December 19, 2024
Meet Commissioner Chris Schilken
Hello everyone!
I'm Chris Schilken, and I'm honored to be stepping into the role of Commerce Commissioner. As a North Dakota native, I'm deeply passionate about our state and excited to continue the important work of this agency.
I'm thrilled to welcome back Al Anderson as our Interim Deputy Commissioner to assist with the transition. His expertise and guidance will be invaluable as we continue to lead efforts to attract, retain, and expand wealth and talent in North Dakota.
I'm eager to get to work and build upon the strong foundation that has been established. I look forward to supporting Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden’s initiatives and collaborating with all of you as we work together to create a prosperous future for North Dakota.
Shape the Future of Rural North Dakota at the Rural Planning Symposium
Join us February 11–12, 2025, at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck for the inaugural North Dakota Rural Planning Symposium. This dynamic event brings together rural leaders, advocates, and developers to share innovative strategies and forge impactful partnerships.
The symposium kicks off February 11 with an exclusive Opening Social, offering networking opportunities with state legislators and peers. On February 12, dive into expert-led sessions with keynote speakers Kristina Cannon and Becky McCray, focusing on actionable solutions for building vibrant and thriving rural communities.
Don’t miss this chance to connect, collaborate, and drive transformation in rural North Dakota.
Early Bird Registration is Open for the 2025 North Dakota Travel Industry Conference!
This event, hosted by the Commerce Tourism & Marketing Division, Destination Marketing Association of North Dakota, and Visit Minot, will feature inspiring national keynote speakers, valuable educational sessions, networking opportunities, and the prestigious Governor’s Awards for Travel and Tourism.
Register by February 28, 2025, for just $200. After March 1, 2025, the registration fee increases to $250. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate the best of North Dakota’s travel and tourism industry!
North Dakota takes aim at Workforce Challenges
The Workforce Development Council (WDC) released its 2024 recommendations to prepare North Dakota's workforce for the future and fuel economic growth in the next biennium. The WDC proposes initiatives across five key areas:
- Expanding Career Exploration: Encouraging students to explore in-demand career paths.
- Bridging the Skills Gap: Supporting on-the-job training and apprenticeships in high-need fields.
- Attracting Talent: Piloting relocation programs for legal immigrants.
- Boosting Innovation: Funding programs to help businesses adopt digital skills and AI technologies.
- Streamlining Licensing: Creating a central resource for licensing information and procedures.
Commerce Workforce Director Katie Ralston Howe expressed her support for the WDC's recommendations.
North Dakota's UAS Expertise Expands to Tennessee
North Dakota, a leader in Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) technology, is partnering with the Tennessee Department of Transportation to develop a similar UAS traffic management system in that state.
This alliance, led by the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, builds upon North Dakota's success with Vantis, its own cutting-edge UAS traffic management system. The partnership will involve evaluating Tennessee's existing infrastructure and developing a customized system to support UAS operations. This collaboration underscores North Dakota's commitment to advancing UAS technology and fostering innovation across the United States.
North Dakota Showcases Workforce Innovation at Metropolis Americas 2024
On December 12-13, Commerce's Workforce Development Deputy Director Janna Pastir and Global Talent Coordinator Paige Kuntz represented North Dakota's Office of Legal Immigration at the Metropolis Americas 2024 conference, showcasing the state’s innovative global talent strategies as a workforce solution. The event brought together leaders from the U.S., Canada, and beyond to foster collaboration and share best practices.
Pastir took the stage during a panel on regional leadership to highlight how North Dakota is addressing severe labor shortages. She shared the state’s comprehensive plan to recruit and retain highly skilled immigrants—whether already in the U.S. or abroad—to fill critical roles and strengthen North Dakota’s workforce.
Learn More About the Office of Legal Immigration
Help Us Showcase Winter in North Dakota
Cooler temperatures have returned and the landscapes across North Dakota have already been kissed by snow crystals. With the beauty of the season and the wealth of snow-filled activities that beckon, we plan to showcase North Dakota as a winter destination in the coming months. Help us to do that more effectively for your area by sharing winter-themed photos and videos.
To share your imagery visit our state media library, then upload your photos. Don’t have an account? Register to share your images and to access thousands of North Dakota images that you can use to promote visitation to, and the quality of life in North Dakota.
For questions about the system, reach out to Cassie Theurer at catheurer@nd.gov.
Hoffman Honored for 46 Years of Dedicated Weatherization
We are thrilled to share that Rory Hoffmann, a key member of the Commerce team, has received a special tribute honoring his incredible 46 years of service in Weatherization. Hoffmann's dedication has had a profound impact on countless homes and low-income families throughout North Dakota. To celebrate his remarkable contributions, The National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP) has created a heartfelt video recognizing his work in Weatherization.
Walker Leads Successful Mission to Promote North Dakota in France and the United Kingdom
Commerce's Global Marketing Manager Fred Walker and the Great American West team led a mission to Paris and the city of Nice—marking the first time all state representatives from the Great American West participated in this mission. In London, the focus was on strengthening relationships with trade partners and media professionals. The mission provided an opportunity to meet with new companies and connect with fresh faces from established businesses. Notably, visits to client offices allowed the team to introduce North Dakota to more staff members, creating deeper connections.
This mission is part of ongoing efforts to expand North Dakota’s visibility and strengthen global partnerships in key markets.
