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 Happy Holidays from Commerce!
Commerce would like to wish everyone a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year! Thank you to all our partners, communities, and businesses that have helped us in our mission to improve the quality of life for North Dakota citizens by leading efforts to attract, retain and expand wealth.
Gov. Doug Burgum recently delivered his 2023-25 Executive Budget Address to the 68th Legislative Assembly, presenting a strategic budget that includes nearly $170 million to address the state’s workforce shortage, increased support for K-12 education and teacher salaries, and over $3 billion for roads, bridges, water projects and other critical infrastructure – all while cutting individual income taxes to save taxpayers an estimated $500 million over two years.
The following are executive budget updates that reflect Commerce initiatives:
Addressing workforce
The proposed budget calls for a comprehensive package across multiple agencies and programs to address the workforce shortage in North Dakota, which has an estimated 35,000 job openings and the nation’s third-lowest unemployment rate. The package includes:
- $20 million for a competitive Regional Workforce Impact Grant program for local governments, economic development groups and others addressing labor demands
- $5 million for a workforce transition training program to help retrain and upskill citizens who have been provided a new work opportunity through automation.
- $2 million for the Technical Skills Training Grant to support accelerated skilled workforce training programs.
- $700,000 to support job placement and wraparound support for justice involved populations.
Marketing North Dakota
- $25 million for a strategic marketing and workforce recruitment campaign which will include support for expanding Commerce's Find the Good Life campaign and virtual job fairs, in addition to other initiatives.
- $5 million (one-time) investment in destination North Dakota awareness marketing.
Building healthy, vibrant communities
Burgum highlighted the need to invest in North Dakota’s communities, recreation, and tourism, including the Energize Our Communities plan announced in October to help cities attract new residents and help retain youth and existing workforce.
- $50 million for a Destination Development Fund that would be matched by private or non-state sources to build or expand unique attractions.
- $10 million for a Rural Revitalization and Redevelopment Grant Program to promote in-fill development, especially in blighted areas.
- $5 million for a Rural Workforce Housing Program.
- $25 million into the Housing Incentive Fund.
Upcoming dates
State of the State – Jan. 3
Commerce budget hearing – Jan. 9
Additional Commerce related budget and legislative updates are available here.
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20 North Dakota communities to receive Main Street Initiative Vibrancy Grant funding
20 North Dakota communities received a total of $28,985 of funding from round two of the Main Street Initiative Vibrancy Grant.
“The incentive for winter placemaking projects that was offered this round was well received,” Commerce Community Development Director Maria Effertz said. “A great number of communities across North Dakota presented creative projects and events that will enhance and encourage community engagement and vibrancy during the winter season.”
Out of the 21 Vibrancy Grant recipients, four received an award for being a recipient of a 2022 Main Street Award, and Crosby received an award for hosting the first Main Street Visit of 2022.
MSI Vibrancy Grant recipients:
- Medina County Economic Development Corporation received $1,500 for the Sunday Skate Days event.
- Kulm Public School received $1,485 for a community ice skating rink.
- The Grand Forks Downtown Development Association received $1,500 for winter wellness and community building in the Town Square.
- New Rockford received $1,500 for updates to the New Rockford skating rink.
- Fordville Parks and Recreation received $1,500 for a warming shack and ice rink.
- Morton Mandan Public Library received $1,500 for a jigsaw puzzle competition and public art mosaic.
- The Long X Arts Foundation received $1,500 for a public art installation in Watford City.
- Grafton Economic Development received $1,500 for pole banners and the Light the Night event.
- Kindred Parks Team received $1,500 for the Cocoa and Cider Crawl.
- The Hazen Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitor Bureau received $1,500 for a public art mural repair at the Paul Weiser Pocket Park.
- Sheyenne GRIT received $1,500 for the Sheyenne Ostby Hall Community Center.
- Watford City received $1,500 for the Watford City Christmas Fest Sledding.
- Forman received $500 for ice rink warming huts and the Holidays on Ice event.
- Marketplace for Kids received $1,500 for the Marketplace for Kids Valley City Education Day.
- Amidon received $1,500 for the town square project.
- Crystal City Council received $1,500 for the Crystal City Square Winter Recreation Hub.
