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Commerce presented its 2027–29 base budget and program activity to the Budget Section Committee, outlining priorities across five divisions, including economic development, workforce, tourism, housing and partner programs.
Highlights included the North Dakota Development Fund’s continued support for statewide business growth and innovation, progress through the Child Care Loan Program to expand affordable child care and updates on the Destination Development Grant Program. Workforce leadership outlined efforts to simplify program access and strengthen coordination across agencies. Housing updates covered federal programs and recent community revitalization work in rural areas.
Committee members asked questions about grant administration, the competitive grant process, transparency and collaboration with other agencies, associations and local and regional partners. Commerce outlined the solutions already implemented to strengthen these areas, including clearer review criteria, standardized scoring, improved applicant guidance and enhanced public‑facing access to grant information. Commerce also emphasized ongoing collaboration with state partners, industry associations and community organizations, which is strengthening program delivery and expanding the reach and effectiveness of services.
Commerce remains focused on strengthening the state’s economy, supporting communities and delivering programs with clarity, transparency and partnership.
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As the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library prepares to open, North Dakota is approaching a once‑in‑a‑generation moment. This milestone presents an opportunity for communities and businesses across the state to help visitors connect more deeply with Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy and to encourage travel beyond the Library itself.
You are invited to consider how your community, location or service already reflects aspects of Roosevelt’s life, interests or values. By highlighting those natural connections, we can create a statewide narrative, one that inspires visitors to explore more of North Dakota through experiences that echo TR’s story.
To participate, think about how your organization aligns with Roosevelt’s passions, experiences or influence. This might include nods to his love of the outdoors, history, conservation, adventure or community life. Your contribution could be an event, a promotion, an exhibit, a themed experience or a simple enhancement that helps your location join the broader Teddy Trail.
How to Get Involved
Share your proposed idea or connection by emailing Alicia Jolliffe by March 31, 2026. Submissions should be brief, clear and actionable so they can be considered as part of the statewide campaign.
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Commerce’s Division of Community Services recently visited five communities to review ongoing projects and explore new opportunities for energy efficiency investments. Highlights included Lake Region State College in Devils Lake, where SEP funding is supporting an expanded wind energy program through an $803,000 long‑term grant and a recent $168,000 equipment upgrade. In Langdon, Energy Conservation Grants have helped convert public facilities to LED lighting, improving efficiency and lowering costs. Larimore Public Schools has also benefited from updated lighting and a new boiler system, creating more efficient and reliable facilities for students and staff.
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North Dakota has earned the 2024 per‑capita Governor’s Cup, a national recognition of corporate project success. While the rise in project activity may seem sudden, it reflects years of quiet groundwork led by Commerce, strengthening community capacity, advancing site readiness, investing in infrastructure planning and supporting local economic development partners. That foundation is now paying off, with communities like Fargo, Grand Forks and Minot earning top metro rankings and major projects such as the $450 million Agristo expansion choosing North Dakota.
Governor Kelly Armstrong highlighted the state’s “operational, not aspirational” approach, which mirrors Commerce’s strategy across rural development, value‑added agriculture, energy innovation and emerging tech. The Governor’s Cup win underscores the impact of this partnership‑driven model and North Dakota’s commitment to helping communities compete and grow.
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DJ Campbell, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Sanford Health and Chair of the North Dakota Workforce Development Council, recently spoke at the National Governors Association Winter 2026 Workforce Development Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. His panel explored how rural health transformation can serve as an economic driver by aligning health, workforce and economic development strategies. The discussion highlighted ways states can expand access to care, support rural hospitals and clinics, strengthen talent pipelines and improve labor force participation.
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NDSU is studying how to better support business owners, and NDWBC is helping ensure voices from across North Dakota are included. Participants receive a short self‑assessment, three free confidential coaching sessions and a post‑assessment.
Participation is voluntary and confidential.
Interested business owners can reply to this email. Resource partners are encouraged to share this opportunity.
Visit Minot has received a state grant to lead a regional hospitality workforce initiative focused on strengthening talent across attractions, retail, restaurants and events. The effort will include a workforce analysis, exploration of new technologies and development of a long‑term regional strategy. Employers will be invited to share insights through interviews and roundtable discussions to help shape the plan.
The 2026 Statewide Needs Assessment is now underway. This survey collects essential community insights used to inform the Community Services Block Grant and guide priority setting, strategic planning, program design, funding justification and statewide trend analysis.
