North Dakota

Campaign reignited to attract workers to North Dakota

Published

2 years ago

January 17, 2023

Campaign reignited to attract workers to North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. — For Travis Excessive, a pleasant telephone name with a relocation assist desk consultant was sufficient for him to drop every thing and drive from Washington state to start out a brand new life in North Dakota.

“North Dakota was the primary one to achieve out and say, ‘Hey, we wish you right here,’ so I simply began driving,” Excessive stated of his relocation this previous July.

Excessive, now a technician at ProIT in Minot, was the primary of 9 people or households to emerge via the pipeline of the state’s Discover the Good Life marketing campaign for the reason that program relaunched with state funding in mid-2022.

Gov. Doug Burgum proposed $25 million to additional construct out this system within the coming two years as one solution to tackle the state’s workforce scarcity. Job Service North Dakota estimates 40,000 openings within the state with at the very least 4,300 of these being unfilled well being care positions.

Legislators figuring out ultimate biennium budgets within the coming months, nonetheless, would be the deciding issue for whether or not advertising North Dakota’s intangibles is the reply or if different insurance policies want backing to lure employees and out-compete neighboring states.

It is going to probably take a mixture of advertising and deep coverage adjustments to actually appeal to employees and households. Inexpensive, accessible childcare and housing, higher employee protections, larger salaries, and really family-friendly insurance policies are wanted to tip the scales within the state’s favor when employees weigh their choices, some say.

“I feel ‘the great life’ must be greater than only a slogan, it must be an funding in working individuals. They’re the driving drive of our financial system, and we actually have to see this Legislature give attention to insurance policies that may guarantee all North Dakotans have a very good life,” stated Amy Jacobson, govt director of the progressive communications group Prairie Motion ND.

With file low unemployment nationwide and a “work-from-anywhere” struggle being waged between firms competing for expertise, discovering what makes North Dakota stand out is essential going ahead.

Travis Excessive, left, dines with Mark Lyman and Brekka Kramer of the Minot Space Chamber EDC at The Ravenous Rooster in Minot on July 13, 2022. Excessive met with Lyman and Kramer after relocating to Minot.

Contributed / Travis Excessive

The Discover the Good Life marketing campaign started in 2013 as a partnership between the North Dakota Financial Growth Basis and companies to market the state via movies, a web site and promoting at job festivals. Personal funds to develop the marketing campaign have amounted to simply over $995,000 whereas a state matching fund supplied over $369,000 for the preliminary branding and materials prices when it started, based on the North Dakota Division of Commerce.

Final yr the division made $438,000 of present funds obtainable to relaunch this system and used one other $410,000 for a two-year contract to rent RoleCall. The contractor has staffers based mostly throughout the nation to deal with relocation assist desk questions, present coaching and observe the metrics for this system.

The relaunch in June additionally established a collection of “neighborhood champions” in cities and cities throughout the state to attach with potential newcomers, present the lowdown on their locales, and steer them towards job openings.

“What’s completely different concerning the new, enhanced model is we try to attach individuals with communities the place there could be a long-term dedication,” stated Sara Otte Coleman, Division of Commerce tourism and advertising director.

Whereas solely 9 people or households have made the transfer to North Dakota for the reason that relaunch in June, each Coleman and Katie Ralston Howe, the division’s workforce improvement director, stated that they had been proud of the numbers to this point.

The primary impediment was beginning and rising that pipeline, they stated.

Katie Ralston Howe speaks on the state Capitol in Bismarck on March 23, 2022.

“The success of it’ll be in numbers,” Coleman stated.

There are presently about 1,000 potential new North Dakotans within the pipeline, with 300 of these actively circulating resumes to companies throughout the state, they stated.

“We decided that it doesn’t matter what we do, we’ve to have the ability to observe it, we’ve to have the ability to talk the success with the intention to present the affect of this initiative and the funding we’re making in it,” Howe stated.

If the total $25 million is made obtainable, round half would go towards advertising and the remainder to extra lively expertise attraction applications, Howe stated.

This might embrace bringing severe candidates to North Dakota for curated visits or offering matching grants to assist firms partially cowl sign-on bonuses, retention bonuses, transferring charges, and short-term rental prices, Howe stated.

Getting individuals to the state for an preliminary go to, both via tourism or a curated go to, is vital, Coleman stated. Of these within the pipeline, 75% have by no means been to North Dakota.

“We’re attempting to get them to go to first as a result of then we all know the probability of a transfer is way larger,” Coleman stated.

Landis Larson, North Dakota’s AFL-CIO president, is crucial of a state funded program that subsidizes companies hiring practices.

“I don’t perceive why the state of North Dakota, or the taxpayers of North Dakota, are paying to assist companies fill their jobs,” Larson stated. “It’s a tough tablet for me to swallow. They’re principally recruiting for employers.”

Larson argues that to really appeal to and retain employees, the state ought to beef up its employees compensation system, elevate the minimal wage to ranges similar to neighboring states, present paid household depart, subsidize faculty meals, and push companies to be extra aggressive with pay and advantages.

North Dakota, for higher or worse, can be saddled with the picture of being a deeply conservative state. Additional proscribing entry to abortion and sending indicators that it isn’t a pleasant place for LGBTQ people limits its potential to draw a various workforce and pushes some individuals out, Jacobson stated.

Staff leaving the state, notably youthful individuals and new graduates, is a priority.

Cody Schuler, advocacy supervisor with the American Civil Liberties Union North Dakota, stated guaranteeing individuals’s rights within the state may go a good distance towards halting that.

“Efforts to draw individuals to North Dakota are good, however then our state should stay up to what’s marketed,” Schuler stated. “Making certain that transgender and pregnant residents can entry important healthcare signifies that not solely will individuals discover North Dakota a spot they wish to stay, however can even work to forestall outmigration.”

