http://www.experience.nd.gov/North Dakota Ambassadorshttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rssNorth Dakota Ambassadorsen http://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=583
It`s attracting new residents to our state, and more people who used to live here are coming back to stay.

As a young girl growing up in Pettibone, Dawn Mock wanted more out of life than what North Dakota had to offer.

"It always seemed the grass was greener on the other side," says Dawn. "More people more going on, opportunities and it seemed like north Dakota was a slower pace then every where else."

Her husband Jay, also from Pettibone thought so too.

"I knew there was more out there and I certainly wanted to explore," he says.

As a young married couple they did just that living in several states.

Fast forward 13 years, three kids later and the Peace Garden state starts looking better with each passing year.

"Very often, young people leave the state looking for bright lights of the city, excitement and get that for a few years and then they start settling down, thinking about a family or have a family and then north Dakota starts looking a whole lot more attractive," says Shane Goettle, the commissioner of the North Dakota Department of Commerce.

The Mocks are not alone. A lot of people are leaving sunny climates and moving back home to cold weather. The reasons? Low crime, and job opportunities, to name a few things.

"Most times people would say `You`re moving to North Dakota? Why? `and I`d say `Don`t judge it until you`ve been there,`" says Jay.

They took a leap of faith to move from Wisconsin to Bismarck.

Dawn was first to find a job with the Department of Human Services.

It took Jay a little longer, and now he is a district sales manager at Coco Cola.

A couple of things surprised them.

"It`s been wonderful," says Dawn. "I hope the honeymoon`s never over."

Once their dream home is finished, their move back will be complete.

"You can`t put a price tag on work, family community that cares and it takes a village to raise kids and I`m glad we`re in this one," says Dawn.

Currently the North Dakota Department of Commerce is working with 1,400 people wanting to move here.

It created a separate department to bring new residents to our state and others back home.

They also say it`s easier to get people to move here now than a decade ago because we have a lot more good paying jobs...

SEE VIDEO]]>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=580
Results from the North Dakota state girls swim meet show Knutson set two national records during Friday's preliminaries in Grand Forks.

Knutson swam the 200-yard individual medley in 1 minute, 53.82 seconds. It was 2.63 seconds faster than the mark set by Mary Beck last year and nearly 5 seconds faster than Knutson's own state record in 2007.

She swam the 100 freestyle in 48.15 seconds, topping her own record of 48.33 last year.

Knutson, who was signing autographs at the pool Friday, has trained with gold medalist Michael Phelps. She plans to attend Auburn University next fall, and says her goal is to make the Olympic team in 2012.


]]>Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTSun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTSun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=555
WebFairND is in full swing and will continue through the end of the month. The virtual career and internship fair, sponsored by the North Dakota Department of Commerce, features a total of 220 internships and full-time jobs from 37 different companies representing all regions of North Dakota.

The WebFair is "open" 24/7 on the www.WebFairND.com website and is free to job seekers and students.

Since opening Oct. 1, the WebFair has had a record 7,000 unique visitors.

The event is another way Commerce is working to help businesses find good employees and help North Dakota college students and others find meaningful employment among the nearly 10,000 job opportunities in North Dakota.

"There are still 11 days left of the event," Commerce Commissioner Shane Goettle said. "I encourage anyone looking for an internship or employment to take advantage of this great opportunity to connect with North Dakota businesses."

Businesses benefit from features including the following:
• A virtual "booth" that showcases their current openings and provides information about who they are and what they do.
• Marketing of WebFairND to job seekers (both in- and out-of-state) and North Dakota college students.
• Post-event tracking report of website and booth-specific visits.
Businesses still interested in posting openings on WebFairND should contact Sarah Johnson, talent marketing coordinator, North Dakota Department of Commerce, 701-328-5300 or sakjohnson@nd.gov.
QUICK FACTS:
• The WebFair was born out of a desire to provide more job information to people interested in moving back to the state for the right job opportunity and at the same time reach out to college students who are inclined to use web-based services such as this to find jobs or internships.

• Having one event/location that highlights both internships and full time opportunities will bring awareness to college students of the kinds of careers available in North Dakota.

• The WebFair features 220 internship/employment positions.

• Industries represented in the career fair include health care, education, information technology, architecture, sales, tourism and business.

• During WebFairND in April of this year, there were 5,799 unique visitors to WebFairND.com.

• Commerce is currently working directly with nearly 1,400 people who have expressed interest in moving to the state for the right job opportunity.

• The event has three goals:

1. Connecting individuals who live in North Dakota or want to move here with companies that have full-time opportunities.
2. Connecting North Dakota students with paid North Dakota internships.
3. Connecting North Dakota businesses with qualified interns and employees.
]]>Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=560
Bruce Smith, dean of the John Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota, announced the new program will offer undergraduate students the opportunity to major in UAS operations marking the first-of-its-kind program in the United States.

The UAS major program, designed to support the rapidly evolving military and commercial UAS reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering market demands, will offer pilot and sensor operator degree possibilities.

"UAS is an emerging technology that has experienced dramatic growth over the past decade," Bruce Smith said in a statement.

"As platform use increases with military, law enforcement and other commercial applications, the demand for qualified pilots and operators will increase as well. Our program offers tremendous career opportunities to students who are passionate about aviation and aspire to push the envelope of innovation."

]]>Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTFri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTFri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=549
On Tuesday, a newly formed state Youth Council, the result of legislation sponsored by the Democratic lawmaker, will begin exploring suggestions from North Dakota young people about how to change the answer to yes.

"I hope we can have real conversations with these kids and find out why they don't want to stay, and find out what makes the ones that want to stay, stay," Wolf said.

"The ones that say weather, well, there isn't much we're going to do about the weather, unless we build a bubble over the state," she said. "But the ones that have real meaning are the ones that say, 'Because we can't make any money here.'"

The group, headed by Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple, will include four state legislators and 16 young people ages 16 to 24. As outlined in the legislation, its discussion portfolio will be broad, including issues relating to "education, health care, employment opportunities and quality of life issues, such as recreation and entertainment."

The measure met strong Republican opposition in the state House, where representatives cut the council's number of suggested meetings from four to two and removed a provision that allowed council members to be paid meeting expenses. Thirty-one GOP House members opposed the bill's final approval.

North Dakota's Commerce Department will be covering some of the council's expenses, and Dalrymple said some private fundraising is planned.

"The funding issue is not a simple one," Dalrymple said. "We are asking all kinds of organizations, both nonprofit and private, if they will help us ... It would be nice if we didn't have to go through that, but we're being asked to do it, so we're going to do it that way."

Hoeven declined to appoint Wolf to the council, instead choosing Rep. Corey Mock, 24, a Grand Forks Democrat, for a council spot reserved for House Democrats. Mock's district includes the University of North Dakota.

Hoeven said the council would add to his administration's other youth initiatives, including programs that promote career counseling and provide incentives for businesses to offer internships to young people.

"I think it's a good concept to get more participation from young people, in terms of making recommendations for future legislation," Hoeven said. "But (the Youth Council) goes along the lines of an initiative that we already have under way."

Wolf teaches business and computer classes in Minot, including a class that focuses on students developing career interests. She said the council could discuss possible financial incentives for young families to stay in North Dakota, such as tax credits for children and day care expenses.

"It will be good to ask the kids. That's what we should asking the kids, is what they think are good ideas," Wolf said. "Let's ask them. Let's find out."

]]>Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTMon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTMon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=540
The WebFair will be "open" 24/7 for the entire month of October on the www.WebFairND.com website and is free to job seekers and students.

The event is another way Commerce is working to help businesses find good employees and help North Dakota college students and others find meaningful employment among the 9,000 job opportunities in North Dakota.

"WebFairND has been a popular way for employers to connect with potential employees so we are pleased to offer it for the third time," Commerce Commissioner Shane Goettle said. "By moving our career fair online, we can allow companies to actively recruit talent world-wide at a very low cost and continue operating their business as usual."

Businesses benefit from features including the following:

A virtual "booth" that showcases their current openings and provides information about who they are and what they do.
Marketing of WebFairND to job seekers (both in- and out-of-state) and North Dakota college students.

Post-event tracking report of website and booth-specific visits.
Businesses still interested in posting openings on WebFairND should contact Sarah Johnson, talent marketing coordinator, North Dakota Department of Commerce, 701-328-5300 or sakjohnson@nd.gov.

QUICK FACTS:

The WebFair was born out of a desire to provide more job information to people interested in moving back to the state for the right job opportunity and at the same time reach out to college students who are inclined to use web-based services such as this to find jobs or internships.

Having one event/location that highlights both internships and full time opportunities will bring awareness to college students of the kinds of careers available in North Dakota.

The WebFair features 195 internship/employment positions.

Industries represented in the career fair include health care, education, information technology, architecture, sales, tourism and business.

During WebFairND in April of this year, there were 5,799 unique visitors to WebFairND.com.

Commerce is currently working directly with over 1,300 people who have expressed interest in moving to the state for the right job opportunity.
The event has three goals:

1. Connecting individuals who live in North Dakota or want to move here with companies that have full-time opportunities.

2. Connecting North Dakota students with paid North Dakota internships.

3. Connecting North Dakota businesses with qualified interns and employees.

]]>Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTMon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTMon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=538
Uh-oh, we thought. Had we missed a "No Hunting" sign? Were we on someone's land illegally? My partner Mark Helmer and I walked with our dogs back toward the sedan.

The woman in the car rolled down her window and shouted to us.

"I just thought maybe you needed help," she said.

"No, we're fine. Just hunting," we hollered back.

She rolled up her window and drove on.

Welcome to North Dakota, where nobody's a stranger and people look after one another - even if they have Minnesota plates. Hunting here, where the land is vast and sparsely populated, is a bit like time-traveling back to about 1958. The uncrowded land seems to breed trust among people here. They are unfailingly friendly.

One drizzly morning with winds blowing out of the northwest at 35 mph, we were just getting ready to hunt another piece of land. A late-model black pickup cruised slowly up to us and stopped next to us in the middle of the road. Inside sat two older gentlemen with shotguns at their sides.

"Minnesota?" the driver said, noticing our plates. "Where from in Minnesota?"

That launched about a 10-minute visit, the two men in the warmth of the truck, my partner and I hunched against the wind and rain. We talked about sharp-tailed grouse numbers. They told us where they had seen some Hungarian partridges. We asked if they knew the forecast and - fast-forward from 1958 to 2009 - one man pulled out his Blackberry and called up the forecast. Then they wished us luck and eased on down the road at 15 mph.

North of Stanley, the roads bustled with the traffic of the oil boom. Wells everywhere were drawing up crude from the Bakken Formation a mile below the rolling grasslands. One morning, we had just finished walking a couple of tree rows when a white pickup pulled over.

"I just saw a big bunch of partridge about a half-mile south," said a man with a heavy southern accent. "They're on a steep bank with some little bushes. I'm from Louisiana, so I don't know what kind of bushes they are. But you'll see the place."

And he was off, up the road in a cloud of dust.

Half an hour later, a county employee mowing ditches on a shiny New Holland tractor pulled over. We were loading our dogs after a hunt. He opened the door of his cab. We talked for 20 minutes about sharptails and ducks and big oil. He owned a farm not far away. He told us twice where we might find some sharptails "over yonder."

The county man fired up his tractor and wished us well.

Helmer and I moved on, too, following our dogs over yonder, hunting among good folks.

]]>Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMTWed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMTWed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=532
Klinger celebrated her 105th birthday Monday in a Bismarck nursing home.

She rooms with her 84-year-old daughter, Verdell. Her 91-year-old sister, Ruth Lindblum, also lives in the home.

Amanda Klinger's parents came to the United States from Norway. She was born in 1904 on a farm near Elbow Lake, Minn., before the family homesteaded in North Dakota the following year, living in a sod house.

She remembers growing up on the farm near Voltaire and later Turtle Lake, but farm life wasn't for her. She said she decided, "I'll never marry a farmer because I didn't want to live on a farm."

Klinger has 14 great-great-grandchildren. She says she feels great.

As for any advice, she says, "Live from day to day, I guess. That's about it."



]]>Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=531
Golf Digest calculates the odds of two holes-in-one in the same round at 67 million to one.

But he's got company. Ruth Day, a 64-year-old retiree from northern England, shot two holes-in-one in the same round on Sept. 9. The next day, former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Steve Blass did the same in a span of 11 holes in Pennsylvania.

]]>Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMTMon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMTMon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=545
As part of his announcement, he appointed a state Youth Council and established a "Youth Office" in North Dakota`s Department of Commerce.

The Legislature authorized the Youth Council this year.

It will consist of 21 members, and 16 of them will be at least 17-years-old and no older than 24.

Fourteen of the youth members have already been appointed, and the other two will be chosen later.

Hoeven says the state has made a lot of efforts, including internship and career program, in recent years to keep graduates in the state.

"The whole idea with this Youth Forward Initiative and the Youth Council is to bring these things together to make sure we have a clearing house at Commerce where young people can participate in what we`re doing," says Gov. John Hoeven. "Where families can go to that website and check `are there job opportunities, are there areas I can get involved."

Lieutenant Governor Jack Dalrymple will be the council`s chairman.

That website is www.youthforward.com.

Those spearheading the Youth Office say they`re always using facebook and twitter to reach out to the younger population.

Governor John Hoeven has announced his youth forward initiative, to help keep young people in the state, by educating them about career opportunities in the state.

As part of his announcement, he appointed a state Youth Council and established a "Youth Office" in North Dakota`s Department of Commerce.

The Legislature authorized the Youth Council this year.

It will consist of 21 members, and 16 of them will be at least 17-years-old and no older than 24.

Fourteen of the youth members have already been appointed, and the other two will be chosen later.

Hoeven says the state has made a lot of efforts, including internship and career program, in recent years to keep graduates in the state.

"The whole idea with this Youth Forward Initiative and the Youth Council is to bring these things together to make sure we have a clearing house at Commerce where young people can participate in what we`re doing," says Gov. John Hoeven. "Where families can go to that website and check `are there job opportunities, are there areas I can get involved."

Lieutenant Governor Jack Dalrymple will be the council`s chairman.

That website is www.youthforward.com.

Those spearheading the Youth Office say they`re always using facebook and twitter to reach out to the younger population.
]]>Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMTWed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMTWed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=521
The 67-million-year-old Edmontosaurus with fossilized skin, found in North Dakota's Badlands a decade ago, has been on display in Chiba, Japan, since July. But getting the 5-ton mummified specimen there has been a mammoth task.

Dakota has done little traveling since Tyler Lyson, a doctoral paleontology student at Yale University, discovered the dinosaur on his uncle's ranch near Marmarth, in southwestern North Dakota, in 1999.

Lyson said Dakota has been the highlight of the "Dinosaur 2009 - Miracle of the Desert" show, which features 260 specimens of featured fossilized creatures from around the world.

"Obviously, I was very apprehensive about sending a one-of-a-kind specimen that far," Lyson said.

Paleontologist John Hoganson, of the North Dakota Geological Survey, said officials made several trips to Bismarck to assess the fossil before shipping. He said Dakota's body, fossilized into stone, weighs about 8,500 pounds, and two other portions including a tail and an arm bring the total to about 10,000 pounds.

