News Center

Holiday shopping is in full swing with sales greeting shoppers at every turn. Did you know that when you shop locally, you secure jobs and strengthen the economy? Yes, Shop Local is not just a phrase, it’s a quality-of-life-enhancing movement. Shop Local is more than just buying unique gifts for...Continue Reading

Statement from the Department of CommerceRecently, there have been questions posed about the mission, practices, and impact of the North Dakota Development Fund, Inc. (NDDF) and overall Department of Commerce related to economic development activity. We want to clarify the role of the NDDF and underscore its dedication to serving...Continue Reading

Beulah city council approved City Water/Wastewater Superintendent Gary Bovkoon’s request to upgrade the city’s water salesman software during a regular council meeting at City Hall Monday, Nov. 4.Bovkoon explained the software system for the water-purchasing facility, located on the east side of ND Highway 49, south of the railroad tracks,...Continue Reading

As November begins, so does the busiest shopping season of the year.We’re familiar with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but let’s not overlook Small Business Saturday (Nov. 30) – a day dedicated to supporting the businesses that keep our communities vibrant and unique.On this day, shop small and make an...Continue Reading

Gov. Doug Burgum, state legislators and other members of the North Dakota Housing Initiative Advisory Committee today released the committee’s recommendations for addressing housing needs in North Dakota, with a three-pronged approach that focuses on improving housing availability, affordability and stability.Burgum appointed the committee to lead the development of a...Continue Reading

Quarter four is upon us, and as entrepreneurs, we know that means growing to-do lists with less time to get everything done.While you likely have an effective team, clear objectives and all of the necessary resources, the reality is that the holiday season can be a distraction that causes productivity...Continue Reading

It’s a tough world out there for startups. Only 25% of new businesses make it to 15 years or more. I’m honored and proud that Wistia has made it to its 18th birthday.Success and failure as a startup, of course, are due to a variety of factors. But when it...Continue Reading

This article originally appeared on and was written for Winn-Worth Betco by Golden Shovel Agency.Reducing Carbon Footprint and Easing CongestionAs businesses and communities become more aware of the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions, finding innovative solutions to everyday challenges is critical. Commute with Enterprise is a unique concept in...Continue Reading

When Archer Review CEO Dr. Karthik Koduru moved his small but growing company from Illinois to Texas a few years ago, he had the same things on his mind as the CEO of any giant multinational.“I wanted to move to Texas for the business-friendly reasons,” he told me on a...Continue Reading

When executed effectively, digital ad campaigns help drive traffic and generate leads for economic development organizations. But how do you develop resonating ads able to reach your audience? For EDOs, consistent referencing of the tailored marketing strategy, or blueprint, informs strategic ad choices and the creation of ads designed to...Continue Reading

The holiday season starts in November and Beulah is ready to celebrate. The following events are just the beginning as Beulah residents prepare for the winter season, community celebrations, and families reuniting in the spirit of winter wonder.Make sure to add these dates to your calendar so you don’t miss...Continue Reading

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced today that USDA is partnering with Reinvestment Fund to invest nearly $6 million to improve access to healthy foods in underserved communities across the country.  The investments are being made through the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Planning Grant...Continue Reading

The vast majority of companies that rely on business aviation are small and medium-size companies, many of which are located in towns far from America’s major metropolitan business centers. These enterprises depend upon business aircraft, operating from community airports, to remain connected and competitive.At the same time, business aviation also...Continue Reading

September 22nd marked the official start of autumn, bringing with it pumpkin spice lattes, crisp temperatures, and the bountiful harvest season. From seeds planted months ago, fields across the state are now bursting with life.As a predominantly agricultural state, North Dakota plays a vital role in not only feeding the...Continue Reading

Every state offers companies tax incentives, a mechanism by which states agree to forgo tax revenue in the hope that the companies’ activities will catalyze new economic activity. These incentives collectively cost states billions of dollars in tax revenue each year.But do states know how well these tax incentives are...Continue Reading

Business rankings are in, and guess what? The Southern states are shining bright once again.The Top States for Doing Business know a thing or two about creating an attractive business environment. The top states closely manage their taxes and incentive programs, keep their labor force fresh, trained and accessible and...Continue Reading

In the high-stakes world of startups, founders often find themselves facing a paradoxical challenge: how to attract buyers without sellers and sellers without buyers.This chicken-and-egg problem has derailed more promising startups than we care to count. The truth is, you can overcome this dilemma. Successful marketplaces like Airbnb, Uber and...Continue Reading

IEDC’s Annual Excellence Awards Honor the Economic Development Organizations, Government Entities, Initiatives, and Programs That Have Demonstrated Consistent, Exemplary Performance in the ProfessionSeveral Golden Shovel Agency (GSA) clients (listed below) received a 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Award(s) from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The awards were bestowed specifically...Continue Reading

Back in the day, there was a great future in plastics, as Mr. McGuire (Walter Brooke) told Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) in “The Graduate.” Today, that line would likely substitute plastics with advanced materials. Composites, engineered polymers, hybrid materials and nanomaterials were unheard of in 1967 when the movie was...Continue Reading

Airports are often seen as gateways to the sky, but for economic developers, they represent much more--an untapped economic engine waiting to be harnessed. Our whitepaper, From Runways to Revenue: Economic Benefits of Your Local Airport, dives deep into the economic opportunities airports provide to communities, particularly in rural areas...Continue Reading

As summer’s long days and warm nights give way to the crisp, cool air of fall, North Dakota’s landscape transforms into a breathtaking canvas of vibrant foliage. Throughout the state, charming communities and farms embrace the season, hosting spectacular festivals, pumpkin patches, and spooky events that celebrate the beauty and...Continue Reading

Artificial intelligence has skeptics, critics and scaremongerers. People are trolling AI news sites and starting protests against the technology. But it’s not all lost jobs and robots taking over. Discoveries and new inventions in artificial intelligence are making the world a safer place for humans. And that’s the point.Here’s what’s...Continue Reading

The North Dakota Department of Commerce is thrilled to announce the reopening of the Legacy Investment for Technology (LIFT) application process. This funding opportunity aims to fuel innovation and drive economic growth in our state by supporting promising North Dakota businesses as they commercialize their intellectual property.“The LIFT program offers...Continue Reading