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 Rural Grocery Store Sustainability Grants Awarded to 11 North Dakota Communities
Eleven rural communities across North Dakota have been awarded a combined $1 million through the Rural Grocery Store Sustainability Grant Program to support local food access and economic development. Each award includes a 20% community non-state match, ensuring local investment and sustainability.
2025 grant recipients include:
Bowdon Community Grocery Co-op (Bowdon), Bronson’s Marketplace (Bowman), City of Lakota (Lakota), D&K Grocery (Cavalier), Golva Grocery (Golva), Hoople Grocery (Hoople), Lindsey Grocery (Crosby), Munich Area Development Corp. (Munich), Prairie Gates (Sheyenne), Tokio General Store (Tokio), and Wimbledon Community Grocery (Wimbledon).
“The Rural Grocery Store Sustainability Grant is valuable to our region in helping communities sustain food access to residents and ensuring small businesses can serve communities for years to come," said Roosevelt Custer Regional Council Rural Growth Coordinator Andrea Bowman. "New coolers and automated systems will have a big impact on maintaining efficiency, reducing costs, and keeping fresh food options available.”
The program was made possible by the North Dakota Legislature through Senate Bill 2228.
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 Tigirlily Gold’s “Call It Home” Launches with North Dakota Pride and a Nashville Spotlight🎶
North Dakota’s own Tigirlily Gold is generating buzz with their new single, “Call It Home (A Song for North Dakota),” released in partnership with North Dakota Tourism. The song debuted live at ND Country Fest and was officially released by Sony and promoted in Nashville, bringing the spirit of the prairie to the heart of country music. The release included performing the song to a sold-out crowd at the Grand Ole Opry, which is also celebrating the duo as part of their 100th anniversary.
“There’s a million reasons why we’re proud to call it home,” say Krista Olson and Kendra Slaubaugh. “We poured love into every note.”
The Nashville meet and greet attracted hundreds and the paid media in downtown Nashville reached more than 450,000. The release helped amplify the campaign nationally, with a lyrical invitation to explore North Dakota. From the rugged trails of Theodore Roosevelt National Park to stargazing skies over Devils Lake, the lyrics highlight real places and experiences, turning music into a powerful motivator for travel.
This collaboration blends music, memory, and marketing that showcases North Dakota’s legendary charm through the voices of two of its proudest daughters.
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 Commerce Team Presents at ND League of Cities Annual Conference ✨
Members of the Commerce team shared timely insights at the 2025 North Dakota League of Cities Annual Conference, held Sept. 18–19 in Bismarck.
On Thursday Nigel Haarstad, State Demographer, drew a standing-room-only crowd for his session, Artificial Intelligence – Get On Board or Get Out of the Way. He broke down AI fundamentals, emerging trends, and how the technology can be applied in the workplace.
On Friday Maria Effertz Hanson, Director of Community Services, and Tracey Miller, Deputy Director of Business Development, presented From Blight to Business. They highlighted successful redevelopment efforts and demonstrated tools like LOIS and Lasso for marketing revitalized sites.
The strong turnout and engagement underscored the Commerce team’s leadership in innovation and community development.
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 Boost Workforce Potential with EnGen
North Dakota is partnering with EnGen, a free, online English upskilling platform designed to help job seekers and employees improve their language skills for career success.
With over 170 career-aligned courses, live instruction, and multilingual support, EnGen helps break down language barriers in fields like healthcare, transportation, and early childhood education.
Employers and community partners can now offer this resource at no cost.
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Also Happening at Commerce |
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North Dakota Leaders Attend 2025 IEDC Conference in Detroit
Commerce Economic Development Director Rich Garman joined local leaders at the 2025 International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Annual Conference in Detroit, MI, held Sept. 14–17.
The event offered North Dakota’s delegation valuable insights into bold, actionable strategies for community transformation and economic growth. With sessions focused on innovation, resilience, and inclusive development, attendees returned with fresh ideas to support local initiatives and strengthen economic development efforts across the state.
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ED&F Team Goes Beyond Limits at Fusion 2025
Members of Commerce’s Economic Development & Finance (ED&F) team attended the 2025 Fusion Conference in Bowman, where the theme “Beyond Limits” inspired attendees to break barriers and reimagine what’s possible.
Representing the team were Brian Opp, CEO of the ND Development Fund; Kevin Sonsolla, Value-Added Ag Business Development Manager; and Dave Lehman, Manufacturing Business Development Manager. Dave participated on stage, highlighting the team’s active role in the event. Fusion 2025 encouraged bold thinking, deeper purpose, and a mindset not limited by the past, but inspired by the future.
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French Press FAM Tour Showcases North Dakota
Commerce Global Marketing Manager Fred Walker hosted a French Press Familiarization (FAM) tour featuring acclaimed French journalist Sylvie, known for her work with Orkestra Tourism. We’re honored that she has chosen to spotlight North Dakota in an upcoming feature.
A 10-page editorial—including the cover story—is confirmed for publication in the prestigious French nature magazine TERRE SAUVAGE. The piece will highlight Native American history, culture, and the iconic American bison. Sylvie was joined by U.S.-based professional photographer Tony Bynum, with stops in Bismarck, Mandan, New Town, Watford City and Medora.
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Commerce Leaders Share Insights at Data Center Summit
At the Western Region Economic Development Data Center Summit in Williston, Commerce Energy and Economic Coordination Office Manager Tom Oakland, discussed the growing impact of data centers on North Dakota’s economy and infrastructure.
