November 29, 2023
Commerce Launches Advance ND Program to Boost Economic Development
Commerce's new Advance ND Program offers "deal-closing" loans for companies in energy, agriculture, and manufacturing. Administered by the North Dakota Development Fund, Inc., it provides interest-only balloon loans converting to fixed-rate term loans, with a maximum of $1 million per $50 million project capital expenditure. Projects need a minimum $50 million total capital expenditure, and funds can be used for various purposes.
Burgum welcomes decision to keep MCI’s Pembina bus plant open; state already in talks on training, support
Governor Burgum announced that NFI Group will keep its MCI bus assembly plant in Pembina open, reversing plans for closure by June 2025. The decision is driven by increased demand, especially for electric motor coaches. This development is seen as positive for MCI employees, Pembina, and the state's economy. The Governor's Office and Commerce are collaborating with NFI Group to support workforce training and meet growing demand, enhancing job opportunities in the Pembina region.
Teigen champions state's energy innovation at Xcel ribbon cutting and Midwest Energy Summit VIP reception
Commerce Commissioner Josh Teigen presented at two events recently. The first event was a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Xcel Energy, during which he emphasized North Dakota's commitment to innovation over regulation. He highlighted the importance of ongoing investment in expanding various forms of energy generation and transmission.
The second event was a VIP reception for the Midwest Energy Summit. Teigen discussed North Dakota's comprehensive "all of the above" energy strategy, positioning it as a significant competitive advantage to attract businesses and talent to the state.
Meet Anya Hondel: Welcoming the newest addition to Commerce
"Born and raised in Soldotna, Alaska, I originally moved to North Dakota for college almost 4 years ago. Although I can name many differences between the two states, the people I’ve met in North Dakota have helped me feel right at home. I love exploring new places and am grateful to have been able to see many parts of the state already (as well as most of our neighbors)! Outside of work, I spend my time attending football games, and exploring my community with my fiancé and our North Dakota girl, Teddy (our 2 yr old Golden Retriever)!"
Anya joins Commerce as the Community Development Coordinator to support the division with maintaining statewide networking relationships with economic and community development professionals, communities, counties, and regional organizations.
North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality seeking public input for ideas around sustainability
North Dakotans from all backgrounds are invited to share ideas to meet the state’s goals of creating vibrant economies and finding innovative ways to reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
Information collected will be used to develop the North Dakota Sustainability Plan. North Dakota received funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program to support this effort.
The plan development process will be a major step toward North Dakota's goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
Elevate your tourism strategy at the 2024 North Dakota Travel Industry Conference
The North Dakota Travel Industry Conference brings the state's tourism industry together for continuing education, renowned speakers, trainers, best practices and peer-to-peer networking in a three-day conference format. This is the must-attend conference for communities looking to develop their tourism infrastructure and for marketers and tourism professionals in North Dakota's travel and tourism industry.
The 2024 North Dakota Travel Industry Conference will take place April 8-10 at the Delta Hotel by Marriott in Fargo, featuring national keynote speakers, educational content, networking, and the Governor’s Awards for Travel and Tourism.
Cunningham showcases North Dakota Tourism at 45th NTA TREXpress Conference
Tourism Sales and Services Manager Deanne Cunningham attended the 45th National Tour Association (NTA) AKA TREXpress in Shreveport-Bossier, LA. The event focused on new ideas, businesses, and personal connections, featuring the National Tour Association Marketplace. During the 20-minute sales mission, Deanne presented North Dakota's offerings to tour operators, contributing to the creation of travel products for 2025 and 2026 in domestic and international markets.
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November 15, 2023
Rural Workforce Housing Grant to boost affordable housing in North Dakota
The Rural Workforce Housing Grant supports non-profit organizations and/or local governments in development and improvement of affordable housing options for the workforce in rural areas.
Program Objectives:
- Increase the availability of affordable housing options for the rural workforce.
- Improve the quality and safety of existing housing units.
- Encourage partnerships and collaboration between local organizations, businesses, and government entities.
- Support innovative approaches to address unique challenges faced by rural areas in housing development.
- Foster community development and revitalization efforts in rural regions.
Eligibility:
The Rural Workforce Housing Grant may support the following types of grants to non-profits and/or local governments in North Dakota:
- Eligible Entities – City, County, Economic Development organization (JDA, regional Councils, EDC, CVB) and local tribal entities
How much funding is available? Up to $300,000 per community. Rural shall be defined as any community or region, based on the application, with a population of less than 10,000.
Teigen visits UND and discusses North Dakota's economic landscape
Commerce Commissioner Josh Teigen visited the UND Nistler College of Business to present to a group of students and faculty on the state of economic development in North Dakota, including our opportunities and challenges and ways that the University system and students can work to increase wealth for the state.
North Dakota delegation represented at Minuteman III launch at Vandenberg Space Force Base
Minot Area Chamber EDC's Task Force 21, alongside North Dakota officials, recently engaged in a strategic military visit to Minot Air Force Base and Air Force Global Strike Command. The delegation, including Commerce Commissioner Josh Teigen and Mayor Tom Ross, witnessed a Minuteman III ICBM test launch at Vandenberg Space Force Base, reinforcing North Dakota's global strategic military role. Despite an anomaly terminating the missile, plans for the LGM-35A Sentinel's 2029 deployment as a Minuteman III replacement were discussed. Minot's pivotal role in this transition, as the third and final Air Force base to receive the Sentinel, underscores the need for ongoing support for this major modernization project.
