Thanks to the Sunflower Foundation, travel scholarships are available to help cover the cost of attending the summit. Travel scholarships are currently available for Kansas Grocers planning to attend the summit. To be considered for a travel scholarship, please read the following details and apply below.

Award decisions and notification:

Travel scholarships will be awarded on a sliding scale based on the estimates provided in the application below with a cap of $500. Initial award decisions will be made March 31. Applications received after March 31 will be reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis until funds are depleted. Award notifications will be shared by email.

Travel scholarship recipient expectations:

The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperative is serving as a co-host for the 2026 National Rural Grocery Summit. With support from a generous funder interested in strengthening rural food access and sustaining small town grocery stores, travel assistance is also available for owners, staff and board members of grocery stores in communities with populations of 2,500 or less.

Funding is limited. To be considered for a travel scholarship, please review and apply using the form linked below. Completed applications can be submitted by email to NDAREC Rural Development Program Coordinator Keiara Lesmeister at klesmeister@ndarec.com.

TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS
Allowable travel scholarship expenses (maximum $500 total per individual and $1,000 per store)

• Registration
• Hotel lodging
• Travel (mileage reimbursement @ $0.725/mile)

Award decisions and notification:
Travel scholarship amounts will be awarded based on estimates provided in this application. Initial award decisions will be made March 20. Applications received after March 20 will be reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis until funds are depleted. Award notifications will be made by email.

University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) is serving as a co-host for the 2026 National Rural Grocery Summit. RSDP has a small fund to offset lodging and mileage for Minnesota rural grocers attending the 2026 Rural Grocery Summit in Fargo, North Dakota.

Funding is limited. To be considered, please complete the from linked below if you would like to request reimbursement for your attendance. RSDP will contact you with instructions prior to the conference.


TRAVEL SUPPORT DETAILS
Allowable reimburseable expenses include:

• Hotel lodging
• Mileage