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 Midwest Biodefense Summit
North Dakota Department of Commerce Commissioner Josh Teigen highlights how North Dakota, and our region, can create a gravitational pull for businesses in the biomedical industry.
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Kevin O’Leary and the O’Leary Ventures (OLV) team visited Bismarck and Fargo this week on a multi-stop business and media tour. The tour included visits to the ND Legislature and Governor’s Office, Bank of North Dakota, North Dakota Development Fund board, and multiple emerging businesses in the state. He also discussed the value of investing in the state due to its favorable business climate and low cost of living. North Dakota’s economy has been growing steadily, with a strong focus on technology and innovation.
“I’m here to put money to work,” Kevin O’Leary said. “I’m here to find great entrepreneurs and invest in them in a place where they want that capital, and I’m proud to do it.”
Best known for his role guiding entrepreneurs on the hit television program Shark Tank, O’Leary’s firm was selected to manage the Wonder Fund North Dakota direct investment program through a competitive proposal process in 2022. Funds for Wonder Fund North Dakota were provided through the U.S. Department of Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). An approximate total of $58.6 million of SSBCI funds were allocated to the State of North Dakota for two equity and venture programs, the Angel Match Program and Wonder Fund North Dakota. Both programs are direct investment programs that provide equity support directly to small businesses and startups by co-investing alongside private investors.
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 Main Street Initiative Vibrancy Grant funding helps to improve quality of life
Commerce grant funds helped to support the 2023 Downtown Frosty Forks in Grand Forks. Support for winter programming helped people learn to snowshoe and ski, enjoy meals together in the warmth of a snow dome, try their hand at curling, create snow-filled memories with snow sculptures and ice tables, participate in the first-ever Average Person Olympics, and most of all, improve the quality of life in the Grand Forks community!
 Main Street Initiative Community Chat: Child Care Relief Pilot Program
Join us for a free chat on March 28 from 1-2 p.m. CT to hear from North Dakota Health and Human Services on how North Dakota’s Working Parent Child Care Relief pilot program aims to help employers attract and retain employees – specifically parents with low-to-moderate incomes who need child care and may be experiencing challenges due to the high infant and toddler care cost. Come learn about this new employer-led cost-sharing program and other strategies businesses should consider to support working parents.
Please submit any questions you would like to have asked prior to the presentation to communitydevelopment@nd.gov.
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 ED&F team tours Bismarck and Mandan communities
The North Dakota Department of Commerce Economic Development and Finance team rotates their quarterly in-person meetings throughout the state in an effort to continue engagement with local communities, continually learn about the economies of North Dakota, and meet with partner organizations and businesses across the state.
The 2023 Q1 meeting was recently held in Bismarck and Mandan. Highlights included:
- Tour of Cloverdale Foods
- Tour of the new Linemen Training Center at NDAREC
- Tour of new North Dakota's Gateway to Science facility
- Tour of the downtown Mandan community development efforts and the public/private investments around Dykshoorn Park
- Lending programs meeting
- Lunch with City of Mandan staff providing overview of Mandan's Restaurant Rewards Program and the Mandan Growth Fund
- Supper with the Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC
 North Dakota Angel Match Program makes new investments in tech and manufacturing businesses
The North Dakota Development Fund, Inc. (NDDF) has finalized three new investments through its Angel Match Program (AMP):
- Tailorie, Inc. is a Grand Forks-based digital marketing software company, using zero- and first-party data to provide tailored brand recommendations to consumers.
- FarmQA, Inc. is a Fargo-based technology company developing digital tools to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of agronomists and growers.
- BWR Innovations LLC is a Fargo-based manufacturing company producing hydrogen generators and telemetry systems for residential, agricultural, light commercial and military applications.
“We are happy to announce the funding of these new investments through our Angel Match Program,” Commerce Head of Investments and Innovation Shayden Akason said. “Each business will receive funding to assist with working capital expenses to support early-stage primary sector North Dakota businesses by matching investor commitments up to $250,000 per business."
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 The 2023 North Dakota Travel Industry Conference is less than two weeks away - and its not just for tourism practitioners.
The 2023 North Dakota Travel Industry Conference takes place April 3-5 in Bismarck and is a must for communities looking to develop their tourism and quality of life offerings, for destination marketers, business owners and leaders looking to learn.
Keynotes include:
- Eric Termuende, thought leader and author of bestselling book Rethink Work, will bring his fresh perspective to workplace culture and the future of work to kick off the conference with actionable and entertaining research, storytelling and case studies.
- Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Melissa Cherry will lead a session full of insights on how organizations can implement strategies to operationalize DEI within their company culture, and externally execute strategies in their local hospitality community.
- When it comes to leading your team and yourself with energy and positivity YOU are a superhero! Hear from keynote speaker Kristen Brown on how to unlock the energy elements that magnetize people to you and your ideas.
- Ed O’Keefe, CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation, will share the vision and plans for this impactful project that will make North Dakota a must-see destination.
Closing out the conference, Governor Doug Burgum will present the 2023 Governor’s Awards for Travel and Tourism during an exciting celebration of North Dakota.
 North Dakota tourism destinations eligible for EV charging station funding
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced a new $700 million funding opportunity for states and local governments to install EV chargers and other alternative fuel infrastructure—part of its ongoing initiative to build a national charging network of 500,000 public chargers by 2030.
In addition to state and local government entities, Indian tribes, and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), state and local tourism offices and destinations will be considered as eligible and competitive locations for charging infrastructure. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by May 30, 2023.
 North Dakota Tour Opps team busy promoting North Dakota
Representatives from the Great American West (GAW) states are currently in Europe on the first mission of 2023, including North Dakota Tourism’s Global Marketing Manager Fred Walker. The mission started with a meeting with U.S. Commercial Service Consulate General to discuss trends in the market and ways for the GAW to expand our reach within the marketplace, followed by training and product development meetings with Knecht Reisen, the 4th largest tour operator in Switzerland. The meetings continued with other top agents. Walker also presented a training and product development session with the largest tour operator in the German speaking market, met with journalists in the Swiss market and with agents and tour operators from across the Netherlands. The mission ends on Friday, March 24.
Tourism Sales and Services Manager Deanne Cunningham recently traveled to Wisconsin for the 2023 Midwest Marketplace where she had over 43 appointments and met with several tour operators and planners, some that had brought tours to North Dakota last year, and several more that are planning to bring tours to North Dakota in 2023 and 2024. The Midwest Marketplace invites operators and planners from around the United States and Canada to network with suppliers from the Midwest. Cunningham indicated operators stated the 2023/24 tours are gearing up with a fantastic outlook for travel, with people spending money and booking tours. There was noted excitement for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library opening as well.
And finally, Outdoor Promotions Manager Mike Jensen represented North Dakota Tourism at the 2023 Northwest Sportshow in Minneapolis. Jensen indicated attendance this year was a bit lower due to weather, but that there was a lot of interest in traveling to North Dakota this summer. The sportshow promotes boats and gear, an abundance of must-see attractions, and fun activities for all ages.
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Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce announces next executive director
The Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce announces it has selected Suzie Kenner as the Devils Lake Chamber’s next executive director. Suzie is currently the Devils Lake Tourism Director, a position she has held for over 13 years. In this role, Kenner will lead the Chamber and Tourism areas. She will transition into the shared directorship throughout April, officially taking the reins of both areas May 1.
“The Devils Lake Chamber and Tourism departments have worked together throughout the decades. Suzie has strong knowledge of both areas and a shared director approach will be fluid as the organization adapts to the new structure,” said Erin Wood, President of the Board of Directors.
For more information on the Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce, visit devilslakend.com.
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 New video series showcases trails and outdoor recreation in North Dakota
A new video series titled Connecting People and Places through Outdoor Recreation showcases the beauty, history and ecosystems of the many trails in North Dakota. In each YouTube video, the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department’s (NDPRD) state trails coordinator takes the viewer along to give an authentic glimpse of what state parks and other trail systems offer for outdoor recreation.
From winter’s spectacular views at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park to the cool trek through Sheyenne State Forest in the heat of summer, NDPRD invites the public to come along for the adventure and discover the many people and places that add to the quality of life in North Dakota.
The public is encouraged to subscribe to the NDPRD YouTube page to be alerted to new videos in the series.
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Workforce Innovation Grant deadline is March 24
The North Dakota Workforce Innovation Grant (NDWIG) provides grants to North Dakota companies to design and implement innovative plans to address their most demanding workforce challenges. The grant program must be used to address the negative impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on workforce and industries by encouraging companies and local partners to develop sustainable, innovative solutions to help businesses attract and retain workers and promote job security or wrap-around support for workers. The NDWIG is a competitive funding opportunity that aims to offset the cost of local, innovative solutions that permanently mitigate a workforce challenge in manufacturing, healthcare, tourism, energy, transportation & logistics, and childcare. The deadline to apply is this Friday, March 24, 2023.
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(Save the date) Strengthening Government to Government Partnerships and Relationships - June 21-22, Bismarck
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