Learn more and access the survey through the Community Action Partnership of North Dakota.
Fred Walker, Global Marketing Manager, is in the Benelux Region leading, training sessions with tour operators and speed‑dating style media appointments, all part of strengthening partnerships and expanding our international sales.
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Our Economic Development & Finance Director, Rich Garman, recently traveled to Washington, DC for the IEDC Leadership Summit, where leaders from across the country gathered to discuss economic development, investment and emerging opportunities. The trip focused on sharing North Dakota’s story, advancing policy alignment and building partnerships that help communities move projects forward with speed and certainty. Senator Kevin Cramer was also presented with the 2025 Industry Leaders Congressional Leadership Award.
This engagement helped strengthen national connections and reinforce North Dakota’s reputation as a state where collaboration drives results.
Early March took our Commerce team to the University of Minnesota, where our workforce staff connected with students about the wide range of career opportunities available in North Dakota.
Global Talent Administrator, Paige Kuntz, and Talent Acquisition Specialist, Sydney Helgeson, highlighted how students can Find the Good Life in North Dakota—whether through meaningful careers, strong communities or the state’s growing industries.
Guillermo Fregoso from our ED&F team attended the NEXT+ Emerging Leaders event in Tucson, connecting with peers nationwide and learning how economic developers are addressing shared challenges. He also gained insights from senior leaders on career growth, leadership and success in the field.
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Applications open March 24, 2026
The Fly-In Grant Program provides up to $25,000 in matching funds for communities to host fly‑in events that connect job seekers with employers and showcase local quality of life. The program will help strengthen statewide workforce efforts by helping communities build meaningful connections with prospective workers and by giving candidates a firsthand look at the opportunities North Dakota offers.
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March 23, 2026 | 1 P.M. - 3 P.M.
Shores Event Center
Learn how to better engage with North Dakota Tourism to grow travel and tourism in the lakes region.
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March 25, 2026 | 1 P.M. - 3 P.M.
Learn how to better engage with North Dakota Tourism to grow travel and tourism in the Red River Valley.
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April 15 - 18, 2026 | Grand Forks, ND
Agenda Now Available!
Get a first look at what’s ahead at this year’s Travel Industry Conference that is packed with inspiring keynotes, hands‑on breakout sessions, and unmatched networking with tourism professionals from across North Dakota. Whether you're building community tourism infrastructure or promoting North Dakota’s standout attractions, this is the event you won’t want to miss.
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May 5-7, 2026 | Bismarck, ND
EDND’s SparkED Training provides practical, hands-on learning in core economic development skills, with a focus on rural communities. It’s designed for new and experienced professionals, public officials and community leaders looking to build capacity and support local growth.
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May 11 - 14, 2026 | Detroit, MI
XPONENTIAL is a yearly gathering of global leaders and end users in the uncrewed systems and robotics industry. North Dakota will be represented in the "North Dakota Row" - a grouping of ND based exhibitors on the Xponential expo floor, showcasing the state’s strong ecosystem, leadership in uncrewed systems, defense innovation and advanced manufacturing.
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May 17 - 21, 2026 | Fort Lauderdale, FL
IPW is the leading marketplace for international travel to the U.S., connecting global buyers, media and U.S. suppliers through scheduled appointments and networking to drive real inbound travel business. North Dakota tourism team members and partners will be promoting the state at this year's event.
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Milnor has transformed a childcare shortage into a major community success. After securing early grant funding and strong local support, the community built a licensed childcare center in 2015, and demand continued to grow. With additional state and local investment, the center expanded again in 2024 and now serves up to 122 children as the only licensed childcare facility in Sargent County. The project has strengthened the local workforce by ensuring families have reliable, high-quality childcare.
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Founding Members tickets go on sale March 23, 2026, at 10 A.M. MST
General public tickets go on sale March 30, 2026, at 10 A.M. MST
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The North Dakota Global Talent Office is offering no-cost access to EnGen, a personalized, industry‑aligned English learning platform that helps workers build the language skills needed for in-demand jobs. EnGen provides more than 170 on‑demand courses with support in 70+ languages, plus coaching and live workshops across sectors like healthcare, skilled trades, early childhood education, technology and more. The platform has been shown to improve English proficiency, job readiness and even employee retention.
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