I'm not quite sure where the 1st Quarter of 2015 has gone, but one thing that helped it move quickly has been our involvement in the 2015-16 legislative session in Bismarck!

The EDC has made more than a dozen trips to Bismarck to testify before various Committees over the last 12 weeks. It has been rewarding and frustrating at the same time. With the decline in oil prices and the loss of oil tax revenue, the legislative atmosphere went from exciting and positive to very cautious.

We certainly appreciate the position all our legislators find themselves in during these financially uncertain times, but there is legislation that needs to continue or be created to keep North Dakota moving in a positive direction.

The major areas the EDC has been focusing on is the State Water Commission Budget (2020), Department of Commerce's budget (1018), State Board of Higher Education Budget (1003), Automation Tax Credit (SB 2340), Apportionment Bill (SB 2292), Sales Tax Exemption for Data Centers (HB 1089). There are components of other legislation that we are tracking, but these are the primary pieces.

Without going into detail, we are very concerned about the following issues:

1. The majority of all higher education capital projects have been cut completely or downsized significantly. This is critical for both NDSU and NDSCS.

2. Major pieces of the Commerce budget have been significantly reduced or cut completely, like Research ND, Innovate ND, Workforce initiatives, Technology Based Entrepreneurial Grants (TBEG) among a few.

3. The long-term funding for the Red River Water Supply initiative was cut from the Governor's recommended $150,000,000 to $5,000,000 in each of the next two Biennium's.

4. The Automation Tax Credit, as part of SB 2340, is fighting an uphill battle to be renewed. 

SB 2340 Automation Tax Credit Bill

SB 2340 The Automation Tax Credit gives primary-sector companies tax relief for purchases of machinery and equipment for the purpose of automating manufacturing processes.   

The EDC's Jim Gartin, President, and Mark Vaux, Executive Vice President testified and gathered letters of support.

HB2340 was given a 10-4 Do Not Pass recommendation by the House Finance and Taxation Committee. The bill was reconsidered by the committee on March 25 and received an 8-6 Do Pass recommendation and was referred to House Appropriations Committee.  

House - 4/8/2015 Reported back amended, do pass, referred to Appropriations 

House - 4/9/2015 On calendar for consideration of amendments

SB 2292 Apportionment Business Income Bill

SB 2292 relates to apportionment of business income and the multistate tax compact; to repeal section 57-59-02 of the North Dakota Century Code relating to the optional computation provision of the multistate tax compact; and to provide an effective date. 

Senate - 2/18/2015 - Second reading, passed, yeas 46 nays 1  

House - 3/2630/2015 - Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 75 nays 19 and went to conference committee

HB 1003 Higher Education/Workforce Bill

HB 1003 relates to a unified workforce, vocational, and technical education program system, the workforce education advisory council, the required use of electronic mail, file server administration, database administration, application server, and hosting services, capital project budget requests, audits of higher education computer systems, annual reports regarding scholarships, the student financial assistance program, the scholars program, and higher education audits.

GFMEDC President Jim Gartin testified in favor of HB 1003 and its impact on the region.

House - 2/25/2015 - Second reading, passed, yeas 69 nays 23, Emergency clause carried 

Senate -3/25/2015 Forwarded to Committee Hearing

Being considered by Senate Appropriations Committee

HB 1328 UAV Surveillance Limit Bill

HB 1328 would provide for limitations on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance. The GFMEDC is monitoring the bill.

House - 2/23/2015 - Second reading, passed, yeas 74 nays 19 

Senate - 4/2/2015 Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 29 nays 17 

HB 1018 Operation Intern, Department of Commerce Budget

HB 1018 relates to internships, apprenticeships, and work experience opportunities; and to declare an emergency.

GFMEDC President Jim Gartin testified in favor of HB 1018 and its impact on the region's future and current workforce. Tifanie Gelinske also testified on the importance of Teachers in Industry.

2/25/2015 House - Second reading, passed, yeas 79 nays 13, Emergency clause carried 

3/19/2015 Senate - Forwarded to Committee Hearing

4/9/2015 Senate - Being considered by Senate Appropriations Subcommittee

HB 1393 S.T.E.M. Bill

HB 1393 would provide an appropriation for a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics advancement initiative.

2/23/2015 House - Second reading, passed, yeas 56 nays 37 

4/08/2015 Senate - Reported back, do pass, placed on calendar 

4/9/2015 Senate - On Senate Calendar for Final Passage

The ND STEM network requested $100,000 of funds to support the work of the network. The GFMEDC is part the ND STEM Network.