"We had to find the biggest forklift in Bismarck to load it," Hoganson said.

Only a few mummified dinosaurs exist, and researchers Dakota may have most and best-preserved skin. It has been the subject of a children's book and an adult book, and National Geographic television programs.

Masterpiece International Shipping, which specializes in packing up and shipping items like paintings and relics, handled the big cargo. It was taken by truck to Chicago and then flown to Japan.

"They treated (Dakota) with the utmost respect," Lyson said.

A spokeswoman for New York-based Masterpiece International said the company does not comment on its operations.

The exhibit's sponsors, which include Japanese electronics and automobile companies, paid for the move, which Lyson estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Lyson, who traveled to Japan with his parents, said that visitors to the exhibit are funneled through various displays, with Dakota saved for last.

"Of all the featured things, this was the grand finale," Lyson said.

Hoganson said he and Lyson gave a presentation on the fossil.

"It was a packed house," Hoganson said. "About 500 people paid money to come listen to us talk in English about dinosaurs."

The exhibition runs through Sept. 27, and Dakota is slated to return to Bismarck next month.

Its tail and arm will go on display in late October at the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck, Hoganson said. In a back room, paleontologists will continue the detailed work of removing rock that encases Dakota, he said.

Lyson hopes to eventually send Dakota on a worldwide tour and then bring it back to his hometown of Marmarth, in North Dakota's southwestern corner, where he is creating a museum.

"The money we're getting from the Japanese will help finish preparation on it," Lyson said, though he declined to specify that figure.

Hoganson said he thought the Japanese have more fascination with dinosaurs than other countries.

"It's interesting because they don't have hardly any dinosaur fossils found in Japan," he said. "I think it may be because the movies, like Godzilla."

]]>Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMTSat, 12 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMTSat, 12 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=500For the first time in five months, Janet Morgan was on her way to work -- a happy occasion diminished only by what now was required to get there. She packed 13 boxes into the bed of her rusted pickup, careful to include what she considered her "survival items." Family photographs would help her stave off loneliness. A 5,000-piece puzzle would prevent boredom. Instructional Spanish audiotapes would offer simulated conversation.

View story on the Washington Post site.

Morgan, 63, loaded all of it into the truck before dawn one recent Saturday and left her home in Zanesville, Ohio. She drove past the technology companies that had repeatedly denied her applications, continued out of Ohio and then through Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. She traveled for 20 hours and 1,032 miles until finally she came upon a field of hay barrels and prairie grass, a deserted horizon interrupted by one towering road sign: "Welcome to North Dakota -- Feel the Spirit!"

"Am I crazy?" Morgan asked shortly after she crossed into the state. "There's nothing out here but open space."

Open space and open jobs, which is why Morgan and thousands of others have moved to North Dakota during the past year. The state, once known primarily for its remoteness, is enjoying a new reputation as a haven amid economic collapse nationwide. It has the country's lowest unemployment rate at 4.2 percent, a budget surplus of $1.2 billion and more than 9,000 unfilled jobs. North Dakotans, conservative by nature, avoided risky loans that elsewhere wreaked havoc on banks and real estate, and the state's agriculture and energy industries continued to grow at record pace. Here, this is what passes for an economic problem: "We've been presented with the challenge of filling a wide array of open jobs," said Shane Goettle, the state's commerce commissioner.

North Dakota officials held a series of job fairs this year in states decimated by the recession and hired a talent recruiter to create a glitzy Web site to woo those looking for work. In June, Morgan stumbled upon the site and e-submitted a résumé that listed interests in communications, banking and teaching piano. She received an e-mail reply within hours: "Hi Janet. Yes, there will be a job for you here."

That is how Morgan ended up driving across North Dakota last week, the contents of her life packed into a 1991 Nissan with 229,000 miles on it and no power steering. Usually, Morgan likes to keep her speed at less than 50 mph. But on these straight, flat roads that sometimes stretched for miles without sight of another car, the 75-mph speed limit suddenly felt restrictive. She flipped through the radio dial and heard only static. Then she pulled out her cellphone and called her mother.

"I'm here," Morgan said.

"How is it?" her mother asked.

"I don't know yet, but it's different."

Morgan had started her job search with a more conventional vision. She grew up in California, taught piano while raising two children in Nevada, filed for divorce and decided to attend college in Ohio starting in 2004. She wanted to find a "grown-up" job. After graduating from Ohio University in March, she spent three weeks working with a career counselor and scanning local job listings. Nothing.

She lowered her expectations and applied for hourly-wage jobs across Ohio. Nothing. She called a few prospective employers in neighboring Michigan and West Virginia. Nothing. She filled her truck and took a road trip around the country to drop off applications near her mother in California, her daughter in Nevada and her son in Washington state. Nothing.

Finally, on her way home from the West Coast, she swung through Bismarck, N.D. She had never visited the state before, and was pleasantly surprised to find "some civilization, like an Olive Garden and a Best Buy." The local paper published articles about a thriving economy; dozens of businesses hung "Help Wanted" signs. Morgan collected a handful of job applications and drove back to Ohio. Maybe in North Dakota, she thought, there existed enough jobs to accommodate someone who was "short, fat and old." She applied for a low-wage position at a Bismarck area call center. A few days later, the company called to make an offer.

Morgan accepted immediately, desperate for the cash and open to adventure. But on the long drive -- as cities gave way to towns, towns gave way to farms, and farms gave way to a vast expanse of nothingness -- she started to wonder whether she had made the wrong decision. Where would she live? Why wasn't her cellphone getting service? Would she find a bowling league to join? Would her children ever travel this far to visit her?

She had a job and nothing else.

"I'm half-tempted to call this all a big mistake and turn around," she said.

But she kept driving until finally, at 6:45 a.m. Monday, she arrived in Bismarck and parked her truck in front of a red brick building adjacent to a Super Wal-Mart. She changed into a fancy blouse and black sneakers and reported to work. In a training session, she learned how to answer phone calls from people who had dialed 1-800 numbers to complain about their cereal. Inside her cubicle, one of dozens set in identical rows, she found a sterilized phone that rang with calls from California, Michigan and Ohio.

Anything Is Possible

While Morgan continued her shift, Sarah Johnson sat in her office across downtown Bismarck and sifted through one of the stacks of résumés piled on her desk. North Dakota's talent recruiter, Johnson, 29, had become one of the state's most ardent saleswomen. She grew up in Bismarck, moved away to Minneapolis, tired of the big city and returned home. What others considered North Dakota's flaws, she regarded only as assets. Cold winters made you appreciate dry, beautiful summers. Quietude sometimes allowed you to hear the distant howl of coyotes at night.

In corresponding with dozens of out-of-state job-seekers each day, Morgan repeated her favorite statistics: The state's economy grew by 7.3 percent in 2008. It ranks second to last in housing foreclosures and third to last in average credit card debt. Mining, construction and agriculture all recently surged by at least 10 percent. The government just passed $400 million in tax cuts.

Best of all were the 9,000 jobs -- a number made even more significant in a state where the population barely exceeds 640,000. Johnson had taken to answering most job queries with a variation of the same response: "In North Dakota," she said, "it is pretty much possible to do anything, anywhere."

She opened her e-mail to find the latest barrage of requests from the country's unemployed. A roughneck from Utah wanted an oil job near Williston, population 13,000, and Johnson replied with 57 openings. A banker from Washington state was hoping for a position in accounting, and Johnson sent along 500 possibilities. "There are more," she wrote, "but the search engine stops after it gets this many."

As she worked, Johnson continually updated a list of more than 1,000 people currently interested in moving to North Dakota -- a list that recently had grown by a few hundred names each week. She sent tourism booklets to each person who contacted her, encouraging them to "experience North Dakota," but lately it seemed job-seekers were more apt to recruit her. Some called six times each week. Others took vacations to Bismarck and stopped by her office.

But mostly, they e-mailed -- an unyielding flood of communication that totaled 100 notes per day, each more desperate than the last.

"I need to know what options there are for people trying to start a new life with little to no money," wrote an unemployed construction worker from Wisconsin.

Johnson wheeled her chair back from her desk and spoke her answer aloud. "Well," she said, "you've come to the right place."

New in Town
A new life required a new home, so Morgan finished her first day of work and drove to see a house she had discovered on the Internet. The cheapest rental apartments in Bismarck cost $350 per month, and she figured she could save money by buying. She drove through cornfields for more than an hour before reaching Glenfield, a town of 75 bisected by two country roads. It sits 30 miles from the nearest restaurant and 45 miles from the closest grocery store. A few locals saw Morgan's unfamiliar truck and assumed she had lost her way en route to the local tourist attraction, a fenced-in albino buffalo a few miles down the road.

The house found on the Internet turned out to be a mobile home with an addition, unoccupied for three years and spotted with mildew. Water from the sink ran a murky brown, and Morgan worried about the presence of rats. But there were apple and apricot trees out front, plus a wishing well from where she could watch sunsets bathe the prairie in gold. She decided to buy it.

"I always thought that if I won the lottery I would buy a big piece of land in the middle of nowhere and put a fence around it," Morgan said. "Maybe this is as close as I'm going to get."

What happened next made Morgan realize just how different life would be in North Dakota. The purchase price: $7,500. The down payment: $100. The closing date: How about right now, if the local lawyer is still in his office? The paperwork: one short form, requiring one signature. The lawyer's fee: $10.

Fabian Noack, the area's only lawyer for 48 years, was indeed in his office, sitting at a desk and listening to music on a record player. Morgan walked in with the father and son who had agreed to sell her the house, and Noack stood up to greet them.

"You must be the new woman," he said to Morgan. "Where are you from?"


"Ohio."

"Really? Ohio?"

"Yes. Ohio."

"That's a ways. What are you doing here?"

"I moved for a job."

"All the way from Ohio?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Well then, welcome. I believe you'll find things a little simpler up here."

Fifteen minutes later, Morgan owned a home in Glenfield. She drove back into town, passing the post office and general store that formed Main Street. It was getting dark, so she carried a few of her boxes into the house. She placed her family photos and a college diploma on a shelf in the living room and then sat on a stool in her dark kitchen.

"It's so quiet in here," she said.

She wondered if there was a friend she could call, then remembered that her cellphone lacked a signal. She thought about turning on the television, then figured it would receive only a few channels.

Out of ideas, Morgan stood up to get ready for bed. She picked an outfit for the next day and set her alarm clock for 4:15 a.m. The ring would awaken her to a dark house, to an empty living room, to an unfamiliar town and a state filled with strangers -- to her second day with a job.




]]>Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMTFri, 14 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMTFri, 14 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=494
So when I called up Shane Goettle, who heads the North Dakota Department of Commerce, it was a bit like stepping into bizarro world.

GOETTLE: "Overall our unemployment rate is 4.2 for June. We've had real good strength in energy, agriculture, tourism has actually been good for us."

And then, there's this:

GOETTLE: "We have thousands of jobs available in the state. As of July 1, we have about 9000 openings. "

Nine-thousand jobs.

GOETTLE: "I know that may not be the experience of many other states right now but it is what is happening in North Dakota."

What is happening is a combination of planning and luck that's left the state with something rare these days: a $700 million budget surplus and a big fat tax cut. Its banks mostly avoided the subprime mess, and North Dakota worked to bring in more businesses like Microsoft. Then, prices went up quickly for the state's traditional strengths-energy and agriculture.

So now with thousands of jobs available, North Dakota officials have been traveling out of state to try to fill them. Jerry Chavez heads a development corporation for the small city of Minot. Since the beginning of the year, his group has been making monthly visits to job fairs in hard-hit Midwestern communities.

CHAVEZ: "The initial reaction is wow, what are you doing here from North Dakota? You have jobs? Tell us about these jobs. "

Once they get over the surprise that North Dakota is doing well, more out-of-work Midwesterners think seriously about picking up and moving. People like Milton Moore of Cleveland.

MOORE: "For me, the last year or two has been terrible. It's been bad. No steady employment. "

Moore works in construction…when he can get work. But with all his free time lately, he's been playing a lot of Xbox, and it was through a chat room on that video game system that he started talking to a fellow player…

MOORE: "And we were talking jobs, and he was like, ‘you should come to North Dakota,' so we had this nice little lengthy conversation about North Dakota, the population and the whole woo-wop. "

Moore was intrigued so he sent his resume to a bunch of North Dakota employers. He's ready and willing to move when the call comes.

Near Columbus, Ohio, Janet Morgan is meeting the movers after she got the call…from a call center in Bismarck.

She had degrees in useful things like computer science and communications, and yet, had no luck finding something in Ohio's job market.

MORGAN: "There are just so many people out of work that you could have 500 people including PhD's applying for a janitor's position and they're going to take whoever."

So she packed up her stuff and is heading out. Morgan hopes to be promoted quickly at her new call center job. And while she would have rather stayed in Ohio, she likes her new home.

MORGAN: "Oh, Bismarck is beautiful! It's clean, and there's a mall, and it's a nice mall, and has some of my favorite stores."

But…it's warm now. What about the frigid winter? North Dakota's Shane Goettle says it's not SO bad, and these days, they're even taking advantage of their weather.

GOETTLE: "If you like wind, we have a lot of it, but that's been a real potential for our development as well. That's why we're putting wind machines out in the prairie."

Rub it in why don't you.


]]>Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMTThu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMTThu, 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=496
Nathan Anderson, founder and owner of NoDak Films, went to high school in Minot before receiving an English degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead.

"Unfortunately, like a lot of North Dakotans, I moved out of the state. So I found myself in California teaching high school English," Anderson said. "I wrote a script, and I knew that everything about that script had to do with North Dakota - from characters to location."

When Wooly Boys, a film starring Peter Fonda and Kris Kristofferson, financed by the Bank of North Dakota and shot in the North Dakota Badlands, was released in 2001, Anderson had high hopes it would be the start of something exciting for the state. Unfortunately, that didn't turn out to be the case.

"I thought the Bank of North Dakota was going to get into the movie business, (but) Wooly Boys lost a lot of money. I sent a few e-mails, I got a response back saying, and this is a quote, 'The Bank of North Dakota is no longer in the movie-financing business," Anderson said. "So that was really the birth of NoDak Films."

When Anderson got his answer from Bank of America in late 2006 or early 2007, he decided to go a different route with film financing. and spent the next two years competing in the Innovate North Dakota competition.

"How it works is you submit an executive summary, and then you're invited to write a business plan, that's round two, and then round three is you get to the finals and you're able to pitch it in Bismarck," he said. "For the last couple years I was really hoping that Innovate North Dakota would sort of launch NoDak Films with a lot of great, free publicity. But unfortunately we didn't make it to the finals for two years, but I got an opportunity to write and rewrite my business plan."

This leads into why Anderson is at the State Fair. He has spent the past three weeks in North Dakota introducing people to NoDak Films and what makes it so different from a typical Hollywood studio - the business model.

"The $100 contribution model is really what sets apart NoDak Films from any other movie or movie maker," he said.

The goal of this new business model is to put individuals, businesses and towns into the movie in exchange for a $100 contribution. For an individual or family contribution, they are included in the movie as a background actor and are listed in the credits as an associate producer. Businesses get product placement in the movie. The town model is for those with a population under 5,000, because Anderson grew up in a small town. A town landmark or identifier is put into the movie.

