Outline of Need: Green Iron Equipment in Ashley, North Dakota operated out of four separate buildings. Two of those structures were small service shops that were unable to accommodate large farm machinery. The authorized John Deere dealership needed one, new building to operate more efficiently and provide better service to customers.

How Rural Development Helped: USDA Rural Development and KEM Electric Cooperative, Inc. partnered to provide financing for the construction of a new farm equipment dealership. KEM Electric received a $740,000 loan through the Rural Economic Development Loan program, which was in turn loaned to Green Iron Equipment.

The Results: Green Iron Equipment completed a $2 million John Deere dealership in January 2013 after eight months of construction. The 127x154 foot building has a showroom, parts area, sales department and an overhead crane in the shop. The expansion has improved efficiency by placing all areas of operation; sales, parts and service; under one roof. There is now adequate space to provide timely service to a growing customer base.

“The sales grew, the service requirements grew and the facilities that we have, which we have had for nearly 40 years, we just simply outgrew,” said Lyle Fey, manager of Green Iron Equipment in Ashley.

The added space will allow Green Iron to add more jobs. Over three years, the company hopes to hire an additional seven to eight people. This would about double the current staff.