NORTH DAKOTA HAS THE SECOND STRONGEST CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION–March 10, 2008
Check out this post from the North Dakota Democratic blog.
NORTH DAKOTA GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT–September 21, 2007
A continuing trend in North Dakota is for talented young people to get their degrees and move away. In order to stem the tide of out-migration, North Dakota relies on its elected officials to work on economic incentives that can help the state grow.
One of my favorite political moves along this line was the formation of the state Department of Commerce. Created during the 2001 legislative session, the commerce department is responsible for overseeing economic development, tourism, community issues and workforce development. The Ambassador and Knew View programs, which I love, also fall under the commerce department’s umbrella.
As far as economic development is concerned, the commerce department has organized five target areas. The focus on agriculture as the state’s traditional number-one industry has been refined to include value-added agricultural products like canola oil and pasta manufactured from crops grown here. Tourism is another surprisingly profitable industry. Information/technology, advanced manufacturing and energy development (from both fossil fuels and renewable sources) are also major players.
The commerce department is a powerhouse in itself. Add to that the North Dakota Centers of Excellence–a state-sponsored economic development grant program that requires partnerships between higher education and private industries in the state–and the leveraged efforts bring companies and creates good jobs. What better way to keep North Dakota’s young people than to train them and give them the jobs and the pay they want?
The Centers of Excellence Commission heard presentations today for proposals being considered for the next round of funding. I got to sit in on three of these presentations. They were all well-organized, had strong partnerships, and had the potential to create real jobs with competitive pay.
I can hardly wait to see what happens.
Matty Kon, CEO for InfoTech, presents proposal specifics to the North Dakota Centers of Excellence Commision on Friday.
This Minot Daily News article tells more about some of the proposed Centers of Excellence.
MY INTRODUCTION TO NORTH DAKOTA POLITICS
I never thought too much about politics or the government in North Dakota until Minot Daily News asked me to cover the last leglislative session for them. That was an eye-opener. I can easily say that the experience changed my life; I think differently, I dress differently, and I even keep house differently than I used to.
Most of the changes are good. I’ve become a lot more organized, and also a lot more willing to set writing projects aside to spend time with my family. The only real downside, I think, was that I was writing so fast for four months that my penmanship deteriorated into heiroglypics.
The local politicians were great. They let me ask questions again and again, corrected me when I needed it, forgave me when necessary and generally encouraged me all the way through. I came out of that experience completely exhausted but with a new appreciation for all the work that goes into making North Dakota a safe and happy place to live.
I’m afraid something sparked in me that I didn’t know was there. I find myself browsing through state government sites now. I read political blogs. I wonder how my politically-minded friends are doing and what they’re working on now. And I wonder what my part is in it all.
As part of my online journal, this page will touch on some of the political and government issues in North Dakota that just have to be discussed.