Anderson's ultimate goal is to get 1,889 contributors, in honor of the year North Dakota became a state. While he only has about 10 percent of his goal at the moment, there are some well known names on the list, including Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman, current Farmers Union president and former North Dakota Secretary of Agriculture Roger Johnson, former North Dakota governor and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer and former North Dakota Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp, along with 24 North Dakota towns and cities.

More information about NoDak Films can be found on the Web site at (www.nodakfilms.com).

Regardless of whether he meets his contributor goal or not, Anderson is still going forward with the movie.

For those who might be hesitant to contribute because of fears the movie might never be made, Anderson provides a contract that guarantees a full refund if production ceases.

"Everyone receives a contract which has been reviewed by the North Dakota Securities Commission, reviewed, approved and offered encouragement," he said. "It basically says if we stop production for any reason you get your money back."

The movie Anderson has written is called "Last Summer for Boys." It's about two childhood friends, the son of a pastor and the son of a farmer, who grow apart when they grow up. One stays in Fargo while the other goes to Minneapolis to strike it rich in business. When the businessman comes back home from Minnesota, the former friends meet again and the film explores their relationships to each other and their families.

Casting for the movie will begin in the late fall or early winter, with shooting to start next summer.

Anderson said a survey conducted by the Motion Picture Association of America in 2007 shows that while media consumption supported by advertising has been trending downward, media consumption supported by consumer purchases is doing the exact opposite. And what better way to get a consumer to purchase a movie than by putting them, someone they know, or their hometown in it?

"As an individual, if you're in a movie, not only are you gonna want to see it, but your family is, your friends, your coworkers. If you're a business, all of your customers ... for a town, anybody who's ever lived in a small town in North Dakota or that particular town," he said. "It's what I see as the future of movie making. It's really personalizing movies."

Once he's done at the State Fair, Anderson will go back to California for a few months to continue working on the business end of the movie. Anderson said that while he lives in California now, it's his plan to move back to North Dakota in the future. His wife is working on her Ph.D., and they hope to relocate to the Fargo or Grand Forks area, or possibly Minneapolis, depending on where she can get a job.

Anderson believes in his model, and noted an example of how Hollywood does things. He said like many states, Minnesota gave Hollywood numerous incentives to film in the state, and when they left, so did the money Hollywood brought in. Anderson said when that happened, many of the production facilities and other businesses that sprouted up were forced to close down.

"I 100 percent passionately believe that the model for NoDak Films represents the future of movie making. I really think that this is a market that's never been explored before because we still live in a Hollywood sort of mentality when it comes to making movies," Anderson said. "To me that's just not a sustainable approach. The sustainable approach is doing it this way."

]]>Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTFri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTFri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=480
And it isn`t just the people in North Dakota who are applying.

When applying for a job, one thing that attracts applicants is whether or not the job is close to home.

But when other states are facing high unemployment rates and hiring has come to a halt in some places, many are moving to North Dakota.

The Relocation Assistance Program that the Department of Commerce has set up helps direct people outside of the state search for job listings here.

The department says it receives calls every day from people across the country looking for work.

One thing it`s also seeing is people who have moved away from North Dakota , are also now coming back home.

"Between 2015 and 2020, we expect a lot of departures from our workforce and that`s going to create a pull for our young people and a need even more to bring in people from outside the state, so we`ve got the structure established now to help accommodate and facilitate that and try to move it along so that we can do a better job of matching up employers with employees," says Shane Goettle, of the North Dakota Department of Commerce.

WATCH VIDEO]]>Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTThu, 16 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTThu, 16 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=473Want a side of defibrillator with your meal? Try Pitchfork Steak Fondue, a North Dakota prairie specialty that involves a massive rib eye getting dunked in a boiling cauldron of oil. From June to September, the deep-fried meat gets served with potatoes and vegetables (what are those?) on a picnic table overlooking the expansive badlands. It might not be healthy, but then again, who cares? Most of the famous cowboys died of bullet wounds long before heart disease could set in. Meal: $25.50 per person
]]>Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTWed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTWed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=475
Despite these challenges, 93 communities across the nation have taken innovative approaches to make play a priority to ensure their children have the time and space they need to play. To honor cities and towns making this commitment to play, KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to bringing play back into children's lives, named them Playful CityUSA communities.

In the third year of this annual program, 32 of 93 Playful CityUSA communities were repeat honorees from 2008, while 22 cities were cited for the third consecutive year. Thirty-nine new communities have joined others in making a commitment to children, including Honolulu, Indianapolis and San Antonio. These 93 communities created and implemented programs to positively impact childhood wellness, public safety and the quality of life.

Each of the 2009 Playful CityUSA communities demonstrated creative commitments to the cause of play in the areas of quantity, quality and access. Quality relates to the number of usable, open playspaces. Quality involves subjective factors that encourage repeated use and make playspaces engaging, exciting, interesting and fun. Access entails the ability to get to a playspace (roads, trails) and a lack of barriers to the playspace (cost, safety, traffic, locked gates, equity).

Playful CityUSA celebrates and highlights these unique initiatives developed by communities across the country. A primary goal of Playful CityUSA is to encourage cities and towns to share creative ideas, concepts and programs in an effort to increase play opportunities for children. City initiatives include:

QUANTITY

-- Dothan, Ala. (pop. 65,447)

After incorporating the KaBOOM! community build model for the construction of a playground, the City decided to use this method exclusively for any future playgrounds built in Dothan. The community build model offers a great opportunity to involve neighborhoods, while saving significant costs on construction.

-- Indianapolis, Ind. (pop. 795,458)

The IndianapolisParks and Recreation department is conducting a study that would involve converting abandoned housing and vacant lots and turning them into urban mini parks. This project will require that city department resources are combined to increase green spaces and remove abandoned housing, identify clusters of abandoned houses and vacant lots, identify potential mini park spaces, and host public meetings that would solicit the surrounding neighborhoods' advice on the usage of these spaces.

QUALITY
-- Las Cruces, N.M. (pop. 86,268)

Las Cruces Public Schools launched a free program called Recess Before Lunch in 2007 to examine what benefits could result. After implementing the program, moving recess before lunch led to a significant improvement in healthy eating habits for the students, a reduction in food waste, and better focus in the classroom after lunch.

-- San Francisco, Calif. (pop. 808,976)

The San Francisco Neighborhood Parks Council (SFNPC) developed a Playground Report Card which analyzes and rates playspaces in San Francisco. The Report Card gave letter grades to all the playgrounds, with the San FranciscoParks and Recreation department and SFNPC then taking action by bringing all the failing parks up to standard.

ACCESS

-- Ankeny, Iowa (pop. 42,000)

As part of the Ankeny Comprehensive plan, the highest priority of Ankeny residents was to build a trail system within the community that connects to a regional trail system. The Ankeny to Woodward Trail Steering Committee secured a $1.75 million Vision Iowa grant to develop the 20 miles of trail and construct one of the world's tallest and longest trail bridges with the project scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2009.

-- New York, N.Y. (pop. 8,310,212)

The New York CityParks and Recreation Department will break ground and revamp 221 playgrounds that require improvement throughout the City, while also targeting underdeveloped destination parks for each borough in 2009. This City is also working toward the creation of a public plaza in every community in partnership with non-profit groups, particularly in neighborhoods that lack open space.

The KaBOOM! vision is a great place to play within walking distance of every child. Playful CityUSA communities create best practices, like the ones above, to reach a similar goal. They serve as role models for other communities and prove that enhancing children's well-being by increasing the opportunity for play is an attainable goal for every community.

"Our country is facing two monumental deficits: a lack of unstructured play among children and a lack of resources to address this very issue," said Darell Hammond, KaBOOM! CEO and Co-founder. "These 93 communities took a stand and determined that the future of their community--their children--deserve a commitment to the cause of play. This is an investment in the future, not an expenditure and cities and towns across the country can replicate initiatives from these PlayfulCityUSA communities so that they too can bring play back into the lives of their children."

^ 2009 Harris Interactive Poll

2009 Playful City USA Communities

Allentown, Pa.
*Ankeny, Iowa
Annapolis, Md.
#Arlington, Texas
*Atlanta, Ga.
Auburn, Wash.
Baldwin Park, Calif.
Bismarck, N.D.
#Bloomington, Ind.
#Brentwood, Calif.
Casa Grande, Ariz.
#Cerritos, Calif.
*Chandler, Ariz.
Columbia, Ill.
Columbus, Ohio
Commerce City, Colo.
#Coolidge, Ariz.
Coral Gables, Fla.
Corpus Christi, Texas
*Creedmoor, N.C.
#Danville, Va.
Delray Beach, Fla.
#DeRidder, La.
*Dothan, Ala.
Durham, N.C.
#Encinitas, Calif.
Euless, Texas
Evans, Colo.
#Findlay, Ohio
Fishers, Ind.
*Gilbert, Ariz.
#Grand Prairie, Texas
#Green River, Wyo.
*Greenbelt, Md.
Greensboro, N.C.
Greenville, N.C.
Hamilton, N.J.
#Henderson, Nevada
#Hernando, Miss.
Hilo, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
#Huntsville, Ala.
Indianapolis, Ind.
*Kenner, La.
*Kerman, Calif.
Killeen, Texas
#La Mesa, Calif.
*Lake Charles, La.
*Lake Worth, Fla.
#Landfall, Minn.
Laramie, Wyo.
Las Cruces, N.M.
#Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.
Laurel, Md.
*Longview, Wash.
#Mercer Island, Wash.
Mesa, Ariz.
Miami Lakes, Fla.
Missoula, Mont.
#Murray, Ky.
#Nampa, Idaho
*New Lenox, Ill.
New Port Richey, Fla.
*New Roads, La.
#New York City, N.Y.
Niagara Falls, N.Y.
*Norfolk, Va.
#Northglenn, Colo.
#Orlando, Fla.
#Palm Bay, Fla.
#Parkland, Fla.
*Phoenix, Ariz.
*Portsmouth, Ohio
Richmond, Ind.
#Riverside, Calif.
#Safety Harbor, Fla.
#St. Petersburg, Fla.
San Antonio, Texas
San Bernardino, Calif.
*San Francisco, Calif.
Sanford, N.C.
*Shirley, Mass.
*Spartanburg, S.C.
#Springdale, Ark.
Takoma Park, Md.
Tempe, Ariz.
Thornton, Colo.
*Tucson, Ariz.
#West Palm Beach, Fla.
Wichita, Kan.
#York, Pa.
#Yorkville, Ill.
*Yuma, Ariz.

* Three-time honoree
# Two-time honoree

2009 Playful City USA Communities by State:
12: Florida
9: Arizona, California
6: Texas
5: North Carolina
4: Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland
3: Illinois, Ohio, Washington
2: Alabama, Hawaii, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wyoming
1: Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North
Dakota, South Carolina

Applications for 2010 Playful City USA recognition will be available beginning in the fall of 2009.

The KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play, including the PlayfulCityUSA program, is made possible via the support of the Omidyar Network.

About KaBOOM!:

KaBOOM! is a national non-profit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Since 1995, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and community interests to construct more than 1,600 new playgrounds, skateparks, sports fields and ice rinks across North America. KaBOOM! also offers a variety of resources, including an online community, free online trainings, grants, publications and the KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play, which includes Playful CityUSA and Playmakers - a national network of individual advocates for play. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago and San Mateo, Calif. For more information, visit www.kaboom.org.

]]>Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTMon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTMon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=471
Today, a Cold War Missile Control Center opened to the public.

The facility just north of Cooperstown has been preserved to show people what it took to stand toe to toe with the Soviet Union.

Brad Feldman takes us inside the now declassified facility.

Car nestled into the North Dakota Prairie...sits the front line..

(Lari Helgren/ Worked at the facility) "This is Oscar-Zero." It had our enemy locked in for thirty-four years

A time Lari Helgren remembers well

(Lari Helgren/ Touring Facility) "Quite humbling and a lot to remember." But it's not just the intensity of the Cold War Helgren considers on the tour...but his own time working in the center

He worked as a maintenance technician for the Grand Forks Air Force Base for twenty years

He made hundreds of trips here...Oscar-Zero...to make sure everything was working...and the country was not caught off-guard

(Lari Helgren) "So anything we could do work day or night or get parts in if I needed a part they were very quick on getting parts. They would order it overnight or send a special plane down to Texas to get a part or anything like that." Thankfully, his services are not needed anymore

(Sound-elevator) Instead, it's the curious making their way to the controls.

At any one time, the missiliers in this hole would have ten missiles they could launch at the turn of two keys..

(Peggy) "I was glad to see that there was a system where it takes more than one person to fire a missile. So there are a lot of safeguards built in place to keep a renegade employee from firing off a missile." (Gerard Dillman/ Touring the Missile Site) "Those dudes were under enormous pressure with the weight of the world on them and they did a hell of a job." The officers who once held the fate of the world in their hands...successfully completed their mission on July 17th, 1997

Before leaving, one of the officers left a personal message "Fought the Good Fight" a fight that took place under the prairie in North Dakota... is now on display for the entire world to see

In Cooperstown Brad Feldman KX News

The Missile Control Center is located just four miles north of Cooperstown.

The facility will be open daily until September 15th from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M..

There is an admission charge for the tours

WATCH THE VIDEO]]>Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTMon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTMon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=462
Schultz plans to host a three-hour show on weekday mornings for an FM station with coverage primarily in southeastern North Dakota. KQLX-FM of Lisbon, a town of about 2,300 people southwest of Fargo, recently was purchased by a group that includes Fargo conservative radio talk show host Scott Hennen. He would not disclose the price.

"It obviously got people a little fired up, which we're excited to do," Hennen said Monday before introducing Schultz during a news conference at the Fargo Theatre.

Schultz, who hosts a nationally syndicated radio show in the afternoons, had a longtime local show for Fargo's KFGO-AM. He left abruptly in April after signing a deal with MSNBC to host "The Ed Show" from New York.

"I never wanted to be off the air," Schultz said of leaving KFGO. "Things were happening so fast."

Schultz has spent more than three decades in Fargo, first as a TV sports broadcaster and then a talk show host. He started his career as a conservative but switched sides, saying he felt he needed to highlight issues such as farm policy, education, veterans and the homeless.

]]>Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTMon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTMon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=465There is no road map for Dagny Knutson's journey. There are no footprints to trace, no MapQuest or G.P.S. to direct her from swimming's hinterlands to its heights.

Knutson, a 17-year-old from Minot, N.D., sweeps into this week's USA Swimming World Championship Trials as if on the tail of a chinook wind. In the winter and spring, she posted times in the 200-meter freestyle, the 200 individual medley and the 400 individual medley that would have placed her among the top eight at the Beijing Olympics last year.

She is treading on the turf of Katie Hoff, a triple medalist in Beijing. In May, Knutson (pronounced Kah-NUTE-son) beat Hoff at a meet in North Carolina, serving notice that Hoff could crown her successor this week at the Indiana University Natatorium. The top two finishers will earn berths at the world championships in Rome later this month.