The North Dakota Information Cooperative is a brand new nonprofit offering in-depth protection about North Dakota for North Dakotans. To help native journalism, make your charitable contribution at

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North Dakota

Township funding changes bill passes ND House

Published

4 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Press Room

Township funding changes bill passes ND House

BISMARCK, N.D. (KUMV) – The North Dakota House approved a bill to change Operation Prairie Dog funding for townships.

The bill impacts those in non-oil-producing counties.

Currently, every township receives an equal portion, but this bill would base it on road mileage.

With a 90 to 3 vote, it will move on to the Senate at a later time.

Previous Coverage and More Information: House bill seeks to change township funding for Operation Prairie Dog

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North Dakota

Concerns over local control pop up in hearing on North Dakota bill to restrict student cellphone use

Published

12 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Press Room

Concerns over local control pop up in hearing on North Dakota bill to restrict student cellphone use

BISMARCK — North Dakota lawmakers heard testimony for and against a bill to ban cellphone use by public school students during instructional time Wednesday, Jan. 15.

House Bill 1160,

sponsored by Rep. Jim Jonas, R-West Fargo,

would prohibit students from using cellphones during classes or any educational activity but allow such use during lunch, recess, between classes and open class periods.

Jonas said approximately 11 states have either total bans or restrictions on student cellphone use and another 10 are considering them.

“Let’s see if we can get better behavior, academic scores up, math, reading and better mental health,” Jonas told the House Education

ommittee on Wednesday.

A modified version of the bill makes exceptions for students who must use their cellphone to manage a medical condition or are on an individualized education program, plan or 504 plan who use their phone as an assistive device.

In addition, a school district or school may temporarily suspend the cellphone ban in the case of an emergency.

West Fargo High School Principal Rachel Bachmeier, who spoke in favor of the bill, said her school, along with others in the district, implemented a policy in the fall of 2022 to restrict cellphone use.

In effect, the cellphone policy is “out of sight, out of use from bell to bell,” she said, but students may use them during non-instructional time.

Consequences for violating the policy range from a classroom warning to surrender of the cellphone to the main office for a day or more to family meetings and behavior plans.

“We very, very rarely move beyond the first main office consequence. It is an incredibly effective policy in that way,” Bachmeier said.

Teachers have also noticed less “drama” in the classroom when students aren’t distracted by their phones, she added, and students themselves have reflected on how the policy improved their own behaviors.

Several school administrators and other stakeholders expressed concerns with aspects of the bill.

Steve Madler, principal of Bismarck Century High School, said they follow an “out of sight, out of mind during instruction” policy after attempting an all-out cellphone ban a few years back, which led to too many arguments from students and families.

However, he said, some students and teachers use cellphones in the classroom for research, surveys and language translation, adding that the Bismarck district distributes Google Chromebooks to students, which aren’t as efficient as Apple iPads for those tasks.

“It’s important for us to have policies, but I think it’s also important that we have pieces in the bill that allow us to use it for an educational purpose,” Madler said.

KrisAnn Norby-Jahner, in-house legal counsel for the North Dakota School Boards Association, expressed concern about a blanket ban on cellphone use. She said local control should be maintained, and a large majority of school districts already handle this issue.

Norby-Jahner suggested a change in the bill’s language simply requiring all school districts to come up with their own cellphone policies.

In 2024, the Minnesota Legislature passed a law requiring school districts and charter schools to adopt student cellphone policies by March 15, 2025.

Bachmeier said there is an argument for local control, but action is needed if lawmakers believe excessive cellphone use and social media access during classes is a public health crisis.

“If we do, what is our responsibility as a state to step in and take the first action in helping protect our kids?” she asked.

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North Dakota

School phone policies needed, but not a state ban, bill opponents say

Published

20 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

School phone policies needed, but not a state ban, bill opponents say

Mactrunk / Depositphotos.com

BISMARCK (North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota public education groups said Wednesday they recognize the need for a policy on student use of cellphones but mostly resisted a call for a state-mandated ban.

Rep. Jim Jonas, R-West Fargo, introduced House Bill 1160 that would ban students from using cellphones during class time.

A proposed amendment to the bill would add some exemptions, like using a smartphone to monitor health conditions, such as diabetes, and in some cases where students are on a learning plan crafted for the student.

The House Education Committee did not act on the bill or the amendment but indicated that there would be more discussion next week.

KrisAnn Norby-Jahner, legal counsel for the North Dakota School Boards Association, testified that the cellphone use issue should be handled at the local level, but added she would not be opposed to a bill requiring that school districts have a cellphone policy.

Mike Heilman, executive director of the North Dakota Small Organized Schools, testified that the group’s board members did not support the bill.

He said some teachers have students use their phone during class and designate a spot on the desk where the phone should be when not being used.

He also said some schools may want to make exceptions for juniors and seniors to have more access to their phones

But he also said schools might like the state’s support on the need for a cellphone policy.

Cellphone use among students was described during testimony as a mental health issue in addition to being a distraction.

Rachel Bachmeier, principal at West Fargo High School, said there has been “less drama” since the school restricted phone use to breaks between classes.

She said parents generally support that policy, with little support for an overall ban during the school day.

Steve Madler, principal at Bismarck Century High School, said his experience with a ban during the school day turned out to be unworkable for many students and parents.

The U.S. Department of Education in December called on every state and school district to adopt a policy on phone use in schools.

Jonas, a former West Fargo teacher, said the goal of the bill is improved test scores and mental health. He said he received some calls from principals for an all-out ban during the school day.

When asked what the penalty would be for a school that did not enforce the state policy, he did not give specifics.

“The hope is that they would abide by the law,” he said.

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