October 18, 2023
DOE grants Heartland Hydrogen Hub $925M for clean energy project
Gov. Doug Burgum today applauded the U.S. Department of Energy’s announcement that it has selected the Heartland Hydrogen Hub for up to $925 million in funding to advance a regional clean energy project involving collaboration among the states of North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana and Wisconsin.
Governors of the four states signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in October 2022 to develop a regional clean hydrogen hub to help meet the nation’s clean energy, transportation and agricultural needs. The Heartland Hydrogen Hub will produce low-carbon hydrogen, decarbonize regional supply chains and create clean energy jobs across the states.
“Clean hydrogen can play a major role in our all-of-the-above energy approach, and we’re grateful to the Department of Energy for recognizing our states’ expertise in agriculture and energy production that will make the Heartland Hydrogen Hub a world-class partnership,” Burgum said. “North Dakota is already an energy and ag powerhouse, and we’re excited to build on our reputation as states that feed and fuel the world with environmental stewardship and a focus on innovation over regulation to meet our nation’s evolving energy needs.”
The University of North Dakota’s Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC), Marathon Petroleum Corp., TC Energy and Xcel Energy are leading development of the Heartland Hydrogen Hub. Marathon and TC Energy also are engaged with the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation and Sumitomo Corp. of Americas to participate. Burgum signed an MOU with the president and CEO of Sumitomo Corp. during a trade and investment mission to Japan last year.
With the Heartland Hydrogen Hub, a variety of projects will produce clean hydrogen for delivery to multiple markets including industrial operations, fertilizer production, and natural gas blending for power generation and distribution, while reducing carbon emissions from multiple sectors by up to 1 million metric tons per year, according to EERC.
Under the MOU signed last year, the four states agreed to develop a proposal for the Heartland Hydrogen Hub with the goal of obtaining federal funding from the Department of Energy’s $7 billion program to create regional clean hydrogen across the country. The funding was part of a larger hydrogen hub program included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law approved by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden.
In addition to Burgum, the MOU was signed by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers. The hub may also include facilities in South Dakota. Throughout the application process, hub partners have engaged with communities, tribes and other stakeholders on strategies and programs that aim to benefit the entire region.
Burgum encourages North Dakotans to attend 2023 Main Street ND Summit in Watford City
Gov. Doug Burgum welcomes all North Dakotans to this year’s Main Street ND Summit Oct. 24-25 in Watford City, presenting an opportunity to connect, learn, get inspired and gain insight to build and grow communities for the future.
This year's Main Street ND Summit revolves around the theme of "Innovative Workforce Solutions," a topic that touches every North Dakota resident.
"We’ve heard from our communities about their challenges and have worked with them to develop positive solutions,” Burgum said. “Thanks to collaboration with our legislators, we now have funding opportunities for rural food sustainability, rural workforce housing and community vibrancy. We’re committed to preserving and elevating the excellence of North Dakota’s communities, and this summit is a key step in that journey.”
Community development and rural sustainability is supported by the four pillars of the Main Street Initiative: building Healthy, Vibrant Communities, cultivating a 21st Century Workforce, ensuring Smart, Efficient Infrastructure, and pursuing Economic Diversification. These principles are the fundamental building blocks of a bright future in which every North Dakotan plays a pivotal role.
The 2023 Main Street ND Summit will feature international thought leader Eric Termuende, North Dakota trailblazer Nick Ybarra and strategic workforce panels that will address the future of work, workforce shortages, community resiliency and more. Guided tours will highlight North Dakota's culture, heritage and development initiatives, including guided tours of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, exploration of the agricultural and energy sectors, cultural tours in Watford City, insights into community development, art classes, movie screenings, Western lifestyle experiences and cultural immersion.
Secure your accommodations before it's too late.
The North Dakota Development Fund, Inc. (NDDF) tours Wahpeton businesses
Last week the North Dakota Development Fund (NDDF) convened its board meeting in Wahpeton. The NDDF provides “flexible gap financing” through loans and equity investments not available from most conventional lenders for the purpose of economic development. Commerce took the afternoon to visit a few businesses and NDSCS in Wahpeton. They made sure to make a pit stop to see Wahpper, the World's Largest Catfish.
