Commerce Highlights

December 18, 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.

Save your Spot TODAY!

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!

Register Today!

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.

Learn More

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.

Read Article Here

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.

Watch the Video here

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.