Commerce Year in Review
A look back at some of the accomplishments from Commerce in 2024
Community Services
Community Services established the Office of Community Development and Rural Prosperity. In addition, they delivered 107 state and federal grants for community and facility planning, expansion of grocery store and food access, rural housing, slum and blight removal, and placemaking and vibrancy implementation.
Economic Development & Finance
Commerce’s economic development initiatives powered significant achievements in carbon capture and energy diversification. Projects are now storing 400,000 metric tons of CO₂ annually, with substantial investments positioning North Dakota as a leader in energy innovation.
Global Engagement
The state forged valuable global partnerships in Brazil and South Korea, focusing on expanding North Dakota’s leadership in energy, agriculture, and UAS innovation. These international collaborations are enhancing the state's global standing and opening doors for future growth.
Tourism
Tourism in North Dakota reached new heights, with a 5.3% increase to 25.6 million visitors contributing a record $3.3 billion in visitor expenditures to local economies. These achievements showcase North Dakota’s increasing appeal as a travel destination, bringing economic benefits to communities across the state.
Workforce
The Office of Legal Immigration (OLI) hosted North Dakota's first Global Talent Summit, engaging 215 employers and earning recognition as a USCIS “Best Practice Office” in May 2024. It has also been highlighted by Bloomberg TV.
Since its 2022 relaunch, Find the Good Life continues to draw new people to North Dakota, with more than 4,200 jobseekers utilizing the relocation help desk. The number of workers is already up from the end of 2023, with future plans to include expanded tracking and increased funding to amplify its success.
December 4, 2024
Application Period Opens for Regional Workforce Impact Program (RWIP) Grant
Commerce is now accepting applications for the Regional Workforce Impact Program (RWIP) grant, aimed at addressing critical workforce challenges across the state. The application period is open through January 21, 2025. The grant supports community-driven solutions to issues like talent attraction, workforce retention, and infrastructure investments. Eligible applicants include North Dakota-based organizations such as economic development groups, cities, and childcare centers.
Cunningham Highlights North Dakota's 2025-2027 Opportunities at National Tour Association Conference
Commerce Visitor Sales and Services Manager Deanne Cunningham attended the National Tour Association conference in Huntsville, AL, from November 17-20. A Sales Mission was added for State Destination Organizations to provide additional information to registered tour operators. During the event, Deanne met with 30 tour operators eager to develop and create products for 2025-2027, with a strong focus on the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, new hotels, attractions, and upcoming events.
Building a More Energy-Efficient North Dakota
Commerce is partnering with the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) to enhance building code education and energy efficiency across North Dakota. From January 1, 2025, to January 31, 2029, this initiative will address local needs, provide tools and resources, and promote workforce opportunities to advance energy codes. Key goals include improving construction practices, adopting stronger energy codes, advancing building performance standards, and engaging underserved communities in energy policy discussions.
Creating Vibrant Winter Events: Join the Community Chats Webinar on December 12th
In this 60-minute session, Emma McIntyre and Tori Schmidt from Folkways will share proven strategies for planning impactful community events, with a focus on wintertime activities. Learn how to create vibrant, engaging events that foster connection, creativity, and economic vitality. Whether you're aiming to enhance local engagement or spark new traditions, this webinar will provide actionable tools to bring your ideas to life.
Extended Border Hours to Boost ND Tourism in 2025
Starting January 6, 2025, several northern border ports in North Dakota will extend their hours to better serve travelers. The ports at Fortuna, Neche, Noonan, and Walhalla will remain open two additional hours, with new hours ranging from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. These changes, based on traffic patterns monitored by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, are designed to enhance cross-border accessibility. For North Dakota Tourism, this means increased opportunities to attract visitors from Canada, boosting the state's tourism industry and supporting local businesses by making it easier for travelers to explore the region.
Tourism Marketing and Sales Updates
North Dakota Tourism is gearing up for 2025 with new creative campaigns, travel guides, and the Official Highway Map. Website traffic hit a record 3 million sessions in 2024, a 35.22% increase. Partners are encouraged to list 2025 events in the Partner Portal and update accessibility details to attract more visitors. Cooperative advertising opportunities include ND Living, email campaigns, social media, and digital ads. Upcoming events include Tourism Day at the Legislature on January 22 and the first 2025 Tourism Chat on January 23. Recent highlights feature global and group travel successes, impactful media collaborations, and visitor stories showcasing North Dakota’s legendary experiences.
Early Bird Registration is Now Open for the 2025 North Dakota Travel Industry Conference!
This event, hosted by the Commerce Tourism & Marketing Division, Destination Marketing Association of North Dakota, and Visit Minot, will feature inspiring national keynote speakers, valuable educational sessions, networking opportunities, and the prestigious Governor’s Awards for Travel and Tourism.
Register by February 28, 2025, for just $200. After March 1, 2025, the registration fee increases to $250. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate the best of North Dakota’s travel and tourism industry!
Find the Good Life Campaign Brings Thousands Back to North Dakota
This holiday season, Find the Good Life in North Dakota is inspiring former residents to return home, highlighting family gatherings as a perfect reminder of the state’s unmatched lifestyle. Since launching in 2022, the campaign has connected thousands of young families, graduates, veterans, and “boomerangs” to opportunities in industries like healthcare and energy, generating over 120 million impressions and helping individuals like Charles Hopkins and Max and Melissa Otto find their fit in North Dakota. “When North Dakota succeeds in talent attraction, we all win,” said Workforce Development Director Katie Ralston Howe.