Miller sparks interest in energy opportunities at Marketplace for Kids
Commerce Lead Development Manager Tracey Miller presented at Marketplace for Kids in Mayville on the topic of energy opportunities in North Dakota. The session included a "conductor versus insulator" activity using Energy Sticks and an Arbor Scientific Genecon Hand Crank Generator Experiment set to light up bulbs. These events will continue statewide throughout the 2023-2024 school year.
Walker explores North Dakota's tourism prospects at Brand USA Travel Week in London
Global Marketing Manager Fred Walker is currently in London for Brand USA Travel Week, where he is meeting with tour operators, travel agents and media about the many travel experiences available throughout North Dakota. Travel Week provides a professional sales environment as well as engaging in discussions regarding the latest global travel trends, challenges, innovations. This event serves as a platform to explore opportunities to drive future visitation to North Dakota. Walker also provided on-site interview to media covering the event.
Kuntz and Michael presented workforce solutions to ND business services team
Global Talent Coordinator Paige Kuntz and Talent Attraction Specialist Sara Michael recently addressed Job Service North Dakota's Business Services team. They discussed their efforts within Commerce's Workforce Development team to combat the workforce shortage in North Dakota. Kuntz talked about the Office of Legal Immigration, its objectives, tasks, and plans to create a statewide strategy for recruiting and retaining new Americans. Michael highlighted the national talent attraction initiative, Find the Good Life, sharing program results since its launch in June 2022 and outlining upcoming marketing and platform improvements for job seekers and employers in North Dakota.
New Workforce Programs available
- The Technical Skills Training Grant is now open! The Technical Skills Training grant program aims to offset the cost for program providers and employers in their effort to support the development of highly trained skilled workers to meet the demands of our labor market.
- The Regional Workforce Impact Program (RWIP) application period opens Nov 6. The grant program is designed to encourage regions and communities to develop sustainable, innovative solutions to help businesses find workers, and help workers and jobseekers connect to jobs and communities.
Garman delivered keynote at Western Dakota Energy Association
Last week Economic Development & Finance Director Rich Garman delivered the keynote address at the Western Dakota Energy Association Annual meeting. He highlighted recent Commerce efforts in boosting existing infrastructure and renewable energy projects. Additionally, he underscored North Dakota's pioneering role in carbon reduction via capture and sequestration projects, which not only reduce emissions but also improve energy production through enhanced oil recovery techniques, thus promoting a sustainable future and more efficient energy exports.
October 6, 2023
Build and grow your community for the future
Join us at the Main Street ND Summit, where we prioritize accessibility, offering features such as a Spanish translator and ASL interpreter to accommodate all guests. By attending, you'll gain valuable insights into community building and development. This year's Summit offers a variety of tours focusing on art, culture, development, and energy, providing practical knowledge and memorable experiences. The Summit is free and special rates have been secured at The Roosevelt Hotel (40 rooms at $89/night, room block released on Oct. 10) and at Teddy’s Residential Suites (50 rooms at $97/night, with an additional 20 rooms at $88.20) Be sure to check the agenda for new events recently added!
2023 Travel Industry Marketing Summit recap
Yesterday's Travel Industry Marketing Summit, hosted by Commerce, was a successful gathering of tourism program managers and industry peers. Discussions in the cooperative roundtables covered website analytics, sales strategies, public relations, and workforce initiatives fostering innovation. After a networking lunch, Leslie Holbrook, VP at Fahlgren Mortine, shared insights into consumer behavior for travel planning and media consumption. The Summit concluded with the unveiling of the 2024 advertising plan and cooperative marketing options by Marketing & Tourism Division Director Sara Otte Coleman and Marketing and Research Manager Heather LeMoine, leaving attendees well-prepared and energized for the upcoming year in the tourism industry.
View the Industry Toolkit for 2024 planning materials
Commerce visits Beach, ND: another successful Main Street visit
Commerce recently visited Beach, where this photo was taken at the community's Gazebo Park Pavilion. The project was made possible through community and private donations, a North Dakota Parks and Recreation grant, support from the Golden Valley Foundation, Rural Leadership North Dakota, the Golden Valley County Community Foundation, and City Sales Tax funding. Much of the project's construction was carried out by volunteers. We look forward to working together to build up vibrant communities and downtown spaces.