"I love the way Dagny races," Bob Bowman, Hoff's coach at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, said. "She's very tenacious."

Hoff, 20, trains alongside Michael Phelps in Baltimore. At home, Knutson's stiffest competition was the teenage boy whom she spotted a 25-yard lead on a 500-yard swim during one practice and beat by roughly 30 yards.

Knutson trains 11 practices a week at two pools, jostling for space with lap swimmers and bobbing beginners. She has access to a 50-meter pool only two full months a year, June and July, and using it requires a 1-hour-40-minute commute. It is not ideal, by any measure. "But I adapt pretty quickly," Knutson said. "By not dwelling on it, it doesn't turn into a negative."

The conditions under which she trains are "incredibly difficult," Bowman said. "I have total respect for her."

Knutson has a coach, Kathy Aspaas, to fill the role of collaborator; a trainer, Jason Blackburn, to choreograph a dry-land program that mirrors her movements in the water; and parents, Jim and Ronda, who serve as her domestiques.

"I think we've been in the right place at the right time," Knutson said.

A senior-to-be at Minot High, she will soon face a tough decision: Does she stay home and attend classes at a local college, turn professional and keep her inner circle intact? Or does she go away to college on a swimming scholarship?

"That's a big dilemma that Dagny has right now," Ronda Knutson said. "Her goal is to get to the Olympics, but she's not sure if the best path for her is swimming in college or staying home."

Far from steering her, the adults in her midst speak as if they are being towed by Knutson's ambition and instincts.

Ronda Knutson, the chief for youth programs at the Minot Air Force Base, said she and her husband had no clue where their daughter acquired her drive. Jim Knutson, a nurse, was a football player at the University of North Dakota. Ronda grew up in the small Kentucky town of Brandenburg and played basketball in college, including one semester as a walk-on at Louisville.

"I think Dagny passed me mentally and physically a long time ago," Ronda Knutson said. "I see how much work she puts in to her swimming, and I just don't know that I had that in me. That's what so amazes me about her."

Ronda Knutson often wonders how far she might have gone in basketball if she had her daughter's internal compass. "I think if I would have put in the hard work that she does, I would have been able to play at the Division I level," Ronda Knutson said. "But I don't think we knew what it took. There had been no one to kind of pioneer the way."

Aspaas, Dagny Knutson's coach, has coached 16 girls to high school state titles since 1975. Believing she had achieved all she could in coaching, she retired a few years ago, but she was back on the Minot High pool deck as an assistant when Knutson, then in seventh grade, came to her attention.

Aspaas has spent the past five years elevating her own expectations and level of expertise to keep pace with Knutson's desire. "Dagny's raised the bar," she said. "I've had to step up to keep up with what she's doing." She added, "She's the one setting the pace."

During practice, Knutson will sometimes ask for more yardage or less rest. "When it's not enough," Aspaas said, "she's not afraid to say, ‘I need to do more.' "

The extra effort paid dividends in January when Knutson won seven medals, including six golds, at the junior Pan Pacifics in Guam. Not long afterward, she received a personal letter from Senator Byron L. Dorgan, Democrat of North Dakota. "It was kind of a big surprise," she said.

In an e-mail message, Senator Dorgan explained his reason for writing. "North Dakotans are so proud of her and her accomplishments," he said. "It is a great source of pride to have a North Dakotan on the national stage in world-class swimming."

The United States Grand Prix meet in Charlotte, N.C., in May was a strictly off-Broadway production, albeit one with a star turn by Phelps. But for one spectator in the stands, the setting could not have been grander.

Marie Burckhard grew up in Minot and attended the University of North Dakota before moving to Winston-Salem, N.C. In the late 1990s she was a middle-distance freestyler who excelled at the state level but entertained no aspirations of competing on the national level.

"We would say we wanted to be Janet Evans or Summer Sanders when we grew up," she said. "But it was more like that was a dream. It wasn't a reality."

Someone told Burckhard that the previous day Sanders, who now works in broadcasting, had conducted an on-deck interview with Knutson. Burckhard's eyes grew wide. That was when it started to sink in how far Knutson has come.

]]>Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTMon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTMon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=461
And funds are already being raised to help pay the way for veterans to see the vessel.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, who led the effort for the Navy to name a sub after the state, says the USS North Dakota will have cutting-edge technology.

The North Dakota is being built by General Dynamics Corp. in shipyards at Groton, Conn., and Newport News, Va. It's to go into commission in 2012.

Duane Sand, commander of the Submarine Veterans of North Dakota, says the group is selling USS North Dakota baseball caps to raise money to help send veterans to see the commissioning of the submarine.

]]>Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTSun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTSun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=460A "dinosaur mummy" found in North Dakota may be the first find to give scientists a good look at the skin structures and other organic molecules of the giant reptiles, according to a new study.

"This is the first dinosaur to reveal intact skin structure and associated organic molecules," study co-author Roy Wogelius told Discovery News. The research was published in a Proceedings of the Royal Society B paper this week.

The 66-million-year-old hadrosaur, nicknamed "Dakota," died near a river channel and was quickly buried in a waterlogged setting that prevented oxygen from decaying the tissue, the study reported.

"Based on our observations and analysis, we think a mineralizing fluid acted very quickly to make a solid mineral (calcium carbonate or calcite) cast of the skin cells," Wogelius told Discovery News.

The "skin" uncovered by researchers is a mixture of the original cellular components with other mineralized material.

Researchers also located a preserved tendon, which shows the small canals where blood and other substances once flowed into the bones, Wogelius said.

The dinosaur's skin was probably very thick, Wogelius told Discovery News - "at least 3.55 mm (.14 inches) thick at the base of the tail - much more than twice as thick as human skin, and that's at a place where the skin was probably quite thin anyway."

But don't get your hopes up, "Jurassic Park" fans. Wogelius says it is "not likely" that DNA could be extracted from a dinosaur, even an exceptionally well-preserved one. "Finding intact DNA is so unlikely that we are not focusing on that as a concept."



]]>Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTWed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTWed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=448
North Dakota is setting up for a strong year of duck production, thanks to a resurgence of wetland abundance across the state. According to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department's annual water and breeding pair survey, pond counts across the state are up 293 percent from 2008.

"It's the single-largest turnaround in wetland conditions we've ever had," said Mike Szymanski, migratory game bird biologist for the Game and Fish Department in Bismarck. "And most of that was because we were so dry last year."

Szymanski said this year's water index is up 69 percent from the long-term average.

The Game and Fish Department has conducted the survey every spring since 1948, dividing the state into eight transects extending from the South Dakota border to Canada. Two-person crews then count all the wetlands and waterfowl they see along the survey routes, which cover 1,816 miles, compiling an index they use to measure trends over the long term.

Game and Fish conducted this year's survey the week of May 18

THEN AND NOW

Last year, Szymanski said, the western half of North Dakota was almost totally dry. This year, by comparison, water conditions are anywhere from good to excessive just about everywhere in the state.

The water part of the survey includes everything from Type 1 seasonal wetlands to lakes, which are classified as Type 5 wetlands.

"If they've got enough water to float a duck, we count them," Szymanski said. He said the shallower Type 3 and 4 wetlands are especially important to producing ducks.

According to Szymanski, the driest conditions were in the northwestern part of the state and, even there, wetland counts still were fair to good.

"They aren't real fantastic, but they're certainly better than the last couple of years," Szymanski said. "And once you move east into the central part of the state, it's really pretty good water conditions."

Szymanski said the return of water to the landscape is especially beneficial for ducks because North Dakota is poised to lose another 500,000 acres of land in the Conservation Reserve Program during the next couple of years.

"It was on my Christmas wish list to get some water before all the CRP was gone," he said.

GOOD FOR PINTAILS

According to Szymanski, the resurgence of wetlands also seemed to change the composition of duck species showing up in this spring's survey. Pintails and shovelers were especially abundant, he said; canvasback numbers also took a nice jump.

He said the pintail index was the highest recorded in the survey since 1979, and the shoveler index set a record.

"We've got almost three times as many pintails as we had last year," Szymanski said. "We had the table set very well, and pintails and shovelers really responded this year. Right now, there's a lot of grass, which should be good for the pintail population."

Blue-winged teal and mallards were relatively unchanged from the past couple of years, Szymanski said. Canada goose numbers were down slightly, but the drop wasn't significant.

Szymanski cautions hunters against reading too much into the spring outlook until the department conducts its brood-count survey in mid-July. Some areas, especially east of Bismarck, have received too much rain during the past week, likely flooding some duck nests.

"It's like going to the gas station and expecting your tank to be full before you pull up to the pump," Szymanski said. "The habitat is out there, which is a really good thing. We do have a very strong breeding population going into this."

]]>Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTSun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTSun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=445View the Postcard from Bismarck article at www.time.com or read the full article text of the below.

It's tough to find a foreclosure sign in Bismarck, N.D. Banners announcing NOW HIRING are much more common. Over at the mall, the Scheels sporting-goods store is so busy on weekends that some shoppers have sworn to go only during the week.

Want to make jokes about North Dakota? Sure, the state's got three times as many cattle as people, and a typical day in January is a balmy 20°F. But the folks who live here, unlike those in many other parts of the country, have jobs. And not only haven't they felt the bite of the housing-market collapse, but their houses have actually inched up in value. The recession, by and large, never made it to places like Bismarck (pop. 60,000). While the local economy is hardly bulletproof, for every bit of bad news - the Bobcat plant's summer shutdowns, say - there's more than one bit of good. How about a metrowide unemployment rate that's been dropping since February and at 3.7% is now less than half the national average?

Have lunch on the back patio of Fiesta Villa on Main Avenue and watch the railroad cars packed with coal go by - and by and by - and you'll start to understand why. Last year was a great one for energy and agriculture: corn, crude oil, coal and wheat are major state exports. The boom helped push energy outfit MDU Resources onto the FORTUNE 500 (the first North Dakota firm to make the list) and the state budget to a $1.2 billion surplus. State workers around the country are being told to sit at home without pay to trim costs; in North Dakota they're getting 5% raises.

At Justin Theel's car dealership, a sprawling campus on Interstate 94, the Dodges may be gone - troubles at Chrysler know no state boundaries - but sales this year are still off by only about 20 vehicles. That's a blip that dealers elsewhere would kill for. "For the most part, we're a boring story," says Theel. "But sometimes that's good."

Word has spread. The state's employment agency now fields calls from people in hard-hit cities like Phoenix and Miami who want to know how to get a job in North Dakota. Last winter, facing bleak work prospects in upstate New York, William Phillips boarded a Greyhound bus and three days later landed in Bismarck. He was shocked, he says, when the same day he applied for a job at Fireside Office Solutions, an IT-management firm, he got called in for an interview. With the city's dearth of tech-oriented workers, the company had been looking to fill the position for six weeks. He started at 8 o'clock the next morning. Says Phillips: "There's definitely not a lack of work."

Or shopping. On a Monday afternoon at the home-improvement store Menards, the parking lot is packed with pickups. It's the start of construction season, after all, and with Bismarck's population growing - not the case for North Dakota overall - there are still houses and stores to be built and remodeled. The trucks drive away with picnic tables and water heaters in their beds.

Buying, though, is different from conspicuous consumption. At the string of big-box retailers north of town, a few miles before city streets fall away and the horizon takes over, shoppers leaving Kohl's and Best Buy and Shoe Carnival are carrying bags - but not huge ones. In plenty of other places, that might be a sign of cutting back. Here in Bismarck, though, moderation is business as usual. Yes, Bismarckers like their things; it's rare to drive down a residential block and not see at least a few boats or RVs sitting in driveways. But splurging never really took hold here as it did in much of the rest of the country. Mortgage data show that the sorts of loans that landed so many home buyers in trouble elsewhere were written at a much slower pace here (in 2004, when 18% of borrowers in the U.S. were taking out subprime loans, only 6% of those in North Dakota were). "It's no secret that we're a little more conservative than the rest of the country," says John Jessen, president of Bismarck's BlackRidge Bank. "We just haven't taken a large jump outside of the box." Funny how far that can get you.
]]>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTFri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTFri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=457
"Whether you live in North Dakota or around the world, anyone can join our network and help spread positive news about the great things happening here," Gov. John Hoeven said. "You never know when an Ambassador may connect professionally or personally with someone who wants to move here, send their kid to college here, build a business here, or travel here. These connections really do contribute to a better North Dakota."

The program's existing rolls include more than 2,000 current and former North Dakotans as well as others with no direct connection to the state who appreciate North Dakota's positive business climate, unique landscape and quality of life.

The Ambassador program was launched in 2001 and has been used to develop business connections and to recruit people for job opportunities in North Dakota. In the last year, Commerce has engaged Ambassadors via online social networks to spread positive information about North Dakota to enhance the state's image.

For example, when the New York Times published a front page story about North Dakota last fall titled, "North Dakota Asks: Recession? What Recession," Ambassador Program Director Sandy McMerty seized the opportunity to engage the Ambassadors in spreading the good news.
She shared the story through an e-newsletter to Ambassadors and broadcast that same information through the Ambassador's Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter networks. McMerty has been able to track that more than 800 Ambassadors and more than 6,000 people have clincked on links to the story that were forwarded to them.

"The power of this network to spread positive information about our state and create buzz about North Dakota's business advantages is amazing, especially with the addition of our social media tools like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter," she said. "The goal of the Ambassador program is to help change perceptions about our state and to get the word out to industries and people that North Dakota is a great place to live, play and work."

In the coming year, McMerty hopes to grow the global network and expand the power of the connections it offers. With North Dakota's economy outperforming virtually every state in the nation, McMerty believes there has never been a better time to leverage the positive news and connections North Dakota has throughout the world.

To become an official North Dakota Ambassador, visit www.luvnd.com.
]]>Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTThu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTThu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=440Thousands of Americans across the U.S. are wondering if they would be better off somewhere else. The question is where?

As unemployment and foreclosures continue to rise, stocks keep fluctuating, and cash-strapped state and city governments move to increase taxes and trim services, many people are finding that careers and communities they once believed secure are no longer dependable. Either they have lost jobs, are in fear of losing a job, are stuck paying more mortgage than their homes are currently worth, or have seen their family's quality of life evaporate. For those troubled Americans who are willing to relocate, the U.S. can still be a land of opportunity.

No state is totally buffered from the downturn, but several have gotten a boost from energy, military, and agricultural sectors. The healthiest states include Alaska, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. In the Washington area, federal government and defense jobs have given the economy a boost. And Iowa, which has seen its economy somewhat deteriorate, has also benefited from agricultural and alternative-energy jobs.

Fargo, N.D.: jobs, safety, schools

Moving isn't an option for many Americans tied down by family responsibilities and houses they can't sell. Others are reluctant to leave relatives, friends, churches, and school districts to make a fresh start in an unfamiliar place.

For job-seekers with some flexibility, relocation can open up opportunities, said Ernie Goss, professor of economics at Creighton University in Omaha. Some of the best job markets, such as Omaha and Fargo, N.D., are also places with low crime, decent schools, and a low cost of living, Goss said.

"If people are looking for a job and they're in Detroit, they're in the wrong place," Goss said. "They need to be considering geographic mobility."

