Community Services
 Courtyard Apartments grand reopening
A U.S. Department of Agriculture development property located in Rugby known as Courtyard Apartments had a ribbon cutting event today to celebrate the property's reopening.
The apartment complex is an independent living community for households who are elderly or who have disabilities.
Construction for this project began in July 2020 and included structural repairs, insulation, ventilation and head additions, new air conditioners, water heater support, new decks, and re-siding.
"This project was a great success that will enhance the quality of life for the community and its residents," Commerce Economic and Community Development Lead Maria Effertz Hanson said. "Many funding sources made this possible and exemplifies the benefits and importance of private and public partnerships."
Commerce Division of Community Services provided $451,221 through the HOME Investment Partnerships and $338,559 through Community Development Block Grant programs.
Tourism and Marketing
 New assets showcase ND communities
The tourism and marketing team has been busy building up resources to showcase North Dakota’s communities this summer. These new assets capture the quality of life visuals that will assist in promoting our state as a great place to live, work and raise a family. We have 6,718 new images representing 21 communities throughout the state with additional shoots currently in progress. Some of these assets are already available and the team will continue to add more on Asset Bank.
Applications for tourism grant opportunity are now open
The 2021 Tourism Planning Grant application opened on Sept. 13, 2021.
The grant appropriated by the legislature is intended to support tourism developers who have a destination project that would have the ability to attract visitors from outside North Dakota and retain them for at least 4-6 hours and preferably an overnight stay-in or near the community.
This grant is not to fund the actual building, infrastructure or expansion of an attraction, it is solely to be used for planning.
“There is tremendous opportunity for new major attractions to be built in North Dakota,” Commerce Tourism and Marketing Director Sara Otte Coleman said. “This grant will help projects do the planning needed to build business and implementation plans to support development.”
Eligible applicants may be awarded up to $500,000 per proposed plan, with a minimum of $100,000 to be awarded.
Eligible entities include:
- Destination marketing and management organizations
- Economic development corporations
- Private or non-profit tourism development entities
Applications will be accepted until Sept. 30.
Workforce
 Submit your application for the Technical Skills Training Grant before time runs out
Commerce is still accepting applications for the Technical Skills Training Grant.
The grant is designed to support eligible training providers in their efforts to design rapid, non-degree re-skilling programs, expand capacity in existing programs, and/or move training to virtual platforms in order to train displaced workers who will be re-entering the job market and those wishing to make a career change.
New and existing programs that are underway and began after March 1, 2020 may qualify for this grant in order to increase capacity and offset operation and participation expenses. The CRF requires that payments be used only to cover costs that were not accounted for in the budget most recently approved as of March 27, 2020.
Eligible applicants include North Dakota colleges and universities (for non-degree programs), business, non-profit organizations, and/or trades organizations/associations in North Dakota. Internal training programs for incumbent workers are not eligible for this grant.
 BCDC hosts a creative placemaking workshop for Artists on Main Street Program
The Bowman County Development Corporation (BCDC) hosted a creative placemaking workshop as part of being the recipient for the 2021 Artists on Main Street program on Aug. 30.
Springboard for the Arts and Rethos: Places Reimagined facilitated the engaging workshop which brought together more than 20 local artists. The workshop began with an overview about the Artists on Main Street Program, followed by a visioning activity and a tour of Main Street.
After the tour, artists gathered to begin forming ideas for their project proposals. Projects focused on adding vibrancy and reactivating Bowman’s Main Street by implementing several small projects that will have a huge impact.
“The energy and creativity that filled the room was unbelievable,” BCDC Creative Marketing Coordinator Brooklyn Engelhart said. “Seeing many different backgrounds and artistic practices in one place created lively brainstorming that energized attendees as they start putting together their projects. We are excited to see what our community submits for their final projects and the vibrancy it will add to downtown Bowman.”
2021 Main Street Awards announced
Commerce announced the recipients of the 2021 Main Street Awards.
“We are deeply grateful for the efforts seen across North Dakota by communities that are passionate about applying the principles of the Main Street Initiative,” Gov. Doug Burgum said. “Creating healthy, vibrant communities with smart, efficient infrastructure that will attract and retain a 21st century workforce requires a team effort, and these awards demonstrate the success we can achieve as a state when we work as one.”
The Main Street Awards are a collaborative effort of the Office of Governor and Commerce. A selection committee made up of the collaborating agencies and partners judge the entries to make final awards, which will be presented at the Main Street ND Summit on Oct. 12 in West Fargo.
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