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 Commerce entered into this legislative session riding a wave of momentum as we have never seen in previous years. Across the board, Commerce delivered more results in the past biennium than ever before, and the legislative asks on the table reflected several bold asks to continue our pursuit of increasing the wealth of the state through the leadership of community, tourism, economic, and workforce development strategies. It was just a few sessions ago that Commerce was arguing for the existence of our agency during session, now the core of Commerce is fully intact and not even up for discussion, the only items left to negotiate over were the option package requests that we submitted. This is a tremendous position for us to be in and a testament to the incredible work that our staff and partners have has done over the past biennium. As we finish the first half of session and transition from the House to the Senate, I wanted to highlight some of the key outcomes we achieved in the first half and some of the work that we have left to do.
At a high level, Commerce requested five new FTEs but only received four in our budget from the House. We will look to restore that back in the Senate in addition to the funding line items for the Main Street Initiative. Other line items that received some cuts were our workforce talent attraction, workforce grants, and automation workforce grants. All of these workforce items received some cuts, but we will work to restore those lines back to the executive budget.
Other new items such as the Tourism Destination Development Fund were cut back from $50 million in request to $25 million and our rural housing programs were combined into one program and cut back from $15 million in total request to $7 million. Commerce will work hard to restore these funding items back to the executive budget recommendations in the second half.
Some additional items that came out better than anticipated were all of the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) funding items, of which some were even increased over the executive budget. The Innovation Technology Loan Fund (LIFT) program was funded to the $20 million executive recommendation and the North Dakota Development Fund request for $30 million was increased to $150 million, with the balance being used for closing strategic projects for the state.
All in all, Commerce is in great shape and should be equipped with a variety of tools heading into the next biennium, all thanks to the tremendous work of the people that work here every day, alongside our community and business leaders and give us a great story to tell. – Commerce Commissioner Josh Teigen
Legislative updates and recordings of testimony can be found at commerce.nd.gov
Recent Global Engagement Office visits and advancements
As part of the Global Engagement Office, Commerce Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Commissioner Shawn Kessel recently took a trip to Chicago to visit with global leaders from Israel, Brazil, and France.
Israel – Kessel met with the Consulate General Itai Biran. They discussed several events that Israel is hosting that could also serve as an excellent time for a North Dakota delegation to visit and meet with businesses interested in doing business in North Dakota – these included Clean Tech, Water Tech, and Food Tech. Israel desalinates water for much of their irrigation water and other “gray” water uses. There could be an opportunity in the Bakken oil fields since much of the produced water contains high levels of salt. Biran agreed to identify and introduce us to Israeli companies attending the Paris Air Show so Commerce can begin to develop relationships and meet face-to-face with them at that event. North Dakota's Vantis network is of interest to Israeli companies and their smart mobility initiatives. An Israeli company, Shikun & Binui is working on the Fargo diversion project.
Brazil – Kessel met with Consulate General Benoni Belli and Tatiana Lyra from the Trade and Investment Department. This was the first meeting intended to establish relationships. Clean energy, biodiversity leading to pharma, and sustainable development including growing wind and solar production are important to them along with ag tech and air/space. Belli committed to introducing Kessel to the Chicago International Trade Commissioners' Association (CITCA) which is a trade commission in Chicago that includes many consulate general offices.
France and Business France – Kessel met with Consulate General Yannick Tagand, Deputy Consul General Berangere Travard, and a representative from Business France. Business France is an economic development arm in France similar to Commerce. Kessel obtained commitments from them to identify and introduce Commerce to companies attending the Paris Air Show, Viva Tech, and the “Doing Business in the U.S.” conference in June. They are very interested in Grand Farm, Grand Sky, and Vantis and would like to visit North Dakota in the fall, especially since Thales is an integral partner in helping to create the network. They mentioned a company that Commerce may be interested in talking to that produces a variety of gases for industrial use.
Kessel also attended the Emperor of Japan’s birthday celebration and renewed relationships with the Japanese Consulate General and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) representatives.
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MSI Community Chat: Workforce Housing and Community Investment
 Join the MSI team today, Feb. 23, for the next Main Street Initiative Community Chat: Workforce housing and community investment. Hear from local experts on resources and solutions that can lead to creative solutions to assist in tackling the workforce housing issues to attract new residents to your community.
Please submit any questions you would like to have asked prior to the presentation to communitydevelopment@nd.gov.
Watch previous community chat video recordings at www.mainstreetnd.com.
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Commerce leadership to speak at NASEO Central Region meeting
Commerce leadership will be speaking at the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) Central Region Meeting in Bismarck on June 27-28, 2023, with a pre-meeting tour on the 26 at North Dakota energy-related locations and work.
The regional meetings are one-and-a-half day events for the state energy directors and staff from each NASEO region to get together and discuss issues pertinent to each region as well as share best practices and updates on policy and programmatic developments. The meeting is typically attended by the NASEO Central Region Directors, as well as NASEO’s affiliate members and a few other key invited speakers. As a result of the meeting, the central region states will obtain a better understanding of how their peers are approaching various energy initiatives and come away with new ideas for addressing top energy issues in their own states.
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Angel Match Program updates
The Angel Match Program (AMP) guidelines and requirements have undergone some revisions. Please visit our website to review the updated guidelines and application materials.
Contact Commerce Head of Investments and Innovation Shayden Akason prior to closing on any investments to help ensure you meet minimum qualifications.