BusinessWeek.com, working with survey results from Milwaukee staffing firm Manpower, came up with the best places to start over. These are areas where the greatest proportion of employers said they planned to hire in the next quarter, based on a survey of 28,348 U.S. employers that Manpower conducted in April.

Urban Alaska Needs Qualified Workers

Anchorage, Alaska-where 28% of employers said they planned to do some hiring in the third quarter-topped the list, which also included such metropolitan areas as Provo-Orem, Utah; Omaha; Washington; and Amarillo, Tex. (The resort town of Barnstable, Mass., on Cape Cod topped Manpower's survey with 32% of employers saying they planned to hire in the next quarter, but BusinessWeek did not include it in the ranking because of the likelihood that many of those hires will be temporary seasonal workers.)

Alaska's unemployment rate, which fell to 8% in April, might not suggest that the state has a great job market. But the state's urban employers are hungry for educated, skilled workers. Alaska's tourism industry has been hit but its military bases, hospitals, and oil industry have stayed strong.

"The probability of getting a job, depending on your qualifications, is probably relatively high here," says Scott Goldsmith, professor of economics at the University of Alaska Anchorage. "We haven't been negatively impacted as much as the rest of the country."

Goldsmith said it's possible that out-of-work Californians who have come to Alaska looking for opportunities might be responsible for pushing up the unemployment rate a bit.

"In some sense, it's the end of the road," Goldsmith said. "You tend to get two kinds of people [moving to Alaska]: people running away from something or people looking for something. That 'something' historically has been opportunity-and there's still some of it here."

READ FULL ARTICLE
]]>Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=431In North Dakota, The Good Time are Still Rolling - Read it on the Wall Street Journal site.
----- Complete article text below. -----

While many states scrounge for ways to repair budget deficits, North Dakota is cutting taxes and fretting over how much of its budget surplus to spend or save.

An oil field in North Dakota, which has been helped by higher prices.
"We all ought to move to North Dakota," joked Raymond C. Scheppach, executive director of the National Governors Association. The group said in a report Thursday that North Dakota and Wyoming remained the only two relative bright spots in a nation mired in recession.

Both resource-rich states expect revenue collections to come in above their budgeted forecasts, while 38 states anticipate revenue shortfalls, according to the report on state finances, which was co-written by the National Association of State Budget Officers.

Meanwhile, North Dakota expects to have a surplus of about $700 million in June 2011, the end of its next budget cycle.

In the legislative session ended last month, North Dakota lawmakers shifted more of the responsibility for funding education to the state and required local governments to reduce property taxes proportionately, saving taxpayers $295 million. Individuals and businesses also received about $100 million in income-tax cuts. At the same time, lawmakers increased spending on K-12 and college education, health care, infrastructure and other programs.

The remote Plains state, with a population of just over 640,000, has benefited from spikes in oil and crop prices. While the rest of the U.S. economy was tumbling last year, energy and agricultural commodities stayed frothy before beginning a long slide in the summer.

Lately, they have begun climbing again. Oil prices dropped below $40 a barrel in February as the global recession strengthened, but they have since jumped to nearly $70. Crop prices are off last year's peaks, but are still well above long-term averages.

High prices help North Dakota in myriad ways. State revenues rise thanks to taxes on oil production and extraction. Energy-industry workers and farmers pay more in income taxes and spend more, boosting sales-tax receipts.

Chiefly because of the commodities boom, North Dakota had the fastest-growing economy in the nation last year, as the state's gross domestic product increased 7.3%, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.

The state also missed much of the bubble in housing prices and dubious lending practices that bedeviled much of the nation, so it isn't struggling as much with foreclosures.

Republican Gov. John Hoeven likes to credit his administration's efforts to diversify the economy, including fostering "value-added" agriculture, such as food-processing plants, and alternative-energy production, from wind to ethanol and other biofuels. "Jobs and opportunities change, and we have to be developing these new industry areas," he said.

Spinning wind turbines have become a more common sight on the state's rolling plains. North Dakota has 865 megawatts of wind power completed or under development, up from less than two megawatts four years ago.

State and local officials have been traveling to Ohio and Michigan to recruit laid-off workers. North Dakota's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate -- 4.0% in April -- is the lowest in the U.S.

Still, the state's economic strength posed difficult questions in the latest legislative session: Spend more now to help vulnerable groups like children and the elderly? Or save more as a hedge against future busts?

Some lawmakers say their job actually becomes tougher in boom times. "When the bank account is flush, people just are very skeptical when we say, 'We don't have enough money to do this,' " said state Sen. Ray Holmberg, a Republican from Grand Forks.

Legislators say they want to avoid the roller coaster of spending sprees followed by cutbacks. The state isn't immune to recession ripple effects: Heavy-equipment maker Bobcat Co., the state's biggest manufacturer, recently laid off nearly 250 workers at its plants in the state. Microsoft Corp. and American Express Co. also have announced layoffs or closures.

Some argue that North Dakota could spend more of its surplus today without jeopardizing the future. State Sen. Tracy Potter, a Democrat from Bismarck, criticized the Republican-dominated legislature for failing to substantially expand children's health insurance during its recent session. "Things like that are not just poor choices, but really dumb," he said.

The state plans to spend $8.85 billion over its next two-year budget cycle, almost 37% above its current $6.48 billion budget. "I think our expenditures cannot continue to go up at the same rate that they went up this year," said Pam Sharp, the state's budget director. Much of the spending is targeted at one-time outlays, she said.

The state accepted about $600 million in federal stimulus money, a portion of which will be used to repair roads damaged in massive spring floods.

Gov. Hoeven said he worries about the federal deficit. "I'm also concerned about some of the states, like California," he said. "At what point does their deficit problem become our collective problem?"

]]>Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTFri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTFri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=424
Since the fall of 2006, the North Dakota Department of Commerce has held job fairs in St. Paul, Chicago and Denver in an attempt to convince those with North Dakota roots to consider living and working in the state.

Experience North Dakota events promote job opportunities and tout the state's quality of living.The events highlight employment opportunities, local communities and also provide those considering moving to North Dakota with a glimpse of the amenities, recreational opportunities, art and cultural activities available in the state.

"We need workers," said Tracy Finneman, the department of commerce's marketing manager, who oversees the larger Experience ND relocation program. "Traditionally North Dakota has had more workers than jobs. Because of the growth of the state and diversification of jobs, we have more jobs. We will continue to grow our economy. Those wheels are in motion. But we need workers to fill those jobs."

Finneman said the North Dakota relocation program has about 600 current job seekers in its database, most with some ties to the state. The program offers assistance for those looking for jobs. It also alerts job seekers of job opportunities and sends North Dakota companies with openings the resumes of those looking for jobs in the state. Additional resources are available on the program's website and virtual web fairs are also held to help out-of-state job seekers to find employment in North Dakota.

A sampling of more than 9,300 residents of other states registered with Job Service North Dakota in 2008 found that 25 percent are now employed in North Dakota.

SOUTH DAKOTA PROGRAM

South Dakota also has a similar program named Dakota Roots to attract those with connections to the state to move back.

The number of job seekers registering with the Dakota Roots program has nearly tripled since the workforce development initiative's inception in 2006.

South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds launched the Dakota Roots program in October 2006. The program is a joint effort between the state's labor department, tourism and state development department and the Governor's Office. Dakota Roots is a part of the state's Workforce 2025 Initiative, an action plan for increasing workforce development in the state.

"This program joins citizens, business leaders and state agencies in an effort to make our state stronger," said Pam Roberts, the Cabinet Secretary for the South Dakota Department of Labor. "Through our partnership with some of the state's most progressive businesses, we make it easy to link South Dakota career opportunities with former South Dakotans looking to come home."

The Dakota Roots website allows job seekers to search career opportunities from the state's businesses. South Dakota companies can post job openings on the website. Job seekers can search openings and find out more information. Individuals can also refer friends and family members to the program.

South Dakota residents have relocated from 47 different states as part of the program. Individuals from all 50 states have registered with Dakota Roots. The average age of the program's job seekers is 39 years old. The oldest person to take advantage of the service so far is 76 and the youngest is 18.

An estimated 1,395 job seekers registered for the program in its first year with 241 finding jobs. Through April more than 4,300 have taken advantage of the service with more than 1,000 finding jobs. Dakota Roots has more than 1,600 current job seekers.

Since last June, more than 21,000 unique visitors have viewed the Dakota Roots website.

"Dakota Roots is designed to recruit workers to careers in South Dakota," said Dawn Dovre, Public Information Officer for the South Dakota Department of Labor. "Most everyone knows at least one South Dakotan who is working in another state, but would like to work back home here in South Dakota to be closer to family and friends. We need to make sure we bring back our native South Dakotans when the right jobs open up that they can fill."

NORTH DAKOTA HOUSING ASSISTANCE

The North Dakota Roots program was initiated by the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency at the request of Governor John Hoeven to encourage people to live and work in North Dakota by creating a home mortgage program with a below market interest rate and down payment for those moving to the state. The program provides either a low interest loan or a loan with down payment assistance for a higher interest rate with the benefit of one loan, one payment.

"It was intended to be used as part of Governor Hoeven's economic development package as a tool to help recruit businesses or people to move to North Dakota and work," said David Flohr, homeownership division director of the Bismarck-based North Dakota Housing Finance Agency.

Since the program's inception, loans have been made in 21 different counties with 45 percent concentrated in Burleigh and Cass counties. The program is funded through a combination of agency funds and taxable bonds and is available to borrowers who do not qualify for the state's FirstHome first-time homebuyer program.

Flohr said the program needs to find a reliable funding source to allow the agency to provide a competitive loan product that meets the goals of the program.

"The tight credit markets and current economic climate have made this very difficult," he said. "Today, because of the credit markets we are not able to offer a below market interest rate loan, which is the goal of the program."




]]>Sat, 30 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTSat, 30 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTSat, 30 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=413
The winner of the first ever People's Choice Award was also named. The $500 cash award is sponsored by the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce.

"This program shows that innovators and entrepreneurs are alive and well and hard at work in North Dakota," Hoeven said. "These entrepreneurs are helping to build our future. They are innovative people who have a promising business idea and the desire to build that venture right here in our state."

The five winning entries, unranked, are:

• FormulaNow, Nikki Lamb, West Fargo: A formula dispensing machine which provides a convenient, consistent, sanitary and efficient process for warming and dispensing infant formula.

• CiNCity Designs LLC, Nic Cruz, Mandan: Providing custom built headlights and tail lights to achieve a one-of- a-kind look not found anywhere else.

• Light Check, Paul Wolf, Mandan: A portable testing device connected to a trailer wiring that allows to easily test trailer lights to eliminate the unnecessary time and expense of towing a vehicle or second person.

• Micro Systems Technologies, Joseph Williams, Fairborn, Ohio: A single device or multitude of sensors to monitor for chemical vapors while performing day-to-day activities to provide a higher standard of safely and security.

• Site Saver, Robert Heitkamp Wahpeton: Improves the efficiency and ease of the application of IVs for the practitioner and increases patient comfort and reduces the failure rate of IVs.

The winner of the first People's Choice Award went to Forks Area Health and Wellness Center, Brandy Chaffee of Grand Forks. This idea aims to build optimum community wellbeing for all citizens through a one-stop facility integrating fitness, medical and behavioral health, arts and recreation, and research. More than 4,200 total votes were cast in the first People's Choice Award.

Bruce Gjovig, entrepreneur coach and director of the Center for Innovation said it was a difficult decision for judges. "We are very excited about the future of all of these businesses. They have strong potential for creating jobs and economic development in our state," Gjovig said. "The angel investors who were judges want to encourage all participants to continue developing their venture."

The Center for Innovation provided operational leadership to the Governor's Innovate ND program. Bismarck native Rich Karlgaard provided the keynote address. In addition to serving as publisher of Forbes magazine, Karlgaard is a best-selling author and accomplished entrepreneur. He has co-founded two companies, Garage Technology Ventures in 1997 and Upside Magazine in 1988. He was a co-winner of the Ernst & Young Northern California "Entrepreneur of the Year" award for organizing the Churchill Club, a civic organization with 5,500 members.

The awards were presented at the Governors Innovate ND Awards Banquet today in Bismarck.

The final competitors were narrowed from 95 teams that began the competition in January. Two finalists advanced from the Marketplace Boss Competition and the DSU Business Plan competition for a total of 23 final competitors.

All finalists completed an extensive written summary and made an oral presentation in front of the panel of judges. In selecting winners, judges looked at five criteria: Innovation, commercial viability, investment opportunity, entrepreneur team, and quality of presentation. The People's Choice Award was determined by online voting.

Innovate ND was launched in November 2006 by the governor and was coordinated by the Governor's Office, the North Dakota Department of Commerce, the UND Center of Innovation, and the UND Entrepreneur Department. Forum Communications was the lead sponsor for Innovate ND. Participants paid $100 to enroll in the program. To date, nearly 300 people with 155 ideas have participated in the program and 40 new businesses are operational or in the development stage as a result.

The program was made possible by more than $200,000 in private-sector contributions and in-kind professional services donations as well as appropriated funds from through the Department of Commerce. For more information, see www.innovatend.com.

]]>Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=412
The legislation represents a nearly $290 million increase in state and federal education funding for the state, and includes $825 million for per-pupil payments, an increase of $100 million. In addition, the legislation specifies that no less than 70 percent of all new funds distributed to a school district must be applied to teacher compensation. The bill also includes increased funding for teacher mentorships, school counselors, tutors and capital projects, and creates an enhanced curriculum to better prepare students for the jobs of the future.

"In the last session, we passed the most significant reform in K-12 education funding in more than a generation," said Hoeven. "With the signing of this bill and our property tax relief bill, we are investing $1.3 billion in our schools, reducing the burden of taxes on our local communities and bringing the state's share of the cost of education to the long sought goal of 70 percent. This legislation represents an important step forward for our children, our workforce, our communities and our future."

The legislation adopts recommendations developed by the Governor's Commission on Education Improvement and included in the Governor's executive budget, and builds on the landmark legislation that was passed during the last legislative session to address the equitable funding of K-12 education in the state. The commission's focus this session was adequacy and ensuring that all students receive the necessary resources they need to meet meaningful educational goals.

"This legislation allows the Governor's Commission on Education Improvement to continue to put forth its recommendations to ensure that schools provide an adequate education for all students," said Dalrymple. "The commission has provided important tools and resources to help improve adequacy in our schools and to ensure that all students receive the educational opportunities they need to succeed."

"A great education is the key component to the success of our children and a vibrant future for North Dakota," said Rep. RaeAnn Kelsch, House Education Committee Chair. "With the passage of House Bill 1400, every child in North Dakota will be afforded excellent educational opportunities, whether they choose to enter the workforce, pursue higher education or seek vocational training after graduation."

"I believe House Bill 1400 will do more to improve student performance than any bill in the last 50 years," said Sen. Tim Flakoll, Senate Education Committee member. "This legislation emphasizes and focuses on things that will significantly enhance student performance and will be the backbone of our education system and our economy for the next 50 years."

