2013 was an incredible year for our community. The continued growth in our traditional manufacturing areas, coupled with the exciting growth in our high technology companies, helped establish 2013 as a record year. Add in the surging entrepreneurial community here in Fargo Moorhead and you have a true sustainable framework for continued growth.

As positive as 2013 was, 2014 has the prospect of being even stronger, and the EDC team looks forward to strengthening our primary-sector base, developing a stronger workforce and continuing entrepreneurial development.  

Greater Fargo Moorhead EDC staff spent 2013 working on initiatives to support economic development.

Workforce Recruitment

GFMEDC partnered with the three large higher education institutions to attract alumni back to the region and continues to partner on various initiatives including emails, mailing and travel

• Concordia - mini-football giveaway
• NDSU - Banner ads on alumni football game watch party sites
• MSUM - Cup giveaway at various university events

GFMEDC staff partnered with regional employers to increase jobs on the CareerFM site and used marketing efforts to increase traffic to careers page.

Smart Connections - two events held to connect job seekers and employers in a casual environment

Workforce Development

GFMEDC works with K-12 and higher education to connect education to industry strengthening partnerships and developing future workforce

• Manufacturing Tours - Juniors and Seniors at Fargo and Moorhead Schools toured local manufacturing facilities to learn more about the industry and the benefits of a career with a local manufacturing company
• Health Tech & Trades Expo - GFMEDC continues to collaborate on the expo which exposes 2,000 9th graders to career options in the health, technology and trade industries.
•  STEM education partnerships - regionally and statewide in both North Dakota and Minnesota
• Collaborative meetings among Moorhead, Fargo and West Fargo K-12 leadership and the United Way of Cass Clay to focus on the education of 21st century skills and project-based learning and teacher preparation. 
• Teachers in Industry - GFMEDC continues to support and grow the teacher internship program.
• Sector Breakfasts - Continue to collaborate with MSUM on sector breakfasts to help the university evaluate and modify curriculum to better address student preparation relative to industry needs.

Marketing/Social Media efforts

• Created Quality of Life Magazine available in both hard copy and digital
• Marketed through print and online ads to attract residents and businesses 
• Facebook: 212 to 2,000 likes or fans 
• Twitter: 510 Followers, Almost 700 Tweets(Messages) about jobs and quality of life 
• Pinterest: Added Pinterest account to share quality of life photos 
• LinkedIn: Created LinkedIn presence to enhance GFMEDC communication

Developing Content and Improving Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

• Redesigned Greater Fargo Moorhead EDC website making the site more content driven and user friendly. Continually review and add content.
• Redesigned CareerFM website to increase usability and enhance look. Brought CareerFM into the GFMEDC site.
• Used Google AdWords and social media to increase traffic to site.

Investor relations 

• Produce monthly newsletter averaging a 35 - 40% open rate.
• Created blog through InForum's Area Voices
• Continued to develop relationships with local and regional media sending out more than 20 press releases 
• Participated in more than 300 meetings with GFMEDC investors and community partners
• Presented at 14 various functions including the United Way Kickoff and the Chamber Economic Outlook Forum.

GFMEDC staff partnered to sponsor and support several entrepreneurial initiatives.

Aimed at encouraging women to think outside their normal 9-5, the Women's Startup Weekend event will provide women the opportunity to learn the basics of creating a startup and launching a successful venture. 

All Startup Weekends follow the same basic model. Participants pitch ideas Friday night. Teams form around top ideas, and for 54 hours, those teams create a business model, code, design and do market validation. The weekend culminates with presentations in front of judges.

Women's Startup Weekend will be held at Dakota Medical Foundation, January 24-26.

Please encourage participation and mark your calendars for the presentations Sunday, January 26. For more information, go to  

www.northdakota.startupweekend.org

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