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As a result of the oil development in western North Dakota, Watford City has grown from
around 1,400 people in 2008 to estimates of over 6,000 today. In the next five years, the city’s
population is projected to reach between 12,000 and 16,000. This rapid growth has strained
health care services in the region and made upgrading these services one of Watford City’s
top needs.
In response to this challenge, ANOVA Family Health Center recently opened in Watford
City. This medical clinic offers affordable, accessible and coordinated health care services,
with a focus on health promotion and disease prevention. (
See sidebar for more details
.)
ANOVA Family Health Center currently employs three licensed family nurse practitioners,
two clinic managers/nurses, four clinic nurses, and four receptionists.
RTC recognized the vital importance of expanding health care services in the community
and wanted to help make it happen. Royce Aslakson, CEO/General Manager, explains, “RTC
applied for a grant from USDA so that we could provide loans to qualified Rural Economic
Development Loan and Grant Program (REDLG) applicants for economic development in
our service area. RTC received a $113,517 grant from USDA which was matched (20%) by
RTC for a total of $136,220. As ANOVA repays the funds with zero interest, the dollars stay
with RTC and go into the RTC revolving loan fund, which can be lent to other projects in
the future according to the plan submitted to USDA.”
Aslakson adds, “ANOVA was chosen because it had an excellent project, which met the loan
requirements including good equity and repayment ability. These are all important require-
ments so that ANOVA has the ability to make payments to the RTC loan pool.”
Vonnie Johnson, CEO/Co-Owner at ANOVA Family Health Center, is appreciative of the
funds that RTC helped secure, which are being used for start-up costs including equipment
and supplies. Notes Johnson, “Royce Aslakson took the ball and ran with it! It was amazing.
He has worked so hard to get this done.”
RTC Helps Secure USDA Funding
for ANOVA Family Health Center
. . .
A HOLISTIC APPROACH
TO HEALTH
ANOVA Family Health Center offers a
holistic approach to health care with
a focus on health
promotion and
disease preven-
tion. It’s located
at 301 12th St SE
in Watford City,
next to Express
Laundry.
Services include:
• Comprehensive physical exams
• Same day urgent care visits
• Department of Transportation
(DOT) physicals
• Sports physicals
• Pre-employment physicals
• Annual wellness visits
• Diagnosis and treatment of
common acute problems and
chronic conditions
• Access to larger networks of
care including specialists and
immunizations
To learn more about ANOVA
Family Health Center, visit
or call 701.842.6400.
Charlie Sorenson, Clinic Nurse (standing)
and Stella Berquist, Clinic Manager/Nurse
Anita Pedersen, FNP-BC, Co-owner (left) and Vonnie Johnson, FNP-BC, CEO/Co-owner