"I feel this legislation does it all for K-12 education and our citizens," said Rep. David Monson, Speaker of the House. "It provides added rigor, more equity and adequacy of both funding and programs. It uses all funding sources to our best advantage and reaches the 70 percent funding level that we have strived to reach for so many years. It is truly landmark legislation."

"This bill is the result of hard work and input from all the key players representing North Dakota's education system," said Sen. David O'Connell, senate minority leader. "School boards, superintendents, educators, legislators and state agencies all played an important role in crafting and passing this significant legislation for North Dakota's young people."

"This signing of House Bill 1400 marks an important milestone in North Dakota education history," said Dr. Wayne Sanstead, state superintendent of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. "Today, we enhance our commitment to student achievement and to building a strong future for our youth and our state."

"House Bill 1400 is the culmination of many months of hard work by educational professionals and legislators," said Paul Stremick, superintendent of Dickinson Public Schools. "It is a comprehensive package based on proven research and best practices, and I am confident that all the hard work put in by everyone will make North Dakota's K-12 education system stronger."

Key provisions of the legislation include:

• A record $1.3 billion K-12 education funding bill, with a nearly $290 million increase in state and federal funding. (The ongoing state funding increase is $120 million; ongoing federal funding increase is $20 million; and one-time fiscal stimulus funding is $150 million.)
• $825 million in per-pupil payments, including an increase of $100 million. At least 70 percent of all new operating dollars are dedicated to teacher compensation.• $85 million in new funding for capital projects and deferred maintenance.• The creation of an Early Childhood Learning Council.
• An appropriation of $2.3 million to the Education Standards and Practices Board for a mentorship grant program to select and train experienced teachers to serve as mentors for first-year teachers.
• Additional funding for three professional development days for teachers.
• Increased requirements for counselor staffing from one counselor for every 400 students in grades 7-12 to one counselor for every 300 students.
• The presence of a tutor for every 400 students in grades K-3.
• A revised curriculum, with enhanced requirements, to better prepare students for the jobs of the future.
• A new Indian Education Advisory Council to help Native students succeed.
• A Longitudinal Data System to follow student progress from kindergarten to career in order to improve educational adequacy and meet the needs of the future workforce.
• Increased reimbursement rates for school bus transportation.
Members of the Governor's Commission on Education Improvement include: Lt. Governor Jack Dalrymple, chair; Paul Stremick, superintendent, Dickinson Public Schools; Jack Maus, superintendent, Grafton Public Schools; Martin Schock, superintendent, Elgin/New Leipzig Public Schools; Scott Privratsky, business manager, Devils Lake Public Schools; Sen. Tim Flakoll, Senate Education Committee; Sen. David O'Connell, Senate Minority Leader; Rep. RaeAnn Kelsch, House Education Committee Chair; Rep. David Monson, Speaker of the House; Wayne Sanstead, superintendent, Department of Public Instruction; Doug Johnson, executive director, North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders; Jon Martinson, executive director, North Dakota School Boards Association; Greg Burns, executive director, North Dakota Education Association; and Mark Lemer, special advisor on state aid formula.

"I want to thank and acknowledge Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple, Rep. RaeAnn Kelsch, Rep. Dave Monson, Sen. Tim Flakoll, Sen. Dave O'Connell, Superintendent Wayne Sanstead, all the superintendents, school officials, and the entire commission for the hard work and thoughtful recommendations that helped to make today's signing possible," said Hoeven.

]]>Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=411
The College of Business is now offering a BS in Energy Economics and Finance.

It's designed to train a new crop of workers who can lead the oil-formation class. Bakken Formation's growth in the years ahead...and with 40 percent of oil industry workers there about to hit retirement Age next year, the help will be needed.

But as Perry Olson explains, this new major will produce talent who will build profit not with hard labor...but by crunching numbers.

(Dr. Frank Moseley) "North Dakota will always be an Agricultural state but it is becoming an energy state...over 200 thousand barrels a day."

And that means Minot State needs to become an institution that can develop the next industry leaders enter a new degree choice Energy Economics and Finance.

(Dr. Moseley) "Typically this program fits in to something you'd see at Texas Tech or Univeristy of Oklahoma...your oil producing states. North Dakota is joining that group."

So what will this new major prepare graduates for? Dr. Moseley says graduates will be able to become part of what he calls an oil company's assest team. Not doing the technical work to reach oil but doing the financial analysis to see if it is worth the cost of bringing it to the surface.

(Dr. Moseley) "To drill and produce in these Bakken fields requires sophisticated engineering because of the way it has to be done. This frees up the engineer to work on the fracturing and we'll put in our person to be on the assest team working with geologists and geophysicists looking at the economic feasability of some of these wells."

This new training at Minot State grabbed the attention of Steve Stoicescu. It also kept him around a little longer than he'd planned.

(Steve) "I graduated last May with a finance degree and rumors of this new program were there so I stuck around because I would like to get into the energy industry."

Now that he's almost completed the course work for the major he says it has put him on a path toward a career with energy.

(Steve) "I believe it was a good opportunity to get into the industry and pursue my goal to get into that industry and hopefully become successful." (Dr. Moseley) "We are going to provide the tools that these students are going to need to make contributions to these various companies."

And according to Dr. Moseley the companies have voiced their approval and are looking forward to the locally trained help. At Minot State, Perry Olson, KX News.

Dr. Moseley also says since the new energy economics and finance major has been announced, he has fielded numerous questions and calls about it.

He expects the popularity of it to continue to grow.
]]>Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=416Post-grads in these 20 metros, where job growth is rising, should stay put.

Brigham Young University hasn't felt much of an economic squeeze over the past year. Small businesses on the fringes of campus are making money off students, and construction continues on university buildings and dorms.

While the U.S. as a whole continues to pray for a stronger Dow Jones industrial average, a boost in the S&P 500 and a clear-cut recessionary bottom, Provo, Utah, where the university is located, has added jobs to its economy. Over the last year, there's been a 2.97% rise in jobs in Provo; the national unemployment rate has now hit 8.9%. Last year, the Milken Institute, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based think tank, credited Provo's rise as a regional financial center, expansion of information technology services and university spending and expansions. These factors were enough to land it first on our list of best college towns for jobs.

There are also business booms in college towns like College Station, Texas (home to Texas A&M and up 2.06%); Baton Rouge, La. (up 2.16%), which Louisiana State calls home; and Durham, N.C. (up 2.49%), where Duke University have been major drivers of economic activity.

In Depth: Top College Towns For Jobs

Research universities tend to be great environments for business, as they're flush with cheap, highly talented labor (recent grads), and the massive research and development budgets universities have. Plenty of the world's top companies, including Dell ( DELL - news - people ), Cisco Systems ( CSCO - news - people ) and Google ( GOOG - news - people ), began in university settings.

"Universities provide the future educated labor force and are centers of innovation, which creates an ideal ecosystem for start-ups," says Antonio Ubalde, chief executive of ZoomProspector.com, a San Francisco-based corporate relocation and start-up consulting firm. He notes that new technologies developed in many schools wind up growing into businesses of their own: "Research universities spin off academic innovations into commercial enterprises."

Behind the Numbers

We defined "college towns" as U.S. metropolitan statistical area and metropolitan divisions--geographic entities defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget used by federal agencies in collecting, tabulating and publishing federal statistics--where employment from universities, four-year colleges, two-year community colleges and university medical teaching hospitals supplied 2% or more of area jobs. Jobs created at for-profit universities and strictly Internet-based universities were not counted. Using Data from Moody's Economy.com., we looked at year-over-year job growth in each college town. While jobs in the U.S. as a whole shrunk by 3.5% from March 2008 to March 2009, there were 62 college towns that experienced job growth.

Our list includes plenty of idyllic college communities, such as Charlottesville, Va., home to the University of Virginia and its grand Jeffersonian architecture, where 12.7% of metropolitan residents are employed by the university, and jobs are up 2.47%; as well as Athens, Ga., where you'll find the University of Georgia and more than enough bars and music venues to entertain its 35,000 students. Employment in Athens is also up 2.47% for a year ago. Also on the list, however, were bigger metros like Seattle (2.19%) and Oklahoma City (1.51%), where clusters of large universities have continued to create jobs through the downturn.

]]>Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=407
Sara Otte Coleman says first-quarter numbers were down, and snow and flooding likely discouraged visitors from Canada early in the year.

The state Tourism Division also reports tourism inquiries were down last year, but Coleman says more tourism literature was handed out.

Coleman says she's still optimistic it will be a good year for tourism in North Dakota. She says the state is using a regional approach to marketing and is promoting itself as the most affordable state to visit.
]]>Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTMon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTMon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=400
Last month, we showed you the most financially happy states when we released the MainStreet.com Happiness Index. Now, we’re bringing you this inaugural edition of the MainStreet.com Job Opportunity Index to show you where the jobs are.

According to the MainStreet.com Job Opportunity Index, the jobs are not in the most populous states such as New York and California but are in the less densely populated middle of America. North Dakota, the 3rd least populous state in the U.S., took the top spot on the Index while New York came in at #35, Illinois ranked #36, and California landed at #44.

The Job Opportunity Index, which ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia, looked at two factors in determining which states offer the greatest employment opportunity: available jobs in a given state (relative to state population), and the unemployment rate in each state.Â

To estimate the number of available jobs per state, MainStreet partnered with Indeed.com, one of the most comprehensive job search sites on the web. Indeed.com aggregates millions of job postings from thousands of web sites and serves more than 12 million job seekers a month.

The most important thing to know is that there are jobs out there, says Paul Forster, CEO and co-founder of Indeed.com. Even though there may be no net growth in jobs through the economy, companies are always looking to replace people who have left. People should remain optimistic, because there are jobs available as you™ll see from any search on Indeed.com.

But, not all job markets are created equal.

North Dakota finished first with the 10th highest number of job opportunities in the nation and the lowest unemployment rate in the U.S. Wyoming (#2) and Virginia (#3), also featuring high numbers of opportunities and low unemployment, followed closely behind. (Given that our Happiness Index suggested that Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas are the most financially happy states, we here at MainStreet won't be surprised if there is a population surge in the heartland!)

Meanwhile, Michigan, due to the troubled auto industry and continuing layoffs, was at the bottom of the list, preceded by Oregon (#50) and Indiana (#49). ]]>Tue, 05 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 05 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 05 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=392The fiberglass head weighed 600 pounds and resembled Clarabell the Clown from the 1950s "Howdy Doody Show." Bill Ziegler, owner of the Wild Bill's nostalgia store, stumbled across it on an artist's Web site and wondered if it would work for a project he had in mind.

Salem Sue stands watch in New Salem, North Dakota. She measures 38 feet tall and 50 feet long.

Ziegler recruited the artist to help him attach the giant head to his 33-foot farm silo. By October 2008, the pair had built the world's largest jack-in-the-box.

The jack-in-the-box extends 50 feet in the air, moving up and down approximately once a minute. "They love it," Ziegler said of the tourists who come to his store. He's had visitors from as far away as England -- one couple who saw the story of the jack-in-the-box in a British newspaper decided to stop by.

All across the country, roadside attractions like this one bring surprise and delight to travelers who just have to get a closer look.

"In many parts of the country, you can plan an entire road trip where you visit nothing but 'world's largest' attractions," said Doug Kirby, the publisher of RoadsideAmerica.com.

Kirby's Web site pays homage to odd attractions -- from Ziegler's jack-in-the-box in Middletown, Connecticut, to the world's largest ketchup bottle in Collinsville, Illinois, to the world's largest sundial in Carefree, Arizona.

"Travelers enjoy the noncorporate, somewhat ragged nature of these eclectic attractions," Kirby said. "They're often free, and you can take a great 'wish you were here' photo." See photos of some "world's largest" attractions »

Kirby picked five world's largest attractions from his Web site. In addition to Ziegler's jack-in-the-box, here are his top recommendations for adventurous road trippers:

Ball of twine

Visitors do more than snap a picture at the world's largest ball of twine in Cawker City, Kansas. Linda Clover, self-described keeper of the ball, gives tourists twine to add it to the attraction.

"People like to be a part of it," Clover said. "It shows that with lots of patience and a lot of people helping out, you can end up with something very big."

Clover ended up in charge of the ball in a roundabout way. Farmer Frank Stoeber started the ball of twine in 1953. When he died, his cousin took over. And when his cousin died, Clover stepped up.

"I know that people like to come and see it. And someone had to take care of it," she said. "My husband used to say that people asked me to do something and I couldn't say no."

Clover keeps twine with her in case an interested tourist gives her a call. The ball measures more than 40 feet across. It contains 7.9 million feet of twine and weighs approximately 19,000 pounds. And every year in August, Cawker City hosts a twine-a-thon event to hold on to the world's largest ball of twine record.

Salem Sue

Salem Sue, dubbed the world's largest cow, is in New Salem, North Dakota. She measures 38 feet tall, 50 feet long and is made up of 12,000 pounds of fiberglass.

Scott Schauer, producer of The Real North Dakota project, features Salem Sue on his Web site, which is dedicated to showing tourists the best of North Dakota. As a kid, Schauer used to drive by the cow with his family. He thinks many people pass similar road trip traditions on to their kids, hence their appeal.

"I remember being mesmerized by their monstrous size. No matter how many times I saw them, I always looked forward to seeing them again and again," Schauer said. "As an adult, I still look forward to seeing them. I guess some things don't change with time."

Horseshoe crab

The world's largest horseshoe crab resides in a parking lot at the Freedom Worship Baptist Church in Blanchester, Ohio. Last year, the church's pastor, Jim Rankin, hired Evel Knievel's former bodyguard to jump over the crab on his motorcycle. The publicity stunt attracted nearly 8,000 visitors to the church.

The crab is 68 feet long from its head to its long, spiky tail. "It can have up to 65 people inside," Rankin said.

Peanut

In the 1970s, Ashburn, Georgia, built a monument to the state's No. 1 cash crop.

Standing atop a brick tower along Interstate 75, the world's largest peanut can be seen for miles. The peanut is 33 feet tall with a 10-foot circumference.

The peanut was featured on a Go-Gurt portable yogurt packet as a trivia question, said Shelley Zorn, Ashburn's chamber of commerce president. It also showed up on a Food Network show.

"Hilarious, isn't it?" Zorn said of the public's love affair with the peanut. "I can meet people on a cruise ... and I ask them if they've seen it. Nine out of 10 people have seen that peanut, no matter where they're from."

A legacy

Recognition is the main reason people build the world's largest attractions, Kirby said. His site rates places higher if they surprise his staff or make them laugh. iReport.com: See the "world's largest rocking chair"

]]>Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTThu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTThu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=389Fargo name the Cleanest Metro in all Categories:

Sixty percent of Americans live in areas with unhealthy air pollution levels, despite a growing green movement and more stringent laws aimed at improving air quality, the American Lung Association said in a report released Wednesday.

The public-health group ranked the pollution levels of U.S. cities and counties based on air quality measurements that state and local agencies reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency between 2005 and 2007.

Overall, the report found that air pollution at times reaches unhealthy levels in almost every major city and that 186.1 million people live in those areas. The number is much higher than last year's figure of about 125 million people because recent changes to the federal ozone standard mean more counties recognize unhealthy levels of pollution.

