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Commerce Year in Review 2022 |
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Throughout 2022 North Dakota has not only exemplified resiliency, but also its position as a global leader in stepping up to the plate for challenges that other states have shied away from. Other state’s inability to be bold and pursue next-generation economic opportunities has left them behind and instead rewarded the risk takers like North Dakota. The lens through which we approach the world as one filled with opportunity rather than obstacles not only provides a clear image of all the opportunities that stand ahead of us, but also a direction. A direction that is not necessarily linear or always easy but poses limitless trials and outcomes leading to a successful and prosperous future. This direction is innovation. Without innovation, companies and governments alike fall stagnant to market forces, and that ultimately determines winners and losers. Right now, North Dakota is winning. We are winning on a global stage, and we are winning on all fronts. As an agency in a state that supports innovation over regulation, Commerce has been able to accomplish more in the last year than ever before. Despite being faced with federal agendas, a highly competitive market for resources, evolving global and national needs, and a workforce shortage we successfully harmonized with the global economic indicators and capital markets to optimize our position within them. The most sophisticated and well-resourced companies on earth would struggle to innovate and compete on all these fronts. Yet, somehow, Team ND continues to deliver.
As we reflect and celebrate the transformational year of 2022, we must continue carrying on our ambitions to improve the quality of life for North Dakota citizens by leading efforts to attract, retain and expand wealth throughout 2023 and the years to come!
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Addressing the state's workforce
- The “Find the Good Life in North Dakota” workforce attraction campaign was refreshed and expanded to support Commerce's comprehensive workforce initiative. This effort has formed strong synergies between tourism experiences, economic development and showcased our diverse cultural opportunities that both inspire and motivate new talent to move to North Dakota. In less than six months, the marketing campaign has delivered 10.2 million impressions, driven 53,200 visitors to the website resulting in 5,040 potential residents. Workforce staff and community champions are working with over 1,075 leads in the pipeline. Of those leads, 78% have not been to North Dakota with 65% looking to relocate in the next six months.
- Gov. Doug Burgum released a package of proposals to address the state's workforce challenges. The proposals, dubbed the ND Works Investment Plan and totaling over $50 million, are based on recommendations from the Workforce Development Council.
- In the last year, Operation Intern funded 198 internships, filling positions at 58 North Dakota companies.
- To date the Technical Skills Training Grant has had 12 recipients with awards totaling $741,705.
- In 2022, Commerce approved 31 projects and 29 are pending approval for a total of 60 projects in the process of awarding $13,438,471 for the North Dakota Regional Workforce Impact Program (RWIP).
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Strengthening tribal partnerships and relations
- The first Tribal Main Street visit was hosted by the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in Belcourt on Sept.16. This resulted in the formation of a youth counsel to provide insight on attracting a 21st century workforce to their communities.
- Hoefer RV in Dunseith invested over $4 million to open a production site that led to a new CTE Center in Dunseith, including a dedicated RV Tech shop, plus additional modules for the RV tech program which will run in other classrooms in the center. In April, Hoefer RV was awarded $2.25 million from the North Dakota Development Fund for a revolving line for inventory financing. (Photo credit: RV PRO)
- The North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance continues to evolve with dedicated funding and staff. Growth in tribal tourism offerings, product development and cultural experiences is of great interest for visitors especially those from our international target markets.
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Building healthy, vibrant communities
- The Main Street Initiative team administered four grant programs throughout 2022 which resulted in more than $680,000 of grant funds being awarded in communities throughout North Dakota.
- Main Street Tourism Outdoor Recreation grant program had 32 applicants awarding $100,000 to six projects in 2022. These projects help build healthy vibrant community offerings which help attract workforce.
- The Main Street Initiative team hosted one of the most successful Main Street ND Summit’s to date! Nearly 1,000 people from across North Dakota and neighboring states attended this year’s summit which featured a variety of engaging breakout sessions and world-renowned keynote speakers that provided resources, insights, and inspiration for this year's theme: Inspiring Community Driven-Workforce.
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Expanding economic development
- North Dakota firmly cemented itself as a soybean powerhouse with proactive efforts on innovation over regulation that brought our soybean processing operations from zero to three creating new market opportunities for area farmers who lack access to nearby processing facilities.
