Summer breezes seem to be fading into autumn chills, I was recently in the upper Peninsula of Michigan, and as I was driving, I kept seeing patches of color in the trees. At one point I screamed, NO, it's too early, but as I kept driving I remembered these were the signs of fall. Fall means Octoberfest, color tours, fresh apples, harvests and FOOTBALL! 

The Greater Fargo Moorhead EDC has been working on finalizing its strategic plan with the help of Fourth Economy from Pittsburg PA., and we completed our 2015 budget and submitted it to the Cass County Commission in August.

We are also reviewing all of our programs and initiatives to determine their impact on the community and to determine if anything needs to be amended, re-evaluated or discontinued. As an organization, we want our programs and initiatives to be current and meaningful.

As we approach the fourth quarter, we are operating within our 2014 budget guidelines and projected to be so through 2014. We are reaching out to businesses who might be interested in investing into the mission of the EDC, so as you read this if you are not an investor please consider it. If you are an investor, please reach out to a colleague and recommend that they join you in supporting the GFMEDC!      

The National Corn Growers Association's Corn Board recently announced that Fargo will be the site for the National Agricultural Genotyping Center. The site selection committee chose Fargo after visiting both Fargo and Decatur, Illinois.

"This is a first-time-ever huge step for a farmer-led association that gives growers more influence on research agendas," said Dr. Richard Vierling, director of research at NCGA. We're really excited about Fargo and the commitment from the many forward-thinking people involved in this project. The commitment from North Dakota State University, North Dakota Corn Growers, Governor Jack Dalrymple, the state's congressional delegation and many others really helped sell the plan to our team."

The National Agricultural Genotyping Center will translate scientific discoveries, such as the information from the maize genome project, into solutions for production agriculture, food safety, functional foods, bioenergy and national security. 

More than thirty people attended a Southeast Regional STEM meeting at Microsoft in Fargo recently. Representatives from education and industry from North Dakota and Minnesota as well as North Dakota legislators attended the meeting.

Faciliated by the ND STEM Network and Praxis Strategy Group, the meeting provided an update on STEM Network activities and goals.

Greater Fargo Moorhead EDC staff joined Moorhead officials to participate in a Familiarization (FAM) Tour across the state of Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) brought six *site selectors into the state of Minnesota to tour the six regions. 

The site selectors toured select cities across the state and presented what they liked to the group. Site selectors noted collaborative efforts among business and city leaders, available land and buildings, workforce availability and responsive education institutions. A site selector specifically highlighted Moorhead's available land and city-owned business park.   
 

*A site selector is a professional who helps companies select a location to expand or locate their business. 

1 Million Cups 

Every Wednesday 9:15

FMCT The Stage

http://fargo.sites.1millioncups.com/  

The complete annual meeting is now available to watch.

Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation