Burgum highlights importance of cybersecurity at Cultivate Conference
Gov. Doug Burgum recently highlighted the importance of cybersecurity and how North Dakota is positioning itself to be a leader in the field during the Cultivate Conference hosted by Grand Farm in Fargo.
The Cultivate Conference focuses on emerging technology in agriculture and convenes leaders to explore tech innovations they have created, are currently building or are searching for in their industry. The event featured short talks, breakout sessions and a farmers’ panel.
The state's agriculture industry is increasingly employing new technologies to be more productive and profitable, which often requires the collection of massive amounts of data that need to be protected, Burgum noted.
"We need to continue innovating to ensure our networks and our data are protected and create a focus on cybersecurity," Burgum said.
North Dakota is believed to be the first state in the nation to offer academic content standards for computer science and cybersecurity, Burgum noted, adding the state committed an additional $45 million last year in federal funds to build out its nation-leading broadband infrastructure.
While in Fargo, Burgum also addressed the inaugural Bushel Customer Conference (background photo), stressing how the ag tech industry in North Dakota is thriving through innovation, not regulation.
Travel Channel host Anthony Melchiorri to speak at 2022 Main Street ND Summit
Anthony Melchiorri, the host of Travel Channel’s Hotel Impossible, Five Star Secrets, and Extreme Hotels will be speaking at the 2022 Main Street ND Summit.
“We are grateful to have Anthony Melchiorri join us at this year’s summit,” Gov. Burgum said. “We look forward to him sharing his experience and expertise on what it takes to build a successful and vibrant community that will attract and retain a talented workforce.”
At the summit, Melchiorri will help communities and business leaders craft a roadmap to a successful and effective brand by incorporating key principles of hospitality. He will share how reinventing a brand can attract new talent and residents to the communities of North Dakota.
This year’s summit will be held on Oct. 25-26 at the Bismarck Event Center. A pre-summit social is scheduled for Oct. 24, with a location in Bismarck to be determined. For the first time, the summit will be free for all attendees.
“Free admission allows a vast variety of residents of all ages from both large and small communities across the state the ability to attend,” Commerce Community Development Director Maria Effertz Hanson said. “To attract the best and brightest workforce, we need to come together and share why people should call North Dakota home. If you are interested in economic diversity, vibrancy, workforce development, or community infrastructure you will be exposed to best practices you can bring back to your community”
The summit theme, Inspiring Community-Driven Workforce will address the importance of community vibrancy for all generations by highlighting how community assets are critical to economic resiliency, and workforce attraction and retention across North Dakota.
The event will consist of a variety of keynote speakers and breakout sessions that will provide tools and resources to support community volunteers, local champions, business owners, and elected leaders at both the local and state level as they work together to create unique communities to attract a talented workforce.
Registration for the 2022 Main Street ND Summit and additional information can be found at https://msnd.link/summit-2022.
Governor, first lady to host sixth annual Recovery Reinvented on Nov. 10 in Grand Forks
Gov. Burgum and First Lady Kathryn Burgum are inviting the public to join them for Recovery Reinvented, an event dedicated to eliminating the shame and stigma of the disease of addiction, on Nov. 10, 2022, at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. The event will be free and open to the public.
This will be the first time the event is held in Grand Forks, having previously been hosted in Bismarck three times, once in Fargo and virtually in 2020. The daylong event will feature state and national addiction and recovery experts who will focus on reinventing recovery through the sharing of stories, creating recovery-friendly cultures in the workplace and community, and eliminating the stigma surrounding the disease of addiction.
“We continue to build on the message that storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have to end the stigma surrounding addiction,” First Lady Burgum said. “Bringing this experience to the community of Grand Forks will allow us to lift up more faces and voices of recovery and inspire people to know that recovery from addiction is possible.”
Opportunities to volunteer at the event will be available. The public is also asked to submit nominations for the Recovery Champion awards, which honor local individuals and groups making an impact in the field of addiction and recovery. Addiction- and recovery-related nonprofit organizations and service providers are encouraged to join the Recovery Resources Expo, which will connect people to extensive addiction, recovery and mental health organizations and resources from across the state. Anyone who is interested in these opportunities to get involved can visit recoveryreinvented.com to learn more and sign up.
Registration for Recovery Reinvented will open at a later date, and event information is available at recoveryreinvented.com with additional updates being shared by the Governor, First Lady, and Recovery Reinvented’s social media on Facebook at @GovernorDougBurgum, @FirstLadyND and @RecoveryND and Twitter at @DougBurgum, @FirstLadyND, and @Recovery_ND.
Statewide Public Space Initiative Placemaking Planning Grant application opens July 15
The U.S. Economic Development Administration is awarding $1 million to the North Dakota Department of Commerce through EDA’s Statewide Planning program.
Placemaking activities are a multi-faceted approach to planning, designing, and managing public spaces, and these community assets are critical to economic resilience and workforce attraction and retention across the state of North Dakota. Placemaking as an economic development strategy, also called place-based economic development, is the practice of using a community's public amenities to make economic progress. Architectural designs, Infrastructure planning, implementation and final architectural plans will not be funded with this grant.
The goal in the EDA Placemaking Planning grant is the planning and design necessary to enhance the statewide attraction of businesses, promotion of economic activity, and the retention and attraction of talented workers, thus strengthening the economic resiliency across North Dakota communities as we recover from the economic impacts Covid-19. Community-driven placemaking matters in creating healthy, prosperous communities where people want to live, work, play, and learn. The planning and design efforts that result from this proposal will generate economic benefits and is a complementary strategy to aid workforce development.
Boards and Commissions openings
Currently, there are many boards or commissions openings accepting applications.
Boards and Commissions is made up of North Dakota citizens appointed to represent their community and peers as they help influence policies and programs that play an instrumental and invaluable role to help Empower People, Improve Lives and Inspire Success.
The Governor appoints to over 150 Boards and Commissions representing a wide variety of industries.
To be considered for an appointment candidates are invited to complete the application located below.