Health effects from air pollution include changes in lung function, coughing, heart attacks, lung cancer and premature death.

"Six out of 10 Americans right now as we speak live in areas where the air can be dirty enough to send people to the emergency room, dirty enough to shape how kids' lungs develop and even dirty enough to kill," said Janice E. Nolen, the association's assistant vice president on national policy and advocacy.

Cities including Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Baltimore have seen improvements in air quality over the last decade, the report said.

The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside region of Southern California remained the metropolitan area with the highest levels of ozone pollution, as it has in each of the past 10 reports. Other metropolitan areas considered to have the most ozone pollution included Houston-Baytown-Huntsville and Dallas-Fort Worth in Texas.

The areas with the most short-term particle pollution or soot were Pittsburgh-New Castle, Pa.; and the California areas of Fresno-Madera, Bakersfield and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside.

The cleanest metro area in all categories was Fargo, N.D.

The rankings in the "State of the Air Report" were based on ozone pollution levels produced when heat and sunlight come into contact with pollutants from power plants, cars, refineries and other sources.

The lung association also studied short-term and year-round levels of particle pollution, which is made up of a mix of tiny solid and liquid particles in the air.

]]>Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=387
Kayla Effertz, who helps manage the program for the Commerce, said online job searching is very appealing to job seekers.

"You can search for the next job opportunity when you have time," Effertz said. "So if that time is at two in the morning or 7 a.m. in your slippers and cup of coffee you can go online and get connected to your next opportunity."

WebFair ND is free to job seekers and students and will run through April 30 at www.WebFairND.com. On the site, job seekers visit virtual "booths" for each company that showcase their current openings and provide information about who they are and what they do.

Shawn Wenko with the Williston Workforce Development Department said his area participated in the program in order to reach a wider pool of potential job candidates.

"The city of Williston is a rather small community with pretty limited funds for workforce recruitment," Wenko said. "So if we can look at a program like WebFair ND that coops on a statewide level and reaches the amount of people you're reaching at a relatively low to zero cost, that's a big benefit. That's the number one reason we jumped onto WebFair ND."


QUICK FACTS:

• WebFair ND features 287 internship/employment positions, including:
o Healthcare: 40
o Information Technology: 18
o Business/Financial/Office: 16
o Manufacturing/Processing: 16
o Education: 14
o Sales/Communication: 13
o Service/Hospitality: 11
o Engineering: 10
o Internships/Training: 7
o Energy: 4
o Transportation: 4
o Agriculture: 2
o Government: 1
o Science: 1

• WebFair ND was born out of a desire to provide more job information to people interested in moving back to North Dakota and to reach out to college students who are inclined to use web-based services.

• Having one event/location that highlights both internships and full-time jobs improves awareness of the kinds of careers available in North Dakota.

WHAT PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING ABOUT WEBFAIR ND:

Kayla Effertz, ND Department of Commerce "We're really excited about the response we've gotten from employers, which is really saying, ‘Hey, we've got jobs in North Dakota and there are great jobs out there."

Levi Hall, NDSU
NDSU student Levi Hall, a freshman double majoring in agribusiness and business administration, is seeking an internship in the agribusiness field, specifically with a marketing division. "WebFair ND provides immediate responses from companies you are interested in so you can make a decision about summer employment sooner," he said.

Wendy Bullinger, Baker Boy, Dickinson (www.bakerboy.com)
Baker Boy of Dickinson is a return participant to the event. "WebFair ND allows us to recruit 24/7 and diversifies our recruiting efforts," Wendy Bullinger, human resources specialist, said. "The site makes it very easy for the job seekers to connect with employers, and people can view it at their convenience." Baker Boy has several opportunities available for participants, including a technology services coordinator and a payroll coordinator.
]]>Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTMon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTMon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=381Whenever anyone mentions comfort foods, I think of hot, steaming bowls of Cream of Wheat, pristine and tempting with just a bit of brown sugar or honey glistening against the snowy whiteness. My childhood was spent in the bitter cold of the mountains of northern Pennsylvania, and on those frosty mornings Cream of Wheat provided energy and warmth that lasted all day.

Cream of Wheat is truly an American dish; representing the essence of those early pioneers who pushed westward with courage and hope. Grand Forks, N.D., in 1893 was the birthplace of this healthful and hearty cereal. That year brought a devastating financial panic and The Diamond Flour Mill in Grand Forks faced ruin. To prove that disaster can often produce positive ideas, the head miller, Thomas Amidon, began to experiment with leftover middling, the nutrient-dense part of the wheat kernel. He and his wife came up with a tasty, hot breakfast porridge made of these leftovers and set out to convince mill owners George Bull, George Clifford and Emery Mapes that it was a viable product.

At first the owners were skeptical but Amidon persisted, and finally 10 cases of the new cereal were produced. Thomas Amidon was so enthusiastic about the product that he quickly set up a sterilizer and handcrafted 360 boxes and designed the box labels from a printing plate he retained from his years as a printer. It was George Clifford who came up with the name Cream of Wheat, since the cereal was made from the finest part of the wheat and he wanted to emulate the phrase "cream of the crop."

The first 10 cases of the cereal were sent in freight cars along with flour consigned to the company's eastern jobbers. Within days the owners of Diamond Mill received a telegram, which read: "Never mind flour, send us a carload of Cream of Wheat." The company was saved from ruin and the mill quickly switched from the flour business to producing one of America's most popular cereals.

In 1897, the mill moved to Minneapolis when it outgrew the production capability of the Grand Forks plant. The current plant, which was built in 1927, is just outside of downtown Minneapolis and continues to manufacture all the Cream of Wheat produced in this country.

The Cream of Wheat Corp. remained a single-product company, run by three generations of the Bull family and two generations of the Mapes and Clifford families, for 75 years. In 1962 Nabisco Inc. acquired the facility, and it remains one of Nabisco's only single-product plants.

In spite of all those fancy cereals competing for the breakfast market, Cream of Wheat remains a favorite American food. Last year about 80 million pounds of Cream of Wheat were produced at the Minneapolis plant.

Emery Mapes, one of the original owners, was not only a mill owner. He had a background as a small-town storekeeper and newspaper publisher. Early on he put his talent to work by devising the first advertising campaign for a breakfast cereal. In 1898, Cream of Wheat's first advertising appeared in Ladies Home Journal. By 1902, the company appropriated its first advertising budget of $10,000, which was expended mostly in popular magazines of the day.

During the 1890s, four-color printing was introduced and Cream of Wheat became one of the first products to take advantage of this innovation. They commissioned some of the country's finest artists to create beautiful, colorful Cream of Wheat illustrations. N.C. Wyeth, Edward Brewer, Helen Mason and Maud Tousey Fangel were among more than 58 artists who popularized Cream of Wheat and epitomized what has become known as "The Golden Age of Illustration." Most of these illustrations belong to the Nabisco Food Group and are frequently exhibited in museums and art galleries throughout the country.

There are now 11 varieties of Cream of Wheat including Quick Cream of Wheat, Instant Cream of Wheat, Mix ‘N Eat Cream of Wheat and eight flavors of Flavored Mix ‘N Eat Cream of Wheat. However, I am one of those purists who harken back to old-fashioned regular Cream of Wheat, which becomes harder and harder to find.

My fondest memories of Cream of Wheat are those Saturday mornings of my childhood when my favorite radio program was "Let's Pretend." This imaginative and creative show was sponsored by Cream of Wheat. I can still remember the opening jingle:

"Cream of Wheat is so good to eat
That we have it every day......
We sing this song
It will make us strong
And it makes us shout hooray.
It's good for growing babies
And grownups too, to eat
For all your family's breakfasts
You can't beat Cream of Wheat."

]]>Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTTue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=377Tom Purdy sometimes takes several hours to purchase a few items at the grocery store. That's because the Minot native runs into so many people he knew growing up.

Purdy returned home to Minot from Las Vegas this fall, along with his wife, Chantanee, daughters Maleah, six, and Aris, four, and his mother-in-law, Connie.

He left North Dakota in 1992, after attending UND and graduating from Minot State University with a degree in earth science and a minor in secondary education. He taught in Las Vegas and Los Angeles before transitioning into the field of well-site technology.

"The decision to return was based on a combination of things, including a higher-paying job for me, better schools for our daughters, a lower crime rate and all the other advantages of living in a smaller community," he said. "My wife has always lived in large cities. She wanted our girls to have the same type of upbringing I had. There's a lot to be said about the quality of life for which North Dakota is known."

Coming Home
In September, Purdy began working for Neset Consulting Service, a Tioga company providing well site geologic/geosteering services. "The economic opportunity to return was huge," he said. Purdy doubled his income by returning to the state.

"North Dakota is thriving with economic opportunities compared to the rest of the country," he said. "This is the perfect time for anyone to consider coming home."

The rewards transcend economic benefits. His daughter is continuing a family tradition by attending St. Leo's Catholic School, where his late mother taught for 24 years. Purdy, his father, Dr. Paul A. Purdy, uncle and brothers also attended school there. "The staff there rolled out the red carpet for Mary Purdy's granddaughter," he said.

His father, uncle and cousins were thrilled when the family returned. "People I visit with usually know some member of my family, and we have immediate rapport."

His wife, an artist (www.Chantanee.net), rubbed elbows with local artists at a recent festival. "She is excited to be a part of the arts community and was well received," he said.

The family is looking forward to outdoor activities the four seasons offer, including fishing, camping, boating and so much more. Sledding is high on his daughters' lists their first winter here. On tap for next summer is spending time at nearby lakes he frequented in his youth.

A Unique PridePurdy was reminded of the sense of community Minot offers when his mother passed away. "The support from people was amazing," he said. "When I lived in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, I never knew my neighbors."

In his mother's eulogy, he stated the number one resource here is the people. "There is a pride in our community and in the state that makes us unique."

Purdy says he is "living large" in North Dakota. "I'm glad to be home. We're really excited about our future here."


]]>Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTFri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTFri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=370
In 2006, with encouragement from the Love ND group, the couple and their three sons, Jonathan, now 19 and living in Colorado, Dillon, now 18 and in the Marines, and James, now 17 and in high school, moved to McLean County and are living on a farm north of Wilton. Kassian set up his business, Tom Kat On Site, a mobile semi-truck repair service that travels statewide.

Kassian's wife, Katy, got on board with the North Dakota Department of Commerce's Ambassador program, both in an official and non-official capacity. Even though she is a California native, she became one of the biggest advocates of the rural lifestyle found in North Dakota. In corresponding with her family back home, she put in a plug for living in North Dakota every chance she got. She said, "My background is in sales and I love it. I would tell my family about all the things I was doing and how great living in North Dakota is."

Her cousins, Tom and Stephanie LeDoux, were intrigued by the stories K. Kassian told. Tom LeDoux was cautious about what he heard, but his wife was enthusiastic about the possibilities. She wanted to be part of the North Dakota way of life. She told K. Kassian, "I want to learn how to bake bread and do all of the things you are doing."

But the dream wouldn't become real for the LeDoux family unless Tom could find work close to family. The Kassians heard about the repair shop closing at the Washburn Cenex about a year ago. They believed that opening an automotive repair business in the available space would serve a void for the community of Washburn. After getting assurance from T. LeDoux that he would be interested in operating the shop, the Kassians started Tom Kat Repair, LLC and hired LeDoux to manage it. With LeDoux's 20 years of automotive mechanic experience, 10 years in a dealership and 10 years as an independent mechanic, the
fit propelled the LeDoux family to make plans to move to North Dakota.

Kassian said of his business purchase, "We are focusing on providing smaller automotive services like oil changes, tire changes, doing general repair and handling air conditioning." They won't be doing any field service repair.

Washburn residents will have an automotive repair shop that can take care of the smaller repairs and services without having to wait or leave town. It was another piece of the puzzle that was a good fit, filling a need for Cenex and for Washburn.

Cenex Manager Marie Jaeger has been working with Kassian for the last two months and is looking forward to having the business move into the Cenex shop. "We have waited a long time to get someone of their quality into the community," said Jaeger. "I think they will do well. I hope the community will welcome them as well."

With that kind of encouragement, last week the LeDouxs packed up their family and began the long haul, pulling into North Dakota early Thursday morning. The two men spent the next couple of days setting up shop, and early Monday morning, Tom Kat Repair, LLC officially opened for business. They will be open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

It has been a hectic start for the families. The Ladouxs are staying with the Kassian family until they can purchase a home in the area. But since day one, they have found all sorts of things that are different in an encouraging way. The traffic or lack thereof is one nice surprise. The quality of the schools is another big plus.

After stopping at Wilton School to enroll the girls, S. LaDoux was impressed. She said, "After hearing about the schools here and stopping to talk to the principals, I understood why Tom and Katy wanted to move here."

The couple has seven children between them. One son, Raymond, 20, attends college in Oregon. The other six are still in school, although only four of the children, Karina, 16, Lilly, 8, Ivy, 6, and Star 4 have moved to the Wilton area. Two of T. LeDoux's children, Brandon, 15 and Randi, 12, still live in California.

The couple wanted to give their children an opportunity that the couple didn't have growing up. They wanted them to go to good schools where they would be safe and live in a community where people are friendly. As parents, they were tired of being paranoid about letting the children out of their sight.

S. LeDoux said, "They smile at you here. In California, you don't get that like you do here." Karina is excited about learning to drive, since driving in California was too scary. She is also excited about getting a job, something that was hard for a 16-year-old to do in California.

It was eight-year-old Lilly who put it best after she visited the school, "Mom, now I can see why you wanted us to come to school here. This is a good school." Her parents agree. They believe that dignity, integrity and trust are important things to instill in a child.

In North Dakota, those things are expected of the children. Building trust is a mutual objective between parents and children, and between parents and teachers. K. Kassian agrees. She said, "Here, your word is your bond. If you say you're going to do something, you simply show up and just do it." S. Ladoux wants her children to be taught by teachers who still have a passion for teaching so that her girls will learn to have a passion for whatever they decide to do in life.

The family also has a chance to enjoy nature and be outdoors here, something they love to do. They plan to do some camping and hiking and they enjoy fourwheeling (quading) which they hope to do more of once the snow melts. They look forward to helping feed the cows at the Kassian farmstead. "We are excited to be here," said LaDoux. "It's a win-win situation, for North Dakota and for us."

]]>Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTThu, 09 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTThu, 09 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=366
Then Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage found out about Hoper, who had made North Dakota the 50th state to buy a ticket to his track. Never one to miss a good public relations opportunity, Gossage called Hoper.

Five days later, the Jimmie Johnson fan was in front of the media Saturday, suite upgrade and autographed Johnson photo in hand. Of course, there was the Lowe's gift card as well. Lowe's is Johnson's primary sponsor, and Hoper's home has a flooded basement in need of repairs.

Gossage simply suggested that perhaps Hoper, who has a friend in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, could use a few days away after the stress of preparing for the flood and bracing for the damage.

"If you've been following the story in Fargo, it's just a tremendous story about how communities really come together and step up in a time of crisis," said Hoper, a 35-year-old software consultant. "Sort of the same way that the NASCAR community has really stepped up and made this weekend a wonderful experience for me."

