Industrial Commission reopens Furloughed Federal Government Employee Loan Program
Bismarck, N.D. – The Industrial Commission today reopened a short-term, low-interest loan program for North Dakota residents who are furloughed federal government employees in the Department of Homeland Security, including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.
The Furloughed Federal Employee Relief Program (FFERP), administered by Bank of North Dakota (BND) in partnership with local lenders, provides loans at a 2% interest rate to cover the base net pay of eligible individuals for up to three months. The program is being reopened due to the March 15 partial shutdown of the federal government.
“Once again, a deadlock in Congress is impacting federal employees in North Dakota, specifically TSA agents who ensure our airports are safe and who still have bills to pay. This shutdown creates a chain reaction which impacts child care providers, car and housing payments, and daily needs such as buying medicine and groceries. This relief program offers a bridge loan to help keep them going and then gets repaid when the back pay is provided by law,” the Industrial Commission said in a joint statement. The Industrial Commission, consisting of Gov. Kelly Armstrong as chairman, Attorney General Drew Wrigley and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, oversees BND.
FFERP will be delivered through local banks and credit unions, with the application period opening Thursday, March 19. To be eligible for the program, employees must present identification and their most recent paystub to their local lender. The program will end when Congress passes a funding bill to reopen. More information on the program from BND can be found at bnd.nd.gov/fferp.
For more information:
Kelvin Hullet, Chief Public Affairs Officer
klhullet@nd.gov
701 220 9430
Additional information at the following link:
Industrial Commission reopens Furloughed Federal Government Employee Loan Program