Application deadline approaching for Rural Food Sustainability Grant Program
The deadline is Oct. 13, 2023, at 11:59 pm CT. Don't miss out! The North Dakota Department of Commerce is launching the Rural Food Sustainability Grant Program, dedicated to boosting food access, sustainability, and economic development in rural communities. This program supports sustainable grocery services, food access, and the growth of rural food co-ops. These co-ops help aggregate, store, and distribute food in rural areas, addressing unique challenges.
"Commerce is committed to enhancing wealth and quality of life in North Dakota," says Emma Cook, Community Development Liaison for Commerce. "The program aims to strengthen local food systems, improve grocery supply quality, encourage local partnerships, support innovative solutions, foster rural community development, and promote economic collaboration." The program includes two components:
Component 1: Feasibility studies for food accessibility and expansion projects (up to $20,000).
Component 2: Grants for implementation of sustainable food access projects (up to $300,000).
The following outlines the timeline for applications and awards:
- Applications opened: Sep. 8, 2023.
- Applications close: Oct. 13, 2023.
- Awards: Oct. 24, 2023.
Component 2 will be opening in early 2024.
Eligible applicants include nonprofits, local entities, economic development organizations, and tribal entities. The program focuses on communities with a population of less than 10,000 and encourages but does not require matching funds. Regular maintenance funding is excluded, and projects must enhance food access with a sustainable plan.
Tourism staff shine at Norsk Høstfest
The nation's largest Scandinavian Festival, Norsk Høstfest, couldn't escape the attention of Team Tourism! Thank you to our very own Fred Walker and Deanne Cunningham for expertly handling hundreds of questions, press requests, and delivering exceptional customer service to both our citizens and visitors.
Commerce geared to strengthen existing partnerships and discover new opportunities at the UAS Summit & Expo
The UAS Summit & Expo is one of the longest-running events in the U.S. that focuses on drones, autonomous systems, and related technologies. The summit attracts speakers, exhibitors, and attendees from around the world to North Dakota where they experience a world-class ecosystem. The summit presents opportunities to showcase the unique capabilities, amenities, and expertise of key North Dakota stakeholders such as GrandSKY and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site. The UAS Summit & Expo takes place in Grand Forks, ND on October 10th-11th.
Update on Supreme Court decision on OMB budget
The recent North Dakota Supreme Court decision to invalidate SB 2015, the budget for the office of management and budget (OMB), has far reaching impacts on many state agencies. The commerce department is working to identify programs that may be impacted or delayed while we await the special legislative session needed to rectify the situation. Operations are continuing as normal as we determine if the funding programs will be delayed or adjusted. Programs included in the OMB budget include: Tribal grants, Office of Legal Immigration, ND Development fund as well as items impacting salaries, retirement and FTEs.
Burgum continues urging National Park Service to keep wild horses at Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Gov. Burgum released the following statement Tuesday after the National Park Service (NPS) announced that the public comment period is now open on its draft environmental assessment related to the herds of wild horses and cattle within Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The public comment period closes Oct. 25.
Commerce's Paige Kuntz partners with Job Service North Dakota to tackle workforce shortage
Alongside Job Service North Dakota (JSND), Commerce's Paige Kuntz presented to the Annual Stockmen’s Association on the objectives, initial tasks, and future activities and goals for the Office of Legal Immigration. She highlighted the severity of North Dakota’s workforce shortage, and how the Office of Legal Immigration intends to work with stakeholders and subject matter experts to develop and implement a statewide strategy to support the recruitment and retention of New Americans to North Dakota.
New amenities make ND state parks more accessible
North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department (NDPRD) is improving state park accessibility with new amenities. They're the first in the nation to make all parks color-blind accessible with EnChroma glasses kits, while Lake Metigoshe State Park offers an Action Axis Trackchair for those with mobility impairments. There are also adaptive kayak and canoe launches across several parks. NDPRD is extending the park season through Nov. 1, offering a 25% camping discount any day of the week to achieve a record by selling 2,000 more camping nights.