- Crosby received $1,500 for a skating complex and event.
- Gilby received $1,500 for community center upgrades. (2022 Main Street Awards recipient).
- Mandan received $1,500 for the Holiday Lights on Main. (2022 Main Street Awards recipient).
- Watford City received $1,500 for Christmas tree decorating. (2022 Main Street Awards recipient).
- Hankinson received $1,500 for the depot project. (2022 Main Street Awards recipient).
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The Main Street Visit in Lisbon scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 14, was postponed due to impending inclement weather.
A new date for the visit will be announced in 2023.
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Q3 Tourism and State Marketing report now available
 The Q3 Tourism and State Marketing report is now available online and some of the key highlights include:
- North Dakota Tourism website, NDtourism.com, was recognized as an “Outstanding Website” by the Web Marketing Association WebAward for the recent redesign.
- Research was conducted on the state’s national image, advertising effectiveness and economic impact of visitation from the 2021 ad year, and new resident recruitment. These reports can be found on the Industry website.
- Hotel occupancy rose to 63.2% by quarter’s end, meeting the September 2019 occupancy. While North Dakota had gains for the last month of the quarter, occupancy, ADR and RevPAR declined slightly nationally and in the west north central region.
- Border crossings from Canada were up 282% over Q3 2021, but were only 58.7% of the quarterly volume seen in 2019.
- The Main Street Tourism Outdoor Recreation Grant was awarded to six projects totaling $100,000.
Join us for a Tourism holiday year end Industry Chat
 Please join North Dakota Tourism and the Tourism Alliance Partnership in a special Tourism Industry Chat on Monday, Dec. 19 at 2 p.m CST. This online presentation will feature an early report of 2022 industry trends, as well as important updates for the upcoming legislative session and Tourism Day at the Legislature.
You’re encouraged to wear festive attire and bring your holiday coffee cup or beverage holder!
The Travel Industry Chat is an online Teams meeting and all presentations are open to anyone. Click here to join the meeting on your computer or mobile device, the meeting ID: 266 567 566 972, passcode: Ui7V86. For questions or to request a Teams invite, contact Heather LeMoine at hlemoine@nd.gov.
North Dakota Tourism generates new leads at the Great American West UK Mission
 Global Marketing Manager Fred Walker joined the Great American West representatives in the UK Mission December 4-8. The week in London consisted of multiple business meetings and networking functions with targeted trade, airline, receptive and media contacts for destination and product trainings which established and generated many new leads, and strengthened relationships within the market. Reconnecting with key tourism contacts during a period of recovery and growth for North Dakota continues to be vitally important. While there Walker also met with the U.S. Commercial Service top two representatives for tourism at the U.S. Embassy in London.
Key takeaways from the mission were as follows:
- Travel is bouncing back faster that initially forecasted
- Normal booking timelines are starting to emerge
- Staffing is getting close to normal
- Primary overseas receptive operator is now online
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 National Plan for Vacation Day takes place in January
National Plan for Vacation Day is celebrated on the last Tuesday of January and is a day to encourage Americans to plan their time off. This year the day falls on Jan. 31.
Help celebrate and spread the word through press releases, media interviews, social posts and more.
Flip through U.S. Travel Association's National Plan for Vacation 2022 Recap Book for ideas on promoting and celebrating in 2023.
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 2022-2023 Cultural Heritage grant applications now available
The Cultural Heritage Grant Program provides grant funding for local museums and historical societies for exhibits, special projects or events, education activities, collections, and capital improvements. Applications for the 2022-2023 Cultural Heritage Grant Rolling Awards are being accepted now through May 30, 2023.
Contact Grants and Contracts Officer Amy Munson at 701-328-3573 with any questions.
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BSC's Oil and Gas Bootcamp promotion is now live
The promotion for Bismarck State College's (BSC) Oil and Gas Bootcamp, which was supported through the Technical Skills Training Grant is now live.
By attending the bootcamp, participants will earn a certificate and gain the technical expertise required to become the next generation of laborers, floor hand and roustabout employees.
The two-week certificate course (80 hours) combines classroom, hands-on and simulated instruction at BSC’s National Energy Center of Excellence and Mechanical Maintenance facilities.
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