Hoper counted himself among the lucky ones because his sister's house was spared the worst of the disaster. While the water swamped their basement, they had removed their belongings, and the Red River, which sits next to their home, crested a few inches below the main floor.

Hoper bought his ticket in mid-March, about two weeks before the floodwaters crested. He knew even back then the flooding was possible. Besides, Fargo residents are used to such cycles because surges from snow melt frequently overwhelm the river.

A massive volunteer effort helped put about three million sandbags in place, which Hoper said was twice the amount originally planned before record flood levels were predicted.

With more flooding possible in the coming weeks, Hoper wasn't sure whether to take Gossage's offer.

"I talked to a lot of family and friends," Hoper said. "And not a single person discouraged me from coming. In fact, they said I would be crazy to not come."

Hoper, who has attended several NASCAR events, wasn't sure if he'd get to meet Johnson, the defending three-time Sprint Cup champion. But that hardly mattered to him based on what he had already received.

"You gotta help our your fellow man," Gossage said. "Hopefully it lifts the spirits of the people back there. It's the right thing to do."

]]>Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTSun, 05 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTSun, 05 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=363
The Governor's Awards for Tourism will be presented at the 2009 North Dakota Tourism Conference, April 27-29, in Grand Forks. Nominate someone today at https://www.ndtourism.com/industry/2009-tourism-conference/
Categories include:

Travel & Tourism Industry Leader (Must be nominated by a peer in the tourism industry):
Individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the tourism industry locally, regionally or statewide.

Front-line Tourism Employee (Nominated by the individual's employer):
Individual who provides outstanding customer service to tourists and visitors on a daily basis.

International Tourism Award (Must be nominated by peer in the tourism industry):
Public or private tourism entity or person that has demonstrated positive results for the business, local community or statewide in the international market.

Best Package (May be nominated by your own entity):
Public or private tourism group that has created a unique packaging opportunity (three or more travel or tourism components) in the tourism industry. Must have a point of sale at one or more of the components.

Behind the Scenes Tourism Employee (Nominated by the individual's employer):
Individual providing outstanding service behind the scenes in tourism-related businesses. Some examples would be housekeeping staff, prep cooks, administrative positions, website designers and chefs.

Tourist Attraction of the Year (May be nominated by your own entity):
Public or private attraction that has demonstrated involvement in local, regional and/or state tourism initiatives.

Event of the Year (May be nominated by your own entity):
Similar to the Attraction of the Year, the host organization may be public or private but must have demonstrated involvement in local, regional and/or state tourism initiatives.

Tourism Organization of the Year (May be nominated by your own entity):
Presented to an organization like a public tourism attraction, public recreation area, convention and visitors bureau, chamber of commerce, etc., that has demonstrated a positive impact on the local, regional, or statewide tourism industry.


For more information, contact North Dakota Tourism at 800-435-5663 or 701-328-2525.

North Dakota received two legendary designations in 2008 - most affordable (AAA) and friendliest. (Cambridge University)]]>Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTThu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTThu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=362
The WebFair will run from April 1 to April 30 on the www.WebFairND.com website. The WebFair is free to job seekers and students.

The event is another way Commerce is working to help businesses find good employees and help North Dakota college students and others find meaningful employment among the thousands of job opportunities in North Dakota.

"Traditional career fairs require a company representative's time and travel and tap into the limited audience of people who take time to physically attend the event," Commerce Commissioner Shane Goettle said. "By moving our career fair online, we can allow companies to actively recruit talent world-wide at a very low cost and continue operating their business as usual. And job or internship seekers can do so in the comfort of their own home."
Businesses this year benefit from new features including the following:
• A virtual "booth" that showcases their current openings and provides information about who they are and what they do.
• Marketing of WebFair ND to job seekers (both in- and out-of-state) and North Dakota college students.
• Post-event tracking report of website and booth-specific visits.

QUICK FACTS:

• The WebFair was born out of a desire to provide more job information to people interested in moving back to the state for the right job opportunity and at the same time reach out to college students who are inclined to use web-based services such as this to find jobs or internships.

• Having one event/location that highlights both internships and full time opportunities will bring awareness to college students of the kinds of careers available in North Dakota.

• The WebFair features 273 internship/employment positions.

• Industries represented in the career fair include energy, engineering, healthcare, IT, education, business, office, manufacturing/processing, sales/communication, service/hospitality and transportation.

• The event has three goals:

1. Connecting individuals who live in North Dakota or want to move here with companies that have full time opportunities.
2. Connecting North Dakota students with paid North Dakota internships.
3. Connecting North Dakota businesses with qualified interns and employees.

WHAT PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING ABOUT WEBFAIR ND:
Levi Hall, NDSU
NDSU student Levi Hall, a freshman double majoring in agribusiness and business administration, is seeking an internship in the agribusiness field, specifically with a marketing division. "The WebFair provides immediate responses from companies you are interested in so you can make a decision about summer employment sooner," he said.

Wendy Bullinger, Baker Boy, Dickinson (www.bakerboy.com)
Baker Boy of Dickinson is a return participant to the event. "WebFair ND allows us to recruit 24/7 and diversifies our recruiting efforts," Wendy Bullinger, human resources specialist, said. "The site makes it very easy for the job seekers to connect with employers, and people can view it at their convenience." Baker Boy has several opportunities available for participants, including a technology services coordinator and a payroll coordinator.
]]>Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTThu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTThu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=360What defines Fargo for the rest of the United States? It has to be that accent.

When Joel and Ethan Coen released the movie "Fargo" in 1996, they crafted an indelible image of Fargoans as cheerful dimwits who speak in comically broad Scandinavian vowels ("oh yaaaa, yaaaa").

Natives are quick to point out that only the first five minutes or so of the movie actually take place in Fargo, with the rest set in Minnesota's Twin Cities and Brainerd (guess "Brainerd" didn't have the same ring). And with the eyes of the country now fixed on Fargo as its residents labor tirelessly to hold back the surging Red River, they'd like you to know that their city of almost 100,000 is a lot more than just barren snowscapes, local yokels and perpetual natural disasters.

"We've had a number of guests who tell me they're here because North Dakota was their 50th state on the list to visit," said Karen Stoker, who in 2003 opened the trendy Hotel Donaldson in downtown Fargo, which has $40 bison steaks on its restaurant menu, works by local artists on its walls and hosts musical performances and poetry readings.

There are a few facts that are undeniable about Fargo. People do speak in a unique regional dialect, but it's not as exaggerated as the movie. It is cold and it is very flat, which makes it more vulnerable to blizzards and floods.

But real estate is cheap, it takes about five minutes to get anywhere in town, and as the last week shows, it's the kind of place where calls for volunteers to sandbag the homes of strangers turn up dozens of people in an hour or so.

"We're all a bunch of people who aren't that many generations removed from the pioneers, so I think hospitality and helping each other out is a natural for us," Stoker said.

Fargo has experienced a resurgence in the last decade, in part because of a growth in technology companies and its colleges.

In 2000, Microsoft purchased Great Plains Software, then a burgeoning software business founded by a North Dakota native. It's now the second-biggest Microsoft campus outside of the headquarters in Redmond, Wash. Other high-tech and innovative companies have followed, including Appareo, an aviation software firm; Cetero, which researches and develops vaccines; and NRI, a neuropsychiatric research firm that has done well-regarded studies of eating disorders.

Between them, Fargo and its sister city across the Red River, Moorhead, Minn., have three colleges - North Dakota State University, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, and Concordia College - enrolling about 20,000 students combined. NDSU recently entered Division 1, a big ego boost for the rabid local Bison fans, and made the NCAA basketball tournament this year.

Between the high-tech workers and the students, downtown Fargo has transformed from a somewhat depressing place to a thriving destination with independent restaurants, high-end boutiques and live music venues that have hosted indie rockers such as The Hold Steady and Bon Iver.

"I have colleagues in New York and L.A. and they're always saying, 'When are you moving here?'" said Matt Charpentier, 25, who moved back from Savannah, Ga., in 2004 to start his own graphic design business. "And then they tell me how much they're struggling. I've got all the work I can handle. Why would I go there?"

In all, the Fargo-Moorhead metro area population is estimated at about 195,000 people. One thing the area still lacks, though, is diversity. The U.S. Census found Fargo was 93 percent white in 2000, although that was down from 97 percent in 1990 and city officials estimate the growth in immigrant communities has accelerated even more since then. In particular, Hispanic and Somali communities have gained a foothold, and have begun opening authentic ethnic markets and restaurants in town.

North Dakotans have gotten used to the fact that it takes somewhat derisive movies like "Fargo," or crippling floods and blizzards, to get them publicity. But publicity it is, for an out-of-the-way state of about 630,000 people.

"Yes, we've had some flooding," State Tourism Director Sara Otte Coleman said as Fargo braced for a record Red River disaster. "I would say if anything, it has given us more of a positive image of people helping people and overcoming obstacles."

Part of living here, it seems, is learning to appreciate the jokes.

Tom Isern, a professor of history at NDSU, has collected hundreds of satirical one-liners about North Dakota culture. For example: You must be a North Dakotan if you define summer as three months of bad sledding. Or a more timely one: You must be a North Dakotan if you think of something other than the Bible when you hear the words "The Great Flood."

But the flood fight is nothing to joke about, said Isern, who lives in West Fargo.

"I think it is important that Fargo win this fight, because the last thing we need is another victim story in this nation," Isern said. "But if the dikes fail and the community goes under, we'll try to spin it."

Whatever happens with the flood, Fargo will remain a very affordable place to live. When Ellen Shafer, a PR consultant, and her husband moved back from Minneapolis a few years ago, they purchased a 105-year-old mansion with six bedrooms and a formal dining room for $180,000.

"A lot of people say, let's keep this stuff a secret," Shafer said. "I say let's not. Fargo has benefited greatly the last few years from an influx of smart, talented people."

]]>Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTWed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTWed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=355
]]>Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMTFri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMTFri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=331Watch the video coverage.]]>Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMTSat, 28 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMTSat, 28 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=326
Since long before all of that, though, Native Americans have revered this gusty element of the natural world. So in the ice-black fright of a winter night, Jessie Cree, a leader of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, takes shelter in a simple community center on the reservation and ponders the power of wind.

"It has a spirituality," Cree says, his voice somehow holding the softness of summer. "You can't see the wind blow, but you can see whatever it hits."

Outdoors, strong gusts push the temperature to minus-30 degrees. Indoors, fluorescent bulbs glow over Cree and a circle of men and women preparing to pray for endurance during the harshest season. As hands strike drums in the center of the circle, Matthew Orcutt, 28, bellows the first words of a long-sung song of survival.

Cree, 54, his gray hair flowing freely, concludes: "But the old people that were spiritual, they were able to see the wind. They would be able to see the spirit of the wind."

In this land long since tilled for cash crops - whether amber waves of grain, oh-so-yellow canola, or high-stalked sunflowers - many now hope the unseen wind will bring salvation to all of us, or at least to those who live on the plains.

As the wider world awakens to the need for alternative energy, hundreds of wind turbines have taken root in fertile soil from one end of North Dakota to the other. Wind farms with hundreds more towers are in the works, a boom of development that boosters say could turn the heartland into a breezy breadbasket: Distant corporations and local families stand to profit, and people from coast to coast could benefit from a more diversified energy industry that puts wind to work.

Read the Entire Article.

]]>Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMTSat, 21 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMTSat, 21 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=319
So said Jeanne MacDonald of North Dakota's Dickinson State University as she touted distant job opportunities, while thousands made their way through the Mega Employment Expo at the DeltaPlex.

It sounded good to Grand Rapids resident Craig Novakowski.

"I'm looking to make a move out of state," Novakowski said.

Read article on the Grand Rapids Press site.

Novakowski, 26, said he has lost faith in Michigan after being laid off from a series of warehouse and manufacturing jobs in recent years.

"Just about every company that is here, they are looking to move out of state. It would be nice if the economy picked up but I don't see that happening soon."

An estimated 3,000 job-seekers turned out Saturday for the job fair, which included five booths for North Dakota, the state of Wyoming Department of Corrections, two for the military and a handful of private employers among its 24 stations.

Given Michigan's worst-in-the-nation December unemployment rate of 10.6 percent, it is no surprise some are ready to flee the state for places like North Dakota.. Buoyed by oil jobs, it stands second in unemployment at 3.5 percent, right behind Wyoming.

Grand Rapids resident Adrian Canales, 21, said he is ready to join either the Army or Army National Guard.

Canales has a job at a local injection molding factory. But he is hardly confident in its stability or his future with it.

"I keep getting laid off. They call me back. I get laid off. For a while I was thinking about moving to another state."

But Canales says the military looks better and better. On the table in front of the National Guard booth: A notice for a $20,000 signing bonus.

"All the benefits that come with it -- you can't get laid off from the National Guard."

Walker resident Linda Berglund, 39, sat at a table scanning job openings in The Press. She wasn't finding many.

"I do administrative work and there just isn't any," she said.

Berglund she was laid off a year ago from her job as an administrative assistant. She's been looking since then, a search that encompasses some 30 applications and five interviews.

Berglund said she is told she is overqualified. She is told she lacks educational experience.

"I've got life experience, something you cannot learn in college.

"I get a lot, 'You are overqualified.' It is discouraging. It is really disappointing to have people not hire you because you are too good. "

But unlike those who are poised to leave the state, Berglund said that would be a final resort.

"I have a 15-year-old son and parents here. To move to another state would have to be a very last option.

"I'm not giving up."

]]>Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMTSun, 15 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMTSun, 15 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=299
The citation that names the asteroid will be presented to Gov. John Hoeven in Bismarck in February.

The asteroid that Reddy discovered revolves around the sun between Mars and Jupiter in what's called the Main Asteroid Belt. The asteroid is 1 to 3 miles in diameter and has a surface temperature of about 170 degrees below zero Fahrenheit.

He earlier received approval for discovering another asteroid that he named India after his native country. Reddy has been studying and doing research at UND for six years.
]]>Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMTFri, 23 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMTFri, 23 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - Newshttp://www.experience.nd.gov/communications/latestnews/detail.asp?newsID=248
As an employee of a growing start-up company, Appareo Systems, I've seen our firm struggle to recruit top talent from outside the tri-state area. Local companies of our stature and growth trajectory compete aggressively for similar resources, and with a 2.5 percent unemployment rate and 13,000-plus jobs open statewide - continued competition for limited local resource has begun to feel exceedingly like a Phyrric battle.
Enter "Experience North Dakota," an event hosted by the North Dakota Department of Commerce. Through Experience North Dakota, the Department of Commerce hopes to bring opportunities with North Dakota companies to expatriated North Dakotans and out-of-state job seekers. Appareo Systems recently participated in an Experience North Dakota event in Denver and was able to hire some excellent technical talent as a result of the trip.

With continued low unemployment in our state and its metropolitan areas, we encourage other local companies to participate in these events to bring talented employees to our community from other, more distressed areas and to increase the size of our state's pool of employable resources.
The next Experience North Dakota event is being hosted in Minneapolis on April 4 and affords all of North Dakota's employers the opportunity to help import more great employees to the state.
]]>Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMTSat, 20 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMTSat, 20 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMTND Ambassadors - News