GFMEDC Smart Brief

Fargo Moorhead MSA has an unemployment rate of 1.8% (not seasonally adjusted) compared to the U.S. unemployment rate of 4.8%. To see the GFMEDC's latest economic indicators, please check out the following link.

November Economic Indicators

President's Report - 2015 closing strong for Fargo Moorhead

2015 is coming to a close with the same excitement and vigor as we started the year.

In this newsletter, you'll find information about Fargo having one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation at 1.8%. I guess this helps answer the question on why workforce issues are so important to our region. The bottom line is we need MORE GREAT PEOPLE to come and join us in this remarkable place.

Read on to learn about who the Milliken Institute named as the #1 Small Metro for the second straight year. You will also learn about our most recent Smart Move Industry Summit, our new FM Magazine and the recent Health, Tech and Trades Expo.

The GIF has some exciting news on how they can support non primary business sectors in order to answer some of our community's biggest social needs. The EDC continues to focus on education at all levels, and we'll highlight some new and rebranded programs to bring industry into the classroom.

This region is truly the envy of communities around the country. Fargo continues to receive accolade after accolade. When we travel and say we are from Fargo, there is an immediate recognition of who we are. I bet you are receiving the same in your travels!

Smart Move Summit on Manufacturing

"I was handed a blueprint for sponsoring a student."

For some participants, the EDC's recent Manufacturing Summit provided ideas they could take back to their organization and implement right

away. Other ideas will go to a committee to flesh out the details.

During the first annual Smart Move Summit on Manufacturing, industry and education leaders tossed around plenty of ideas. Topics, focused mainly on recruitment and retention, included creating flexible work schedules, sponsoring equipment at high schools and eliminating out of state tuition to recruit more students.

The purpose of the two-hour summit was to tackle challenges and build upon opportunities in the manufacturing sector.

The summit started with industry and education leaders presenting successful initiatives or challenges they face. Small groups brainstormed ideas and challenges. The EDC took notes and boiled it down to three themes.

A committee has formed to find solutions and build upon opportunities within the sector.

The committee will focus on the following:

Training

Reclaiming students, job shadowing, clear career paths, soft/hard skill training

Legislative

Addressing the needs of manufacturing in ND and MN, funding for workforce and other needs

Recruitment

Attracting workforce from outside the region, marketing, culture and parent-focused efforts

Our final video "Eat" focuses on the region's many tasty options

In a continued effort to dispel misconceptions about the FM region, we released our final video of a seven video series.

This video focuses on eating and includes everything from fine dining to s'mores at the lake. Take a look and please share or use as you promote FM.

Fargo, ND - Minn. MSA ranked #1 for best small metros by Milken Institute

According to the Milken report, the Fargo Moorhead MSA* retained its number one spot (for the second year) on the list thanks to our well-diversified economy which helped offset declines in the oil sector.

"Fargo outpaced the national average in both job and income gains, most notably in the five years ending in 2014."

The report also mentions the increase in technology startups, and Microsoft's decision to expand in Fargo.

Full Report

* The MSA or metropolitan statistical area is listed as Fargo, ND- Minn. MSA and includes all of Cass and Clay Counties.

Fargo Moorhead Magazine Released - request your copies today!

Stories highlight Fargo Moorhead's quality of life, business climate, attractions, restaurants and must-do activities. Articles focus on how Fargo Moorhead residents enjoy the proximity to the lakes country; the cultural and economic impact of the region's colleges and universities as well as the area's growing business sectors and the local initiative to recruit, retain and develop the talent to support them.

Other articles highlight the quality-of-place amenities that attract people to the Fargo Moorhead region including high-quality

public and private schools, top-rated health-care facilities and a robust business climate.

For a free digital version of the magazine optimized for iPads, tablets and other mobile devices, visit

http://www.livability.com/nd/fargo/digital-magazine.

Health Tech & Trades Expo exposes 3,000 9th graders to local career opportunities

More than 3,000 ninth graders flooded the FargoDome recently to learn about career options within health, technology and the trades.

"It was great way to educate 9th graders on IT positions. Not everyone thinks that a health insurance company or a manufacturing company has IT opportunities. We were able to let them know almost every company has at least one position that is related to IT," Samantha Mohr, Talent Partner, BCBSND

Sixty employers exhibited at the 13th Annual Health, Tech & Trades Career Expo in early December. Ninth graders from regional schools attended the expo to experience a variety of careers through hands-on demonstrations.

In a pilot program this year, students from rural schools could attend break-out sessions where they could do hands-on projects focused on science, technology, engineering and math.

The GFMEDC has been part of the planning committee for the expo since its inception. The initiative is led by the Home Builders Association of Fargo Moorhead.

Emerging Prairie to host 1 Million Thanks

Please join us at Emerging Prairie's 1 Million Thanks event. The event highlights the past year's successes in the entrepreneurial community.