Commerce wants to emphasize that meeting the program's minimum qualification requirements does not guarantee a matching investment from the AMP. Commerce has the discretion to deny applications that meet the programs qualification requirements.
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Potential Canadian visitors, or those who used to come, say that the vaccine requirement impacts their decision not to travel
 North Dakota Tourism and Marketing Director Sara Otte Coleman said many Canadians have called her office, unhappy with the requirement that all foreign nationals traveling to the U.S. as non-immigrants be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Canada rescinded its requirement that all visitors provide proof of vaccination on Oct. 1, 2022.
Otte Coleman estimates the loss of Canadian visitors has cost the state $344 million in tourism revenue since April 2020. She says Canadians are loyal travelers to the state. Otte Coleman penned a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, urging the agency to rescind the requirement that all foreigners who are not permanent residents be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. On Feb. 7, she received a reply stating the policy will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
“We’ll continue to pound the drum. Whether we’ll see any results remains to be seen,” said Otte Coleman.
Walker brings back leads from the IIAT Summit
 Tourism Global Marketing Manager Fred Walker recently participated in the 2023 International Inbound Travel Association (IITA) Summit which took place in San Diego, CA. IITA recognizes the importance of relationships between Inbound Operators, DMOs and Suppliers, and the IITA Summit provides the perfect platform for enhancing these relationships through one-on-one marketplace sessions and networking events. It also provides invaluable, industry-specific education in an informal setting where attendees hear from travel and tourism industry experts, learn from industry colleagues, and share ideas and best practices.
The marketplace featured 25 International Inbound Tour Operators and Walker returned with leads from all 25 operators. Many already sell North Dakota product, but some were new to the state and region. Product from all across the state was well received and follow up will include sample itineraries from all regions of North Dakota. Many tour operators asked for email introductions with destinations, and all of them wanted more information overall.
Along with the Tour Operator/Supplier Marketplace there were many additional opportunities for education including the State of the Industry by Geoff Freeman, CEO of U.S. Travel.
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 Early bird registration ends Tuesday, Feb. 28!
Join us for educational and motivational content, and networking opportunities for the state’s destination marketing professionals at this year's 2023 North Dakota Travel Industry Conference. Don't miss out on the early-bird registration of $200 per person, which is only available through Feb. 28, after which registration fees increase to $250 per person.
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 There's still time to submit your Governor's Award nominations
The Governor's Awards Luncheon presentation honoring the awardees and leaders in travel and tourism will take place on Wednesday, Apr. 5. Make sure you get your nominations in for a deserving individual, community, group or visitor experience today - nominations are due by Feb. 28!
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Applications for new workforce grant offering awards up $250,000 to open next week
The North Dakota Department of Commerce announced that the application window for the newly launched North Dakota Workforce Innovation Grant (NDWIG) will begin next Monday, Feb. 27 and end on March 24.
The goal of the NDWIG is to empower locally-led solutions and introduce innovation into the way North Dakota addresses its workforce challenges in a post-pandemic economy. Innovation may be demonstrated through community collaborations that broadly support workforce in one or more eligible industries, initiatives that support the in-migration of workers, offsetting costs for companies pursuing international talent attraction, hiring fairs in areas of high unemployment in North Dakota and throughout North America, and more. Companies must demonstrate the direct impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including supply chain issues, and how grant dollars will be used to mitigate pandemic-related challenges moving forward.
Proposals for the NDWIG may fall into two tracks:
- Track A - Innovative, industry-led solutions to address the direct workforce needs of a single company or multiple companies. An applicant’s proposed solution must address immediate workforce challenges that were caused or exacerbated by the pandemic.
- Track B - Hiring events in new markets and/or areas of high unemployment throughout North America. Preference will be given to companies that are recruiting for in-demand jobs, based on the Workforce Development Council’s In-Demand Occupations list.
Eligible applicants may receive a minimum award of $25,000 to a maximum award of $250,000. All applicants must provide a dollar-for-dollar (1:1) match for each project using private sector funds.
New and existing projects that are underway and began after May 17, 2021, may qualify for this grant; however, grant funds cannot succeed an existing budget.
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AmeriCorps Grant applications are now open, due March 15
AmeriCorps Grant funds provide assistance for programs to recruit, train, and supervise AmeriCorps members meeting critical community needs in the areas of education, disaster services, health, environmental stewardship, economic opportunity, and service to veterans and military families. Grant applicants are responsible to design service activities for a team of members serving full-or part-time for one year or during the summer. Public or private nonprofit organizations, including labor organizations; faith-based and other community organizations; institutions of higher education; government entities within states or territories (e.g., cities, counties); Indian Tribes; or a partnership or consortia consisting of the previously mentioned are eligible to apply.
There is a minimum overall grantee match of 24%. Starting with the fourth year of funding, the overall match increases to 26%. The match increases to 50% by the tenth year of funding and any year following.
Interested organizations should visit here or contact Ryan Volk at (701) 328-6048 or rdvolk@nd.gov
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 Join us for the 2023 North Dakota Travel Industry Conference
The North Dakota Travel Industry Conference brings the state's tourism industry together for continuing education, renown speakers, trainers, best practices and peer-to-peer networking in a three-day conference format. This is the must-attend conference for communities looking to develop their tourism infrastructure and for marketers and tourism professionals in North Dakota's travel and tourism industry.
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