- The $350 million Green Bison facility, a joint venture of ADM and Marathon Petroleum Corp. (MPC), will process up to 150,000 bushels of soybeans per day and supply vegetable oil as a feedstock for MPC’s renewable diesel refinery in Dickinson to produce up to 75 million gallons of renewable diesel annually.
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The $400 million soybean processing plant being developed by North Dakota Soybean Processors LLC and CGB Enterprises Inc will process 45 million bushels of soybeans annually for meal and oil.
- Epitome Energy LLC’s $400 million soybean crushing plant in Grand Forks will be able to process up to 42 million bushels of soybeans per year into crude degummed soybean oil, meal, and hulls, providing economic stability and greater profitability for the region’s farmers.
- Throughout 2022, North Dakota built upon its status as the place to invest in data centers, with total committed investment of roughly $2 billion in the state. Projects include the Atlas Power Data Center in Williston, Applied Blockchain’s 100-megawatt hosting facility in Jamestown, Core Scientific's expansion in Grand Forks and Bitzero’s selection of North Dakota as its North American headquarters, which led to the company’s decision to acquire and redevelop the historic Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex in Nekoma into a highly secure data center for high-performance computing and data processing.
- With the goal of carbon neutrality by 2030 and a state focus on innovation over regulation, North Dakota has become a coveted location for investors that want to fuel the world.
- In October, Gov. Doug Burgum led a delegation of North Dakota officials and business representatives on a weeklong trade and investment mission to Japan, highlighting the state’s many trade, investment and business opportunities in a presentation to the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and promoting the state during a reception with Japanese businesses at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence in Tokyo. On the last day of the mission, Burgum and Sumitomo Corp.’s president and CEO celebrated the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the state and Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (SCOA), creating a partnership to evaluate and develop businesses within the energy transition market to accelerate decarbonization in North Dakota and beyond.
- In May, Rainbow Energy - Minnesota-based Great River Energy sold the 1,151-megawatt power plant – North Dakota’s largest – to Rainbow Energy Center LLC and sold the transmission system that runs from central North Dakota to Minnesota to Nexus Line LLC. This will help preserve the reliable, affordable electricity that coal provides while also incorporating renewable power and innovative carbon capture, storage and utilization – this project will be a model of clean baseload power for the world.
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Hydrogen Hub Consortium - North Dakota along with Minnesota, Montana and Wisconsin began working together to develop a regional clean hydrogen hub to help meet the nation’s clean energy, transportation, and agricultural needs.
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Redtrail Energy in Richardton, the nation’s first permitted carbon capture sequestration project, is now sequestering 180,000 metric tons of CO2 annually from their ethanol biorefinery. As a result, There is now an $85 per ton credit from the federal government under the Inflation Recovery Act.
- Commerce announced the creation of the of the North Dakota Energy and Economic Coordination Office (EECO). The EECO will serve as a unified avenue for industry experts to effectively coordinate with North Dakota energy entities to advance the state’s energy strategy by supporting North Dakota’s full energy portfolio.
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Marketing North Dakota
- Proactive outreach to national and global media resulted in 4,019 national media instances, up 821% over 2021. Dedicated national PR firm and targeted efforts created additional media opportunities and reach on North Dakota’s stories. Total instances reached 20.2 billion. Additionally, 96 global stories reaching 224 million. This coverage improves awareness of our state and elevates our image across all focus areas of commerce.
- The state’s tourism digital advertising campaign garnered 94.3 million impressions, 285,000 clicks to website and 15.2 million video completions.
- NDtourism.com was updated to improve accessibility and search engine optimization. The website is North Dakota’s front door and welcomed over 2 million visits through Nov. 30. Referrals to partner sites reached over 235,000.
- The first International Round-Up marketplace, held since the pandemic, attracted nearly 50 organizations and 30 international and domestic buyers from more than 10 countries to Fargo.
- Five tourism planning grants totaling $1 million were awarded to entities across the state and a new tourism business development manager was hired with a focus on expanding tourism offerings.
- Hotel occupancy was 12.6% higher with revenue per available room up 24.9% through Q3. The state’s average daily rate averaged $90.93 during Q3 up 12.6%. Lodging tax collections are also up 37%.
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Legislative updates
Stay up-to-date with everything to come in the upcoming years for Commerce during the 2023 Legislative Session.
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