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 Region 8 Regional Performance Innovation Consortium
Commerce Community Services Deputy Director Rikki Roehrich and Program Administrator Ben Faul presented at the Region 8 Regional Performance Innovation Consortium in Breckenridge, Colorado. Rikki and Ben provided state Community Services Block Grant updates related to innovative strategies using CSBG funds.
 Community Services Main Street statewide tour
The newest member of the Community Services team, Main Street Community Development Liaison Emma Cook just recently completed an introductory tour across North Dakota. Emma met with economic developers, city administrators, and mayors from the various communities. The intent of the tour was to learn about these communities, what they have to offer, and what makes them such great places to live and work.
 Visit Minot
Members of Commerce's Tourism and Marketing team traveled to Minot yesterday to meet with partners, gather photo and video assets, and attend the MHA Indian Horse Relays. Stops included several locations in downtown Minot, the Scandinavian Heritage Park and all areas of the State Fair. The fair debut of the Indian Horse Relay’s was well received by the full grandstand who enjoyed the extreme sport and cultural performers. Learn more about the relay's here.
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Burgum: Bitzero signs agreement to acquire Nekoma pyramid, develop it into highly secure data center
Gov. Doug Burgum announced that the Cavalier County Job Development Authority (CCJDA) has executed binding agreements for international data center developer Bitzero Blockchain Inc. to acquire and redevelop the historic Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex at Nekoma, N.D., commonly known as “The Pyramid.”
Bitzero plans to develop the abandoned Cold War-era military installation into a highly secure data center for high-performance computing and data processing. Waste heat captured from the data center’s servers will be used to heat an on-site greenhouse, and the company also is planning an interpretive center and additional community engagement at the site, representing a total expected investment estimated by Bitzero at $500 million.
 Nominations are now open for the 2022 Main Street Awards
The Main Street Awards are a collaborative effort of the Office of Gov. Doug Burgum and North Dakota Department of Commerce. The 2022 Main Street awards will be presented during the annual Main Street ND Summit on October 24-26th at the Bismarck Event Center.
These awards are an opportunity for communities to showcase their unique efforts and call attention to the tangible benefits an engaged community can create. Projects submitted for consideration should take place in the time frame of July 2020-August 2022.
 Attend North Dakota’s premier community-building conference
The Main Street ND Summit provides an opportunity to connect, learn, get inspired, and gain insight to build and grow your community for the future. For all of us, the state of today’s workforce is top of mind as we identify and address the needs of our communities and state in 2022 and beyond. The 2022 Main Street ND Summit will be all about community and workforce! The planning has started and we are pursuing some amazing speakers, activities and interactions designed to SPARK your enthusiasm for our amazing state! We have numerous partners that are stepping up and out to assure the speakers and presentations include information and actions you can take home and put into place immediately.
Registration for the 2022 Main Street ND Summit is FREE and additional information can be found at msnd.link/summit-2022.
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Main Street Initiative Community Chats
 Join us tomorrow with the F5 Project, Rough Rider Industries, and North Dakota Parole and Probation to learn about the prison system and to discuss best practices and opportunities to help communities be more inclusive and embrace their justice-involved population.
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 Reminder: Main Street Tourism Outdoor Recreation Grant deadline is Aug. 9
The Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Main Street Grant is meant to support new or expanding businesses that provide new outdoor recreation opportunities, improved visitor experiences, and with an emphasis on attracting visitors and visitor dollars to North Dakota communities.
Requests can be up to $20,000. The intent is to fund new projects capable of attracting visitors from outside of North Dakota for at least one overnight stay. Grant funds are to be used for building new attractions, expansions offering a new experience and supporting services for visitors.
Applications are due Aug. 9, 2022 and the grant-eligible portion of the project must be completed by June 16, 2023.
 State Historical Society makes $120,000 available for restoration, preservation of historic property
The State Historical Society of North Dakota is making $120,000 available to the public for use in the restoration, stabilization, and protection of historic and archaeological properties. This money can only be used on properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Eligible activities include pre-development work (plans, evaluations, engineering and architectural or archaeological services), restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation projects and must meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. All applications must be received by Aug. 31, 2022.
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 Nekoma "Pyramid" to be developed into a data center and tourist destination
Bitzero Blockchain Inc. has acquired, and plans to redevelop the historic Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex at Nekoma, commonly known as “The Pyramid.”
"Not only will this facility house some of the most secure data storage and processing facilities on the planet, Bitzero also plans to construct a historical museum on site to share the history and significance that this pyramid and surrounding area held to the world we know today," said Josh Teigen, director of Commerce’s Economic Development and Finance Division. "In addition to the historical museum and interpretive center, Bitzero also plans to turn the top floor of the pyramid into an art gallery with sculptures and art from around the world and executive office suite that will be open to the public on occasion. The crowning jewel will be a massive telescope that will be added through one of the former radar’s in the side of the pyramid. This will truly be a flagship location for the whole world to travel and see."
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NDCA Arts Across the Prairie announces inaugural
installation project at Writing Rock
The Selection Committee for Arts Across the Prairie: Placemaking in Rural North Dakota announces Crosby-native Thane Lund as the inaugural installation artist at the Writing Rock State Historic Site for Region 1, “Love Where You Live."
The artwork proposed by Lund for installation at the Writing Rock State Historic Site is an earthwork that builds up the land into two enveloping mound formations. Each mound rises up from the ground with a gentle slope and together they create a shelter that frames the sky. Planted with native grasses and flowers, the artwork doubles as a living monument to the diverse ecosystem native to the region.
Lund will do an initial site visit in September. There will be a community gathering planned for those interested.
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First Find the Good Life participant lands a job
 KX News recently featured Travis, who is the FIRST successful Find the Good Life in North Dakota relocation participant!
Travis inquired through the FTGL relocation help desk at the end of June about making a change from his current city in Washington state. Travis was actively putting in applications for a job in the IT industry in other states when he happened to come across Find the Good Life in North Dakota. He was tired of the expensive cost of living in his current state and frustrated at not being able to find a good paying job in his career field. Having a variety of excellent restaurants and the opportunity to live in a semi-rural area was also very important to Travis.
The relocation help desk team connected Travis with Susan Ogurek from Job Service North Dakota as well as Mark Lyman and Brekka Kramer from Minot Area Chamber EDC.
Pictured above: Travis (left), Mark Lyman (center), Brekka Kramer (right).
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