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Home > Top 10 | April 2023

Top 10 | April 2023

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A screenshot of the Economy at a Glance Dashboard from the EDC. Information on the dashboard includes Cost of Living Index, taxable sales and purchases, unemployment rate, emplanements, hotel occupancy and daily rate, sales tax collections, average annual salary, building permits and housing.

1. NEW Economy at a Glance

The EDC is proud to share a new, interactive Economy at a Glance dashboard! This tool can be utilized to see current and historical data for information like cost of living index, unemployment, average annual wage, living wage, housing, sales tax collections, and more.  Thanks to the talented EDC Operations Specialist, Bridget West for her effort in creating and updating the dashboard.

2. Fenworks Awarded Angel Match Funding

Congratulations to Fenworks who was awarded Angel Match Funding through the North Dakota Development Fund in April!

The Fenworks logo with the title ANGEL MATCH FUNDING RECIPIENTS.

3. UND Receives $8 Million

In a large warehouse, a man wearing a hard hat and glasses holding a metal cylinder one foot away from his face looking into it. The man is framed by another worker and chemical/liquid tubes and storage containers.

Congratulations to the University of North Dakota for being awarded an $8 million Department of Energy grant to study rare earth material extraction! This is the first phase in a potential two-phase project. This research has the potential to strengthen US supply chains and may have implications for consumer electronics, military defense systems, and renewable energy components.

4. Northland Celebrates 50th Year of EGF Campus

Congrats to Northland Community and Technical College as they celebrated the 50th anniversary of the East Grand Forks campus! NCTC is an incredibly important partner that provides education and training for regional workforce needs. The campus and community celebrated the accomplishment on Friday, April 28 with tours, ceremony, and reception. Speakers included Minnesota State Chancellor Devinder Malhorta, past presidents Dr. Anne Temte and Dr. Dennis Bone, and current president Dr. Sandy Kiddoo.

A photo of the outside of the East Grand Forks Campus for Northland Community and Technical College with the NCTC logo and and special logo that reads 50th Anniversary.

5. UND Hosts Space Ag Conference

A circle representing a planet is surrounding by dots representing stars in space. On the center of the circle is the Space Ag Conference logo.

EDC UAS Development Officer Bill Adams attended the Space Ag Conference hosted by UND and Grand Farm on April 4. The conference focused on developing technology to sustain human life once we leave earth and travel in the solar system. This includes testing ways to raise crops off the planet earth.

Researchers are using ‘moon dirt’ or ‘lunar regolith’ to understand how plants may grow under different circumstances. Sessions at the conference also covered how to obtain funding for businesses through Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.

6. Industrial Warehouse Coming to GF

Industrial warehouse development is continuing in Grand Forks! Enclave Companies has proposed ‘The Exchange,’ a 105,600-square-foot building. The current design includes four bays with 26,000 square feet of space each. The warehouse space is a fundamental asset needed for logistics and will provide much-needed warehousing space in the community.

A rendering of the proposed industrial warehouse called The Exchange by enclave. The point of view is of the front corner of the building with a tractor trailer backed up to rolling garage doors with cars parked out front in a parking lot.

7. ND Coffee Roastery Showcase New Roaster and Offers Coffee School

Sandi Luck stands looking at the coffee roaster at the ND Coffee Roastery in Grand Forks.

North Dakota Coffee Roastery recently received new roasting equipment that was purchased with the support of a FlexPACE loan. The new equipment increased the roasting capacity to help meet the demand to roast 400-500 pounds of coffee beans per day for brands all over the United States. The roastery is also beginning to offer a coffee school for those interested in starting their own coffee shop business as an entrepreneur. They will also be offering an open house on June 26 from 4-8 pm – more details to come!

8. EDC Staff Represent at Instigator Summit

EDC Business Development Officer Kevin Hatcher and Operations Specialist Bridget West attended a 2-day Emerging Prairie Community Instigators event in Fargo. Kevin and Bridget got to learn from leaders in entrepreneurial ecosystems across the region. Sessions included tours of local businesses and recreational facilities, how to create new models for business by breaking barriers for other entrepreneurs and networking with other ‘community instigators’ who are just as passionate about developing the economic well-being of their communities.

A group of participants stand together at the Instigator Summit in Fargo, North Dakota.

9. NPUAS Help Flood Mitigation Efforts

Two individuals stand in bright safety vests in front of the flooded Red River in Grand Forks, North Dakota. A drone hovers above them and the river is in the background.

With the power of Vantis, the first state-wide beyond visual line of site network and The Northern Plains UAS Test Site, flooding in the state and Grand Forks will be monitored utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles. During pre-mitigation, UAVs will be used to monitor flood levels, melt rates, and ice jams. Flights will be coordinated with first responders for quick access to real-time information. The 24/7 Mission Network and Operations Center is also planned to enable secure coverage and coordination with emergency response personnel.

10. UND Launches search for VP Research & Economic Development

EDC President and CEO Keith Lund is among leaders serving on the search committee for the next Vice President of Research and Economic Development at UND. 

University of North Dakota Research and Economic Development logo.

This leadership position will play a critical role in attracting economic activity to the region and state as well as collaborating and forming partnerships with industry leaders and stakeholders. This is a critical role for expanding the impact of the work we do at the EDC. The committee has been charged with adopting a timetable for the search that will permit the public announcement of the new vice president by November 15, 2023.  

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