The Greater Fargo Moorhead EDC has been a strong supporter of Emerging Prairie, both financially and through any in-kind support that is needed. This grass roots organization has helped drive and support what is becoming a noteworthy entrepreneurial ecosystem.

We hope you can attend. We have it on good authority that our GFMEDC Board will be honored for their support of Emerging Prairie's efforts. And there's a champagne toast at the end!

Tickets

Growth Initiative Fund extends Flex PACE loan to include affordable housing and licensed child care programs

The Growth Initiative Fund (GIF) board, under the management of the GFMEDC, recently expanded beyond primary-sector companies to include Bank of North Dakota's Flex PACE* affordable housing and Flex PACE licensed child care programs.

The GIF has participated as the Cass County community funder in the Bank of North Dakota's (BND) PACE and Flex PACE programs for more than 20 years. A lead lender and BND participate on a borrower's term loan, and in conjunction with a separate community loan, the programs provide an interest buy-down that can temporarily reduce the borrower's rate of interest to as low as 1%.

Over the past years, PACE and Flex PACE participation in Cass County was available to primary-sector companies. A primary sector company is one that through knowledge or labor adds value to a product, process or service; a significant portion of their revenue comes from outside the state and region.

The GIF's participation is through a low-interest, deferred payment loan, which is typically due for repayment in 5-10 years (10 year maximum) depending on the lead loan structure. The borrower will work with their lender and BND on the lead loan.

* PACE stand for Partnership in Assisting Community Expansion and is a loan program through the Bank of North Dakota. BND's Flex PACE Program

EDC's Partners in the Classroom connects industry to education

The GFMEDC has been busy connecting industry with K-12 classrooms through Partners in the Classroom.

So far this year, the EDC has connected 42 speakers or judges to classrooms in West Fargo, Fargo, Moorhead and Dilworth. Our organization is also helping recruit volunteers for NDSU's Bison BEST Robotics competition in December.

For educators, the speakers reinforce teaching and give students real life examples of education at work.

Shannon Wiedman, CoSchedule, recently spoke to a class about coding.

"Shannon engaged students with technical information, visuals, and personal experience appropriate for middle school students. They loved her! She has a natural ability to inform and entertain, which is tough to do with middle schoolers! I would definitely recommend and welcome Shannon again," Penny Aipperspach, Career Education Coordinator, Sheyenne Middle School & Liberty Middle School, West Fargo.

What did the students have to say?

"There is a lot to put into building a website."

"That girls can do it too instead of just boys."

"That you can create things that were never thought of, you could change a lot of things, and it's only a click away."

Neil Brackin named president of Weather Modification, Inc.

Neil Brackin has been appointed to president of Weather Modification, Inc. Brackin, who rejoined the team in 2014 as vice president of Flight Operations at Fargo Jet Center, will continue to build on the foundation of WMI's position as a global leader in modern atmospheric research and cloud seeding as well as new business development in emerging technologies.

"Our opportunity goes beyond the financial measures of success and extends to the significant global impact that our research and water management solutions will increasingly deliver to our clients. We pioneered many of the technologies and delivery in this field and have a world class reputation on which to build and expand," says Brackin

Brackin is an aviation industry leader with extensive experience in all aspects of aircraft operations. He recently served as Director of Air Transportation for General Mills in Minneapolis, was a member of the Aviation Directors Roundtable and has served on both Minnesota and National Business Aviation Associations. Brackin was nominated by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) to represent business and general aviation on the Safety Management Panel at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

In addition to being a professional pilot with over 9000 flight hours, he received his Bachelor of Science in Aviation Administration from the University of North Dakota and his Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

The EDC is looking for a few good "Partners in the Classroom" (formerly Speakers Bureau)

In case you missed it, check out our GFMEDC Annual Meeting Video on YouTube

GFMEDC Annual Report

Our annual report is available. Please request hard copies or check it out online.

If you would like to glance at our Annual Meeting Slides, click here.

A spotlight on our strategic plan...

Here at the GFMEDC, we recently took a little time to review challenges and opportunities within the regional economic landscape. We developed a five-year strategic plan that provides a framework for five new priorities. You can see the complete plan on our website under What We Do.

GFMEDC Strategic Plan

Priority 1: Facilitate the Attraction of Talent to the Region

Priority 2: Encourage the Expansion and Increase the Awareness of Technical Training, Higher Education, STEM Education and Associated Career Opportunities

Priority 3: Advance an Advocacy Agenda and Communicate Economic Impact

Priority 4: Leverage Existing and Emerging Regional Industry Base and NDSU Research and

Technology Park resources for Business Retention, Expansion and Start-up

Priority 5:

Continue the Development of the Region's Entrepreneurial Eco-System

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 Lisa Gulland-Nelson at lgnelson@gfmedc.com. Thank you!

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.