Later, Commerce Director of Economic Development and Finance Rich Garman joined a panel on workforce needs, highlighting strategies to meet labor demands in the expanding data center sector. The event brought together leaders from energy, education, and planning to explore the future of data infrastructure in the region.
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Grant Opportunity |
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2025 Autonomous Agriculture Grant Program 🌾
Deadline: Oct. 2, 2025 at 5 p.m. CDT
North Dakota is offering $7.5 million in competitive grants to accelerate the development and deployment of autonomous agriculture technologies, infrastructure, and workforce solutions.
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Funding Use: May include proving grounds, ag-tech commercialization, workforce training, unmanned systems, precision equipment, and land acquisition
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Eligibility: Nonprofits, public-private partnerships, or industry consortia with a permanent presence in North Dakota
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Application Opened: Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. CDT
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Funds Must Be Used By: June 30, 2027
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Evaluation: Scored by a state-industry committee on a 100-point scale
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Innovate ND Grant Program💡
Deadline: Oct. 2, 2025 at 5 p.m. CDT
Designed to grow North Dakota’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and support early-stage startups.
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Funding: Up to $50,000 per participant in reimbursable expenses
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Structure: Two phases, each offering up to $25,000
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Timeline: Six months per phase, 12 months total
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Focus Areas: Lean business model canvas, market validation, customer discovery, and metrics like revenue growth, capital raised, and customer interviews
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Eligibility: Entrepreneurs with a business presence in North Dakota
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Regional Workforce Impact Program (RWIP)🧭
Deadline: Dec. 9, 2025
Empowers regional workforce entities to develop and implement locally led solutions to workforce challenges.
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Tracks:
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Track A: Sector strategy planning
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Track B: Implementation of sector strategies developed within the past five years
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Eligibility: Economic development orgs, cities, chambers of commerce, job development authorities, tribal entities, and regional councils
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Requirements:
- Must include at least one industry partner
- Must demonstrate a 25% match commitment
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Upcoming Events |
The North Dakota Travel Industry Marketing Summit will be on Oct. 7 at the Harold Newman Arena on the University of Jamestown Campus in Jamestown. The Tourism Division will be presenting the 2026 Media Plan, research and insights, cooperative programs and more.
All travel and tourism business, agencies and organizations are invited to attend this free event.
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Medora will be the destination for the 2026 International Roundup - April 28 - May 1, 2026. This premier tradeshow is hosted by the tourism offices of Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. In just two days, nearly 80 regional suppliers and 40+ buyers from 10+ countries will connect through pre-scheduled appointments, generating an estimated $112 million in future travel revenue. It’s your chance to build global partnerships without leaving the Great American West!
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Power in Partnerships |
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Milnor’s Childcare Comeback
Across North Dakota, businesses and communities are proving that innovation, collaboration, and hard work can create lasting impact. Here's one powerful example of what happens when vision meets support:
When Milnor, North Dakota faced a childcare crisis in 2012, the community stepped up. A $187,500 North Dakota Child Care Grant and $62,500 in local match funding led to the creation of Youth Opportunity Unlimited (YOU), a nonprofit that built a 5,000-square-foot center—opened in 2015 and leased to a local entrepreneur.
As demand grew, YOU secured over $1 million in federal ARPA funds through the ND Rural Workforce Impact Program, plus $310,000 in local support, to expand the facility. The 2024 addition brought new classrooms, kitchen space, and offices.
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In The News |
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Global Talent Office Grant Program aims to fill workforce shortages, KFYR TV - “North Dakota was founded through immigration practices and that was how our population grew 100 years ago, with a very concerted effort around population-based immigration. And we’re at that place now where we do have a lot of open positions. And in order for our economy to thrive and our communities to thrive, we’re working to bring people in from all over the United States and people across the world.” – Janna Pastir
North Dakota tribes become a model for promoting Native tourism, ND Monitor - "Europeans do have strong interest in Native American culture and when they visit, they will take their time to visit multiple attractions. The more time, the more money they spend, and they really try to engage into wherever they’re at, they immerse themselves.” – Fred Walker
How North Dakota gets deals done with Rich Garman, Econ Dev Show - "Rich Garman highlights the benefits of a close-knit network where 'everybody knows everybody,' the ability to push projects forward at breakneck speed, and the importance of trust and reputation in such a small state."
Autonomous Ag in North Dakota, Farm Talk Podcast Sept. 2 - “We lead the nation in autonomous adoption.” – Kevin Sonsolla
Entrepreneurs benefit from Innovate ND Program, KFYR TV - “We already know that North Dakota is one of the most cost-effective states to do business, and so it makes it ideal for local entrepreneurs to establish and scale their companies right here. So if we invest in businesses that are already in North Dakota, we’re strengthening our communities and ensuring innovation.” – Carla Valentine
North Dakota’s running and biking events boost health, tourism and local spirit, Travel and Tour World - “Races are a big deal. People will travel to participate, train for a specific event, and often turn it into a long weekend.”– Sara Otte Coleman
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Did You Know
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North Dakota’s Workforce Development Division has supported over 60 workforce projects since 2022, including the creation of 1,600+ new licensed child care slots across 33 facilities and the deployment of mobile training labs that reached 600+ high school students with hands-on career exploration. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to address housing, infrastructure, and training gaps statewide.
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