from across North Dakota and western Minnesota. Thief River Falls, MN is the closest location with a cylinder repair business.
Jelinek Properties – Back in Motion Chiropractic Clinic
Dr. Jon Jelinek provided the JDA board background information on his project which includes renovation to the Back in Motion Chiropractic Clinic on Highway 17 in Grafton. Established in 2010, Back in Motion also has clinics in Park River and Cavalier.
Dr. Jelinek explained that the renovation of the Grafton location has added exam rooms and rentable office spaces. It is his goal that the renovated rental suites will attract complementary healthcare and wellness providers to co-locate at the clinic. The building renovation also offers an opportunity to add staff and services at Back in Motion, as he has ideas for additional treatments and care options he’d like to see offered locally. Anyone interested in learning more about the office suites available is welcome to call the Grafton clinic.
The request to approve an interest buy-down of $16,927 was unanimously approved by the JDA board. The total buy-down amount was split with the City of Grafton. Other partners in the project include BND and Choice Bank. The work has been completed, and the interest buy-down was to support long-term financing of the project.
Park River Area School District Early Learning Center Tour
Tours of local businesses and projects are incorporated into the regular JDA meetings during warmer months. The August meeting included a tour of Park River Area School District’s Early Learning Center.
Center Director Heidi Lien is a JDA board member and provided the tour with Park River Area School District Superintendent Aaron Schramm. The center opened almost exactly one year ago in August 2025.
Schramm explained that shortly after he started at the Park River Area School District, early elementary staff approached him about the idea of a 3-year-old preschool, stating this unmet need in the district — and elsewhere — was becoming more apparent in early learners.
The center was built on land directly across the street from the Park River Area Elementary School and offers universally free preschool for 3 and 4-year-olds, with wrap-around childcare provided for a fee. Schramm reiterated the need for childcare remains strong across the county, so including this was a pivotal component to the preschool model.
The center includes two childcare classrooms, two preschool classrooms, an indoor gym and gross motor play area, and outdoor playground. During the summer months, the Early Learning Center serves as a childcare for families with children ages 3 and up.
Total project costs, not including the outdoor play area were more than $2.5 million.
Park River Area School District was able to secure grant funding through the state’s Regional Workforce Impact Program, and the Federal Home Loan Bank Impact Program in partnership with First United Bank and Citizens State Bank, as well as other grants specific for play equipment, some building finishes, and other enrichment activities. The final piece to be able to finance the project came through a partnership with Polar Communications to access the USDA Rural Economic Development Loan program which provided a $2 million loan at 0% interest.
Career Builders Continues to Strengthen Walsh County’s Workforce
The Walsh County Career Builders (WCCB) program continues to make strong workforce gains. The JDA board reviewed the 2026 second quarter report at the meeting.
The WCCB program provides matching funds for scholarship and student loan repayment programs to eligible Walsh County participants. The contributions reduce the amount employers are required to match to secure ND Career Builders program dollars. The program has become an important workforce recruitment and retention tool.
Funding support for the WCCB is provided by the JDA, Grafton Economic Development Committee and the Park River Community Development Corporation.
Program statistics since its inception in the fall of 2022.