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Photo Courtesy of Fargo Moorhead CVB |
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Greetings!
Fargo Moorhead MSA has an unemployment rate sitting at 4.7% (not seasonally adjusted) compared to the U.S. unemployment rate of 8.5%. To see the GFMEDC's latest economic indicators, please check out the following link.
February Economic Indicators |
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President's Report: businesses reporting growth
I've had the pleasure of making more than a dozen "Business Retention" calls in the last month to primary-sector companies in our region. I am excited to report that there is strong growth across all business sectors!
Our manufacturers had a strong 2012 and the first quarter of 2013 seems to be surpassing estimates. Automation and streamlined processes have met increased production demands without requiring significant increases in full-time employees. As we benchmark this information with state and local jobs and industry reports, we find similar findings - manufacturing/production up and manufacturing jobs balanced with minor additions.
Regional technology companies continue to thrive with job gains and projected growth in the double digits. The area continues to attract interest from technology-sector companies looking for a region with strong infrastructure and a talented, highly-educated workforce.
The availability of that highly-trained and educated workforce will be the number one issue facing our region over the next several years. To maintain our growth, we must be able to produce and attract the workforce for the new global economy we find ourselves competing in. |
Mark Vaux joins GFMEDC as executive vice president of business development
 The GFMEDC recently hired Mark Vaux as executive vice president of business development.
Vaux will focus on primary-sector business retention and expansion and will be responsible for all new business attraction and location services for companies considering relocating to the FM area.
Vaux will also coordinate all activities related to strengthening our technology sectors and will act as the primary liaison between our business and higher education partners.
Prior to accepting the position, Vaux was the economic development and community services director at the City of West Fargo. |
Business-led Flood Task Force Group testified in front of the ND Senate Appropriations Committee in support of the FM Diversion Project
"We need a diversion. Studies show we cannot achieve 100 year flood protection with levees alone," Ann McConn, Fargo Market President of Alerus Financial and Vice Chair of the Business Leaders Task Force for Permanent Flood Protection recently testified in front of the ND Senate Appropriations Committe in support of House Bill 1020. The group is a collaboration of the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber, the GFMEDC and local businesses to support funding for the FM area diversion project without restriction.
McConn went on to testify about the overall economic impact the region has on the state. "Fargo has been an economic engine for the state, and we want it to continue to grow and thrive."
Along with McConn's testimony, the US Army Corps of Engineers provided a brief overview of the project. Diversion Authority Chairman, Darrell Vanyo, Cass County Commissioner, Ken Pawluck, Fargo City Commissioner, Brad Wimmer and Oxbow Mayor, Jim Nyhoff, testified in support of HB 1020 but opposed the amendments which would significantly restrict the use of the funding.
The FM Business Leaders Task Force For Permanent Flood Protection is in support of HB 1020 but is opposed to ammendments to the bill.
The next step for the bill is a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing. |
Gates to help dedicate Concordia College's business school
Bill Gates will speak at Concordia College on April 27 as part of dedication festivities for the newly renovated Grant Center, home of Concordia's Offutt School of Business.
"Mr. Gates serves as an exceptional representative of the innovative spirit and dedication to responsible engagement in the world that defines both the Offutt School of Business and our liberal arts college as whole," said President William Craft.
Concordia's Offutt School of Businessis an undergraduate business program focused on four critical skills: global understanding, entrepreneurship, ethics, and leadership.
Built on a strong tradition, the Offutt School offers majors in business, international business and accounting with concentrations in economics, finance, healthcare administration, management information systems, marketing, mathematical finance, and organizational leadership.
Gates' visit will include a public talk and a question-and-answer session with students. He's expected to address how philanthropy can drive change in the world.
Gates is co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He co-founded Microsoft in 1975 and left his full-time role with the organization in 2008 to focus on the foundation. The foundation partners with organizations around the world to tackle challenges with poverty, healthcare, and education.
The world's second-richest man, according to Forbes, also strives to persuade his peers to give away half their wealth or more through the "Giving Pledge."
Gates' work as an entrepreneur and a philanthropist carries a valuable message, said Christoffer Birch-Jensen, a Concordia junior from Sweden.
"Not only has he created wealth, but he's done something with it," said the international business student. "It's pretty amazing to get an influential person like that to come here."
More information |
House Bill 1228 to support the ND STEM Network passes the Senate
HB 1228 recently received a Do Pass committee recommendation and passed the Senate unanimously on March 21. HB 1228 was initiated by the ND STEM Network. The bill was ammended to be an ongoing appropriation of $160,000 per biennium versus the original language which provided $400,000 on a one-time basis.
The money would support the ND STEM Network which is a collaboration of K-12, higher education, government, economic development and industry partners. Grant recipient must focus on facilitating, coordinating and advancing STEM initiatives in North Dakota.
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Microsoft and Governor Dalrymple partner in a first-of-its kind digital alliance
The State of North Dakota and Microsoft are forming a digital alliance. The alliance will start by creating opportunities to provide more access to Microsoft training and resources to North Dakotans kindergarten through graduate school.
Governor Dalrymple emphasized the importance of the alliance to our economic growth "We cannot expand our economy unless we have students trained and ready to take advantage of these opportunities," said Governor Dalrymple.
Representatives from the state and from Microsoft will actively participate in the digital alliance, ensuring that Microsoft technology, training and resources reach North Dakotans and strengthen skills.
The alliance is a three-year commitment projected to impact North Dakotans in every corner of the state. Programs will be made available in K-12 schools, colleges and universities, adult learning centers, job service centers and local libraries among others.
