GREATER FARGO MOORHEAD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

OUR OVERARCHING MISSION OF THE GFMEDC IS TO LEAD THE DEVELOPMENT OF A ROBUST ECONOMY WHERE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES THRIVE WHICH INCLUDES EFFORTS TO:- STRATEGICALLY PURSUE JOB CREATION AND BUSINESS ATTRACTION.- WORK WITH AND SUPPORT COMPANIES WITH DEMAND-DRIVEN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. - SUPPORT A VIBRANT ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM.- COLLABORATE WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO ENHANCE PROGRAMS AND PROCESSES THAT MAKE DOING BUSINESS EASIER IN THE REGION.THE GFMEDC PROMOTES AND ENHANCES THE INDUSTRIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF CASS COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA AND CLAY COUNTY, MINNESOTA, WHICH ENCOMPASSES THE FARGO-MOORHEAD MSA AS DELINEATED BY THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET. THIS PROMOTION AND ENHANCEMENT IS DONE THROUGH DEPLOYMENT OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO FACILITATE JOB CREATION AND BY INFORMING EXISTING AND POTENTIAL BUSINESSES ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF LOCATING OR EXPANDING BUSINESS IN THIS REGION. THE OVERALL AIM IS TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE AREA. THE ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH THE ND DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS DIRECTLY WITH GLOBAL SITE SELECTORS AND COMPANIES TO BRING NEW BUSINESS TO THE STATE. WE WORK TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN PRIMARY-SECTOR COMPANIES. JOB CREATION - WE SUCCESSFULLY SUPPORTED 20 PROJECTS IN 2024 HELPED TO CREATE MORE THAN 221 DIRECT JOBS AND $164 MILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT (EQUIPMENT AND BUILDINGS). COMPANIES ASSISTED - IN ADDITION TO THE AFOREMENTIONED PROJECTS, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED MEANINGFUL ASSISTANCE TO 75 COMPANIES IN 2024. NEWLY UTILIZED SQ./FT. - COMPANIES UTILIZED AN ADDITIONAL 653,000 SQ./FT. TO SUPPORT THEIR GROWTH STRATEGIES.

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE WORKFORCE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PROGRAM IS TO ASSIST PRIMARY SECTOR BUSINESS LOCATED IN CASS COUNTY, ND AND CLAY COUNTY, MN WITH THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF SKILLED WORKERS. DOING SO HELPS GROW THE REGION'S POPULATION AND TAX BASE AND HELPS ATTRACT AND RETAIN PRIMARY SECTOR BUSINESSES. IN 2024, WE FOCUSED ON AND PROMOTED PROGRAMS THAT ASSISTED COMPANIES WITH THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF WORKFORCE. THROUGH THE REGIONAL WORKFORCE ATTRACTION CAMPAIGN, WE REDESIGNED LIVEINFARGO.COM INCORPORATING VIRTUAL TOURS AND COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS, SO PEOPLE INTERESTED IN RELOCATING CAN SEE THE COMMUNITY THROUGH A 360 DEGREE VIRTUAL TOUR AND CONNECT WITH SOMEONE, ALL OF WHICH CAN HELP WITH TALENT ATTRACTION AND RETENTION. WE USED OUR DATA TOOL,LIGHTCASTI, TO ASSIST EMPLOYERS BY PROVIDING WORKFORCE DATA.