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 State Agency Day at the Capitol
Commerce leadership was at the Capitol on Jan. 10 to provide information about what Commerce does for the citizens of North Dakota.
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The 2023 Legislative Session kicked of with the State of the State Address on Jan. 3. During the address, Gov. Doug Burgum called for significant infrastructure investment, highlighting opportunities to diversify and grow the economy in agriculture, energy and other sectors, and emphasizing the need to address the state’s workforce challenges and provide tax relief to North Dakotans hit by higher costs for food, fuel and other necessities.
This week Commerce's leadership presented testimony for the House Appropriations Committee on Jan. 9, and the Industry, Business and Labor Committee on Jan. 11. During the testimonies, Commerce leadership provided an overview about each division's role in achieving the Commerce's mission to improve the quality of life for North Dakota citizens by leading efforts to attract, retain and expand wealth.
The testimonies included a path going forward and the resources and funds needed to achieve even more than what was during the previous record-breaking biennium.
All legislative updates and recordings of testimony can be found at commerce.nd.gov.
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Automation Tax Credit applications due this month
Primary sector businesses wishing to utilize the Automation Tax Credit are required to submit applications by Jan. 31.
The Automation Tax Credit program provides a tax credit of up to 20% to cover the cost of equipment leased or purchased with the intent of automating a manual process.
Completed applications and supporting documentation must be submitted by Jan. 31 of the year following the purchase of the equipment.
“With the workforce challenges we are seeing across the state and nation, I would encourage eligible primary sector businesses to apply for the Automation Tax Credit,” Commerce Advanced Manufacturing Business Development Manager David Lehman said. “This valuable tax incentive is aimed at increasing our state’s manufacturing and processing capacity and is not just for robots. Any automated equipment which replaces manual processes and results in improved job quality or productivity may be candidate.”
To qualify, the business must be certified as a primary sector business through Commerce, and the applicant must have taken ownership of the automation equipment during the 2022 calendar year. All applications will be reviewed and must be approved by the Commerce Economic Development and Finance Division (ED&F).
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Travel and tourism 2022 year-end review
 North Dakota Tourism and Marketing and the Travel Alliance Partnership in a recent Tourism Industry Chat presented an early report of 2022 visitor metrics, industry trends and predictions for 2023, the Governor's budget, co-op reminders, as well as important updates for the legislative session and Tourism Day at the Legislature. You can see the complete presentation here.
Financial analysis shows Bison World passes capital budgeting test
 An independent financial analysis of Bison World has found that it passes the capital budgeting test and adds millions of dollars of value to the state of North Dakota if the project moves forward.
The financial analysis uses an attendance model that includes the percentage of visitors that North Dakota saw in 2021. North Dakota saw about 21.7 million visitors from 49 states in 2021.
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2023 North Dakota Travel Industry Conference keynote speaker announced
Keynote speaker Kristen Brown will kick off the 2023 Travel Industry Conference with an inspiring session called Charged Leadership: Uncover the Power of YOU and North Dakota. Kristen is an energy mastery expert and bestselling author who helps get you charged up even during change and stress. She spent 15-years in corporate leadership roles and has appeared in media like Live with Kelly, Forbes, Working Mother, Psychology Today, and more.
Take advantage of the early-bird registration of $200 per person, which is available through Feb. 28, 2023.
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 Theodore Roosevelt National Park Livestock Plan input and public meeting
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is developing a Livestock Plan to address livestock, horses and cattle herds, within the park, under relevant laws, regulations, policies, and park management priorities including the conservation of native species and natural prairie ecosystem functions.
The National Park Service will hold a virtual public scoping meeting on Jan. 12, 2023. Attendees can join by computer or phone to learn about the Livestock Plan. Please note that comments can only be accepted through the PEPC website or in writing by U.S. mail to: Superintendent, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, PO Box 7, Medora, ND 58645.
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Round four of the Technical Skills Training Grant is now open
 The application window for round four of the Technical Skills Training Grant closes March 9.
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.
For this year’s cycles, the grant program is now offering Track A and B options to expand the grant’s impact.
The Track B option is in addition to the original parameters from previous cycles. This option is designed for companies wishing to provide internal upskilling opportunities for their existing staff to promote movement and advancement throughout the organization, create more comprehensive onboarding and new worker training programs, and/or provide safety training for employees.
The Track A option reflects the initial intent of the grant program and is designed for new and expanding accelerated, non-degree training programs that prepare trainees for new jobs.
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