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ND Ranks 4th in state export growth
Eleven states achieved double-digit growth in annual exports last year, and North Dakota ranked fourth among them with a 26-percent increase. North Dakota's exports increased from $3.39 billion in 2011 to $4.29 billion in 2012.
"U.S. exports supported 9.8 million jobs in 2012," Francisco Sanchez, the under secretary for international trade, said in a letter to Dalrymple. "This growth would not have been possible without your contributions."
"North Dakota's reputation for producing high-quality products is growing all the time in markets all over the world," Dalrymple said. "We will continue our focus on expanding North Dakota's business opportunities in high-demand foreign markets."
Last year, North Dakota businesses shipped their products to more than 140 foreign countries. One in every seven manufacturing jobs in North Dakota is dependent on export sales. North Dakota's leading merchandise export products include machinery, processed foods and electronics. The state's largest foreign markets include Canada, Mexico, Australia and Russia. |
Innovate ND Winner Lift'n Buddy sells idea to national company
Lift'n Buddy, a 2011 Innovate ND winner, was recenlty sold to Southworth International Group, the world's largest manufacturer of ergonomic material handling equipment.
Lift'n Buddy is a mobile lifting device that combines the best of a standard hand-truck's durability and functionality, with automatic lifting and lowering capabilities.
"North Dakota's future growth depends to a large degree on our ability to grow businesses and our economy from within," Anderson said. "Lift'n Buddy is a great model for entrepreneurs who have a promising business idea and the desire to build that venture right here in our state."
Lift'n Buddy was also the recipient of the 2012 Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Awards for Technology Design and 2012 Gold Edison Award. The mobile lifting device is currently being used in companies across the U.S.
"I am extremely pleased that I was able to make good use of North Dakota state resources in growing my venture here," Aaron Lamb, General Manager of Lift'n Buddy said. "The state of North Dakota was our angel fund and provided us the opportunity to launch our product. I have a tremendous sense of accomplishment that Lift'n Buddy was acquired by a global company with the same mission and vision as mine."
"Our team has not only been impressed by the accomplishments of the Lift'n Buddy team but we have also admired the incubation environment in North Dakota that has allowed them to develop their idea," Brian McNamara, CEO of Southworth International Group, said. "We look forward to our future in North Dakota."
Southworth (www.southworthproducts.com) is the world's largest manufacturer of ergonomic materials handling equipment for vertical lifting and work positioning, designed to improve worker productivity while reducing the potential for worker injuries.
Lift 'n Buddy (http://www.liftnbuddy.com) was developed at the NDSU Research and Technology Park. |
400 cups of coffee + 7 cases of caffeine + 8 teams (and plenty of hard work, great ideas and creativity) = North Dakota's first successful Startup Weekend 
The region's first Startup Weekend was a sold out event. Roughly 60 people participated in the 54-hour entrepreneurial event in downtown Fargo.
The event, March 8 - 10, brought together entrepreneurs, designers, developers and startup enthusiasts who took an idea from concept to launch.
Eight teams formed around ideas presented Friday night and worked through the weekend to turn their concepts into a valid startups.
The winning team created a startup called Eathos. The company would produce and market an app that allows restaurants to receive instant feedback on their customer service. Along with the bill a customer would receive a device allowing them to rate the customer service. They would also have the opportunity to provide additional comments.
Local CEOs, founders, and startup veterans provided expertise and gave talks on their experiences in the fast-paced world of technology startups.
The GFMEDC helped organize and was a sponsor of the event. |
Test for heparin contaminants wins NDSU's Innovation Challenge '13
Erin Nyren-Erickson, a graduate student in pharmaceutical sciences at North Dakota State University, took top honors in Innovation Challenge '13, the second annual student innovation competition sponsored by NDSU and the NDSU Research and Technology Park. The winners were announced at an awards ceremony on Feb. 28.
The competition was part of the fourth annual Innovation Week, Feb. 26-28, to showcase and encourage student ingenuity at NDSU. It included three tracks: tangible innovations, intangible innovations such as services, processes or methods, and corn-based innovations. Twenty-two student teams presented their ideas for new, innovative products or services.
"In just two short years, NDSU students have taken the Innovation Challenge competition to a new level," said Brenda Wyland, interim executive director of the NDSU Research and Technology Park. "The innovation taking place on campus is astounding, and we can't wait to see these new ideas in the marketplace."
Nyren-Erickson, one of 22 finalists, won the $5,000 tangible innovations track and the $5,000 best in show prize for a new kind of test for contaminants in heparin, a blood-thinning drug that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires to be screened. |
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CareerFM wants your jobs
Your investment includes the opportunity to post your jobs on CareerFM.com. We ask that you limit the jobs to degree-required positions in the Fargo Moorhead Metro.
Your jobs enhance our website and allow us to better market the region to potential residents. We appreciate your help!
Please contact Tifanie Gelinske, Director of Workforce Development with questions tgelinske@gfmedc.com. |
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Do you have news to share?
If you have news items you would like included in an upcoming newsletter, please send the ideas or articles to lgnelson@gfmedc.com. Thank you! |
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The mission of the GFMEDC is to grow and diversify the economy in Cass County, ND and Clay County, Minn. through the attraction, retention and expansion of primary-sector employers.
A primary-sector company is one that brings new wealth into the community through the sale of its goods and services outside the trade area. This new wealth circulates and supports all other sectors of the local economy, thus making the primary sector the principle driver of economic growth.
Thank you for your continued support of the Greater Fargo Moorhead EDC and economic development. We look forward to your feedback.
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