Rural Contact
Apply for RAISE Research Services
If you are interested in applying for the RAISE research service through the Rural Export Center, please contact us by emailing rural@trade.gov to request a free consultation. Please provide the following information via email:
- Name
- Company
- Address (Must be U.S. address. Rural research service is available only to companies located in a geographic location with < 150,000 population, or 60+ miles from a major metropolitan area city center)
- Email Address/Phone/Website
- A brief explanation of your international research goals
- A brief explanation of the type of international research you are seeking.
Rural Export Center Staff
Our dedicated Rural Export Center team members are here to help. Contact a REC staff member below if you have any questions about how we can help you take your company global!
Heather Ranck
Director | U.S. Commercial Service, Fargo, North Dakota
CS Rural Team Leader
U.S. Commercial Service I U.S. Department of Commerce
701-239-5080 / Heather.Ranck@trade.gov
CS Rural Team Leader
U.S. Commercial Service I U.S. Department of Commerce
701-239-5080 / Heather.Ranck@trade.gov
Jim Newenhouse
Program Manager, Rural Export Center
U.S. Commercial Service I U.S. Department of Commerce
701.412.8497 / James.Newenhouse@trade.gov
U.S. Commercial Service I U.S. Department of Commerce
701.412.8497 / James.Newenhouse@trade.gov
Joshua Erickson
Research Analyst, Rural Export Center
U.S. Commercial Service I U.S. Department of Commerce
701.212.3261 / Joshua.Erickson@trade.gov
U.S. Commercial Service I U.S. Department of Commerce
701.212.3261 / Joshua.Erickson@trade.gov

Matthew Plank
Research Analyst, Rural Export Center
U.S. Commercial Service I U.S. Department of Commerce
701.526.6982 / Matthew.Plank@trade.gov
U.S. Commercial Service I U.S. Department of Commerce
701.526.6982 / Matthew.Plank@trade.gov

Kate Best
Research Assistant, Rural Export Center
U.S. Commercial Service I U.S. Department of Commerce
701.526.8700 / Kate.Best@trade.gov
U.S. Commercial Service I U.S. Department of Commerce
701.526.8700 / Kate.Best@trade.gov

Nick Paiva
Research Assistant, Rural Export Center
U.S. Commercial Service I U.S. Department of Commerce
Nick.Paiva@trade.gov
U.S. Commercial Service I U.S. Department of Commerce
Nick.Paiva@trade.gov

Asha Silva
Virtual Student Foreign Service Intern
Research Assistant, Rural Export Center
U.S. Commercial Service I U.S. Department of Commerce
Research Assistant, Rural Export Center
U.S. Commercial Service I U.S. Department of Commerce

Mathew Howell
Virtual Student Foreign Service Intern
Research Assistant, Rural Export Center
U.S. Commercial Service I U.S. Department of Commerce
Research Assistant, Rural Export Center
U.S. Commercial Service I U.S. Department of Commerce