Commerce News | June 12
This week, Fargo played host to RoleCall's Talent Attraction Summit, a gathering of economic development and talent attraction professionals from across the nation. Commerce staff were not only in attendance, but also took center stage with presentations. The summit highlighted a national trend – every state is pouring significant resources into talent attraction marketing. However, North Dakota, the first state to partner with RoleCall, has gone beyond marketing. Their approach incorporates infrastructure development, data-driven tracking, and a network of community champions. Commerce's Workforce Division Director, Katie Ralston Howe, shared insights on North Dakota's innovative spirit, specifically how they achieved stakeholder and legislative buy-in for their groundbreaking talent attraction efforts. The summit served as a platform for attendees to learn from North Dakota's success and explore how to implement similar strategies in their own communities.
Norwegian Ambassador to the U.S., Anniken Krutnes, visited North Dakota recently marking a key moment in Norway-North Dakota relations. Her tour included stops at Minot Air Force Base, Bismarck, and Fargo, sparking discussions on economic growth, education, and more. In Bismarck, she met with Commerce staff to explore collaboration in agriculture, energy, and aviation. This visit underscored the potential for shared innovation and sustainable energy initiatives.
Lieutenant Governor Tammy Miller joined Commerce for a Main Street visit to Casselton last week. The roundtable discussion at Central Cass Elementary Commons was a great opportunity to connect with community leaders and residents about their vision for a thriving Main Street. Casselton is a town on the rise, and we're thrilled to be a part of their journey towards a thriving Main Street!
On June 4th, members of the Fiscal, and Tourism & Marketing teams at Commerce participated in a Medora familiarization day, hosted by the TR Medora Foundation. Activities included a tour of the TR Presidential Library building site, industry meetings, pitchfork steak fondue and preview of the 2024 Medora Musical. Exciting things are happening in Medora and this year's Musical is fantastic. Be sure to add a visit to your summer plans.
The recent unveiling of a captivating mosaic in Mandan exemplifies the power of collaboration. The Mandan Public Library expressed its gratitude for the outpouring of community support that brought this project to life. This artistic centerpiece, a vibrant testament to creative expression, was made possible by a grant from Commerce's Vibrancy Grant Program, a program dedicated to fostering artistic endeavors and enriching the cultural landscape of North Dakota communities.
North Dakota's tourism industry is experiencing a boom in 2024, exceeding pre-pandemic levels in several areas. Website traffic soared by 65.5% compared to the first quarter of 2023, and while hotel occupancy dipped slightly, revenue actually increased by 4.4%. Theodore Roosevelt National Park is seeing strong rebounds in visitation after a cold January.
Marketing initiatives seem to be paying off as well. Social media engagement is up, with a 3.73% rise in users interacting with tourism content. Media relations efforts are impressive, reaching a staggering 460 million people through 436 media placements.
The full report provides a deep dive into these and other tourism industry metrics, including international marketing efforts and the Find the Good Life campaign, a successful program that targets potential residents.
Commerce's Community Development Coordinator, Anya Hondel, and Community Services Director, Maria Effertz, spent Monday and Tuesday visiting several towns in eastern North Dakota. These towns have either expressed an interest in becoming Main Street communities or have received grants aimed at fostering community growth. Their itinerary included stops in McVille, Larimore, Crystal, and Hoople. In Crystal, they toured a new community center, grocery store, gas station, and diner, all of which benefited from an implementation grant for sustainable foods. In Hoople, they visited a project funded by a slum and blight grant, where an old church is being renovated and transformed into housing.
As chair of the Western States Tourism Policy Council, Sara Otte Coleman led tourism and outdoor recreation meetings held in conjunction with the 40th Annual Western Governors Association. Directors from several western states met with Bureau of Land Management, National Association of Counties- Western Interstate region, Western Governor’s Office staff Jace Beehler (ND) and Kate Barlow (WY). The group developed plans for integrating the tourism industry and the value and responsibilities associated with the visitor economy into future work. Governor Burgum fully participated and spoke at the conference.
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