Walker establishes key alliances with leading Italian tour operators for the Great American West
Last week in Italy, Global Marketing Manager, Fred Walker led Commerce efforts for The Great American West (GAW). The trip involved training sessions with major Tour Operators like ALIDAYS and Naar, focusing on product development and collaboration plans for 2024. Walker conducted 20-minute training sessions for top travel agents in Milan, Modena, and Vicenza, promoting specific itineraries and fostering relationships.
Among the suggestive locations such as the Ferrari Museum, located a stone’s throw from the factory of the iconic car brand, the spokesmen of the five states illustrated the places of greatest historical and landscape interest. The north-west area boasts a rich wildlife heritage that extends between the rocky mountains of Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton, Glacier, Badlands and Theodore Roosevelt National Park, to get to the big cities, waterways and scenic itineraries that connect the inhabited places. An unlimited offer that ranges between excursions in nature and those to discover places of cultural interest, which have become part of the collective imagination thanks to the big screen or literature.
United Airlines presented the news on air connections between Italy and the United States, guaranteeing year-round connections for travelers from Milan and Rome to the cities of New York, San Francisco and Chicago. The network extends through the partnership with the Lufthansa group with flights over Denver and the directs to Minneapolis and Salt Lake City and a second daily flight from Rome Fiumicino to Washington DC (operational from 23 May 2024). Thanks to the interline agreement between United Airlines and ITA Airways, which is made only a few weeks ago, the travel options will be further expanded.
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November 2, 2023
Commerce empowers rural communities with Food Sustainability Grant
The North Dakota Department of Commerce announced today that six recipients were awarded $20,000 to complete feasibility studies as part of the Rural Food Sustainability Grant's Component 1.
The Rural Food Sustainability Grant Program is 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 availability. These partnerships 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."
Recipients include:
- City of Milnor
- Pembina County JDA
- Enhancing and Strengthening North Dakota Nonprofits & Communities (DBA Strengthen ND)
- City of Butte
- Hazelton Development Corporation (HDC)
- Economic Development at City of Casselton
We will be opening up this grant again in early 2024 and will include component 1 (feasibility studies) and component 2 (implementation dollars).
ND Office of Legal Immigration boosts integration efforts with DC visit
Deputy Director Janna Pastir and Global Talent Coordinator Paige Kuntz representing the ND Office of Legal Immigration recently traveled to Washington, DC, participating in the ONA State Network Convening and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services 2023 National Immigrant Integration & Citizenship Education Conference. They also witnessed a naturalization ceremony. On their final day, Pastir and Kuntz represented North Dakota at the Federal-State Convening on New Americans at The White House, fostering collaboration with state representatives and federal agencies. They returned with valuable insights, partnerships, and plans to enhance the Office of Legal Immigration, highlighting immigration as an opportunity for sustainable growth in North Dakota's communities and workforce.
Garman visits Williston to speak about Western Area Development
During the Western Region Economic Development Annual Meeting, Economic Development & Finance Director Rich Garmin took the stage to deliver a keynote address that shed light on North Dakota's unique advantages in policy, primacy, and geology. In a comprehensive presentation, Garmin discussed a variety of ambitious projects poised to make a significant impact on the state's economic landscape. Of particular note was the recent award of the Heartland Hydrogen Hub, a collaborative initiative involving North Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. This initiative promises to revolutionize energy sustainability, foster economic growth, and position the region as a leading force in hydrogen production and utilization. Garmin's keynote presentation not only showcased North Dakota's strengths but also instilled optimism about the promising economic prospects on the horizon for the state.
State of North Dakota to host national talent attraction and economic development summit this summer
The City of Fargo and the State of North Dakota will host a national talent attraction and economic development conference this summer, June 9-12, 2024. The application to attend the summit is now live, and RoleCall will hand-select leaders from multiple states to experience North Dakota’s largest city in the coming months.
- Early bird admission pricing ($550/person) is now available through Feb. 29.
- Regular admission pricing ($775/person) will be available March 1- May 10.
- Last-minute” admission pricing ($850/person) will be available May 11-31.
LIFT Committee grants over half a million dollars to tech innovators in October
Commerce Legacy Investment for Technology Loan Fund (LIFT) Committee awarded $532,600 in October, with recipients including:
- Trimxys, LLC in Fargo, receiving $282,600 for their lawn mower attachment.
- ThermaSolutions Sterilization, LLC, awarded $250,000 for their sterilization plant.
The LIFT program supports North Dakota companies in various innovative sectors, promoting economic diversification as identified by the LIFT committee.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park extends comment period on the Livestock Plan Environmental Assessment
The National Park Service is extending the comment period on the Environmental Assessment on the Theodore Roosevelt National Park Livestock Plan through Nov. 24, 2023.
Please submit comments online through the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website. The comment period will be open for an additional 30-days and all comments must be submitted by Nov. 24, 2023. Comments may also be mailed to the following address and be post-marked by Nov. 24, 2023.