HB 1443 - Dakota Fiber Initiative

HB 1443 incudes a provision that specifies inclusion of new conduit for telecommunications infrastructure in eligibility for the infrastructure revolving loan fund, alongside traditional infrastructure.

Mark Vaux, Executive Vice President of the GFMEDC testified and gathered letters of support.

2/26/2015 House - Second Reading, passed yeas 88 nays 0
3/10/2015 Senate - Committee Hearing 

4/9/2015 - Senate - On Senate Floor for consideration of amendments that remove the eligibility for telecommunications infrastructure

The Valley Prosperity Partnership (VPP) engaged more than 40 North Dakota legislators and elected state officials during a legislative social in Bismarck.

"The legislative social on March 23 provided a great opportunity to discuss the VPP's mission and priorities of workforce, water and research," said Tammy Miller, VPP Co-chair and CEO Border States Electric. "The VPP steering committee enjoyed building relationships with the dedicated members of the North Dakota legislature. We look forward to working together to enhance the regional economy and quality of life."

The VPP is currently focused on three of it's six initiatives: workforce, water security and research capacity and relevancy. The VPP will begin to work on the final three initiatives, forming working groups, this spring. Those initiatives are entrepreneurial activity and output, infrastructure development and capital improvements and finally, perceptions of the Valley.   
 

Twenty seven regional leaders representing industry and higher education signed on in February 2013. The region-wide initiative is focused on long term economic growth and sustainability of the Red River Valley. For more information: Valley Prosperity Partnership.

 

EDC The Unexpected Story YouTube

We invite you to share the video or go ahead and embed it into your website or other social media channels.

Cultivate.You is a free two-hour event featuring two keynote presentations followed by question-and-answer with the audience. 

This year will feature David Niu, Founder & CEO of TINYpulse (Seattle, WA) and Clay Collins, Co-Founder & CEO of LeadPages (Minneapolis, MN). David and Clay will talk about their journeys as entrepreneurs as well as show you how determination and creativity can turn any dream into a great business. 

Cultivate.You

May 20, 2015

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Fargo Theatre

It's free but will fill up so please grab yourself a ticket and join us!

More info on the event and speakers. 

What is North Dakota Women's Startup Weekend? Their event page sums it up best: No talk; all action. Launch a startup in 54 hours.  

Friday night, participants pitch an idea. The ideas are voted on and teams form around the most popular ideas. Then the teams work through the weekend to turn their idea into a viable business. Sunday night they do final presentations to an audience and a panel of judges. The judges provide feedback and pick a winning pitch. 

Our president, Jim Gartin, will be part of the panel of judges.

Friday, April 17-19

Dakota Medical Foundation 

More information

Buy Tickets

A spotlight on our programs...

Here at the GFMEDC, we work many collaborative initiatives, support community efforts and manage some sizable projects of our own. Please take a look at what we have going on here. You can see the complete list in an online booklet on our website under What We Do.  

The GFMEDC developed this tool to provide an overview of state incentive in North Dakota and Minnesota for area businesses. These books are also regularly distributed to local lending institutions and other service providers to give information on opportunities for local businesses.

Professional service provider awareness meetings

The GFMEDC creates and maintains relationships with commercial brokers and business bankers to inform them of the various Smartbook programs as well as GFMEDC programs such as Speakers Bureau and Education that Works and to discuss the workforce strategic plan efforts.  

Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) Visit program

The GFMEDC visits approximately 150-200 primary-sector businesses each year to learn directly from companies any industry trends, opportunities and challenges companies might be facing. Through these visits, the EDC informs business leaders about incentives, assists in expansions and helps with workforce needs. We will continue to discuss local GFMEDC programs, such as Speakers Bureau, during these visits. Our goal is to be able to anticipate trends in order to help our community prepare for changes and opportunities. In 2014, of the companies we met with, we provided assistance to 53% and of that, 42% turned into expansion projects.
 

1 Million Cups 

Every Wednesday 9:15

FMCT The Stage

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

E-Commerce Breakfast

April 14

7:30 a.m. - 8:30

Eide Bailly, LLP

310 17th Avenue South

Fargo

Tickets ($10)

Startup Drinks
April 14

5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Appareo Systems

Sign up

The complete annual meeting is now available to watch.

Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation