No matter where you go, you likely see help-wanted signs posted at most businesses.
The September labor market report from Job Service North Dakota shows over 18,000 jobs in the state, including 6,600 job openings in a six-county area in southeast North Dakota. Healthcare and social assistance lead with over 1,200 job openings, followed by retail trade and office and administrative support.
The question is, how do we fill the open jobs? Labor markets are highly competitive across the country. Many factors influence a person looking for a job, but most often, quality of life prevails. Over the past several years, I had the opportunity to visit with many folks that have moved to the Fargo area, and their first impression is they
are concerned about the weather. However, the warmth of the people and the community turned the idea of perceived cold into four fantastic seasons of warmth.
As a community leader involved in many initiatives to address our workforce needs, I can assure you that business leaders know that workforce development is a number one priority. There are numerous opportunities to expand the workforce in our region – recruiting talent from other areas, training residents with skill sets that match job openings, retaining college and high school students, expanding and making childcare affordable so more people staying home with kids can reenter the workforce, and federal immigration reform. Of course, we can’t forget the need for more affordable housing. There may be opportunities to support workforce development through legislation at the state level by supporting the expansion of childcare incentives statewide. Governor Burgum is encouraging the North Dakota Legislature to spend up to $80 million over the next two years to address childcare in the state.
Attracting workers from another region takes resources. The Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation (GFMEDC) understands this is a priority and focus for the community. The GFMEDC, Chamber, and others have put
together successful campaigns to attract workers to our area and are completing a master workforce and talent strategy for the long-term growth of our community.
This issue of the Highline Notes features a story on the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber’s recent announcement of receiving a $9.6 million Good Jobs Challenge grant from the Economic Development Administration to support the regional agriculture, manufacturing, and technology industries. The grant is an unprecedented win for our community to help address a critical workforce challenge.
“This is a historic day for our region and the states of Minnesota and North Dakota,” said Chamber President & CEO Shannon Full. “With the workforce as the number one challenge facing our companies and communities, the Good Jobs Challenge grant will provide critical funding to enable our region to develop a systematic, collective approach to the workforce needs.”
Cass County Electric Cooperative is committed to supporting workforce development efforts throughout our service area by sponsoring Chamber events for area businesses and serving on local economic development boards.
The Cass County Electric board of directors met in person on Sept. 27, 2022, and discussed the following topics:
• Moved to approve the September 2022 consent agenda of the regular board meeting consisting of minutes, monthly department reports, director expense report, and the August purchased power adjustment (PPA).
• President/CEO Marshal Albright gave the president’s report reporting on updates from meetings and conferences attended.
• Received the August 2022 financial report.
• Resolution for reinstatement of NRECA RS plan.
• Received a report on updates from NDAREC.
• Moved to approve the September 2022 capital credit estate payments.
• Reviewed upcoming meetings and events.
The next board meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022.
With winter in full swing, we encourage you to be aware of where your “big green box” or pad-mounted transformer is. In the event of a power outage, our line crew needs to locate the transformer as quickly as possible. Having the transformer readily available allows our crews to speed up the process of safely restoring your power.
We operate and manage nearly 11,000 pad-mounted transformers, which step down high voltage to lower voltage that is safe to use. A single transformer can be vital to providing electricity to several homes and businesses, so be mindful when moving snow. If you notice damaged equipment, please contact us at 701-356-4400.
Executive
Postmaster:
©
Call
Cass
Information
Jenna Mueller, executive director of The FMWF Chamber Foundation, was a major driving force behind obtainingbehind obtaining the Good Jobs Challenge grant, in order to fund the Ignite regional workforce initiative.
The purpose of a cooperative is to realize the economic, cultural, and social needs of the organization’s members and its surrounding community. Cass County Electric Cooperative (CCEC) has a strong commitment to the communities we power, and we focus on strengthening the communities in which we serve. When our communities thrive, the members served by the cooperative realize the benefits, not just a small group of shareholders. CCEC is a reflection of our local community and its evolving needs. We view our role as a catalyst for good and making our corner of the world a better place, which is why our support of local Chambers and rural and economic development groups is so prevalent.
The Ignite initiative is our region’s latest workforce effort to drive continued success for our business
community. Recently launched by the FMWF Chamber, Ignite works to connect students, educators, professionals, businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits through meaningful and intentional engagement opportunities.
The initiative’s platform, Ignite FMWF, serves to remove barriers and directly connect our current and future workforce with our region’s businesses and professionals. Companies are able to create profiles, post regional job opportunities, share videos about their careers and opportunities, available, partake in training and engagement opportunities in the metro, and much more. Employees and professionals of businesses can also create profiles to showcase their skillsets, expertise, and areas of interest as it relates to getting involved with educators, students, and more.
K-12 career awareness, exploration, and preparation
Ignite FMWF is our region’s digital platform that provides K-12 students and teachers valuable tools to engage in meaningful career exploration. Teachers can use the Ignite platform’s dashboard to assign tasks and then view students’ progress as they utilize the online resources. Students can explore a breadth of career resources, including internships, learning opportunities, skills assessments, and real-life workers offering testimonials about their field through career portraits, videos, and/or virtual field trips. Ignite is designed for students to explore careers as something beyond just a “job” - it provides information about entering specific job fields as well as the education requirements and local salary expectations to better equip people to enter the workforce. Students using the platform will also be
able to see which educational institutions offer specific courses needed for the field of their interest. In the future, the platform will also be a resource for financial literacy and grant-funded opportunities available in the area.
This summer, Ignite piloted a summer EDventures program in partnership with Cass County Career & Technical Education Center, which connected area educators with businesses of varying industries and nonprofits for multiple days of handson learning and curriculum development.
On Aug. 3, The FMWF Chamber Foundation announced receiving a $9.62 million Good Jobs Challenge grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA). The FMWF Chamber Foundation will collaborate with backbone organizations including Grand Farm Research and Education Initiative, North Dakota State College of Science, Emerging Prairie, and University of Mary to use Ignite FMWF (powered by Workbay) to bolster
and uplift the region’s economy through developing the skilled workforce needed to support our precision agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and cybersecurity/ IT industries.
In partnership with local employers, The FMWF Chamber Foundation will cultivate training programs to meet the unique skills required to enter targeted industries and retain good jobs for the future. With a focus on underserved communities – including new Americans, Black, Indigenous, people of color, veterans, military spouses, and justice-involved individuals – the grant will allow The FMWF Chamber Foundation and its partners to provide a variety of wraparound services and reduce prohibitive barriers that people face such as childcare, transportation, and credentialling.
The Good Jobs Challenge grant was an exceptionally competitive process; only 32 projects were funded from pool of more than 500 applications nationwide. Among the applicants, our community was the only awarded EDA grant from 20 other applications submitted from Minnesota and North Dakota. Beyond the hard work of envisioning the path to success, 78 letters of
support were submitted on behalf of employers in the Fargo, Moorhead, and the West Fargo region.
The Ignite Initiative Regional Workforce Training System (IIRWTS) is a collaborative approach to addressing the metro area’s most pressing workforce needs. The IIRWTS addresses several barriers that prevent or discourage members of underserved populations from enrolling in skill training programs. Over the next three years, the region can expect over 900 participants to receive training through the program.
“Cass County Electric Cooperative (CCEC) has been a critical partner with The Chamber for many years. We rely on the experienced thought leadership to guide us and provide insight on pressing energy, and community, issues. CCEC leadership also engages with us in important programming like Leadership FMWF, our public policy committee, Eggs and Issues, Midwest Summits, and many other programs. We are grateful to CCEC for their investment in our organization so we can continue to pursue our mission of being a catalyst for growth and prosperity for our region.” - Shannon Full, FMWF Chamber President/CEO
West Acres marks a half century of creating unique, community-centered shopping experiences
By Kaylee Cusack, Minnkota Power CooperativeFargo’s West Acres Mall celebrated a significant birthday on Aug. 2 – the big FIVE-0. Much has changed since the shopping center’s doors opened in 1972 and, according to West Acres Chief Operating Officer Alissa Adams, that’s all by design.
“Our goal is to not look 50 years old,” she said.
“That’s true for all of us,” joked Chris Heaton, Senior Vice President of Property Management for West Acres.
To celebrate 50 years of being the premier shopping destination for the region, Adams, Heaton and the rest of West Acres’ partners and staff have been pulling out all the stops. They hosted a week of birthday bash events (live music, donut decorating, balloon animals, you name it), developed 1970s throwback installations throughout their space, and created a birthday lounge featuring a photo timeline of milestones from the groundbreaking to the here and now.
“It’s been fun hearing from people who have been coming to West Acres since the beginning, saying
they remember driving down the dirt road to get to West Acres when it first opened,” Adams said. “We’ve been hearing a lot of fun, reflective stories from guests.”
But November is the time to switch from birthday cake to pumpkin pie and gingerbread, and Heaton and Adams are ready for it. West Acres recorded a record-breaking sales year in 2021, and they hope that momentum carries into 2022’s holiday shopping season.
As many other retailers faced challenges from a downturn of brick-and-mortar shopping, tailed by an industry-upending global pandemic, West Acres has continued to thrive through a tumultuous few years. Heaton attributes that success to the fact that West Acres is privately and locally owned, which gives them the flexibility to do things differently.
“We don’t have to answer to shareholders – we answer to our partnership,” he said.
“It’s really the community connection that makes the difference. Most shopping centers aren’t
locally owned and managed,” Adams added. “The West Acres team and partners are very invested in the community, from giving back financially to supporting local artists to hosting events. Those details matter to guests.”
A commitment to community is a value West Acres shares with its electricity provider, Cass County Electric Cooperative (CCEC). The entities have been natural partners from the start. When the first plans for the shopping center came together more than 50 years ago, it was CCEC that built out electric service to the site, which was just outside the city enough to be considered “rural.”
Once West Acres was open to guests, CCEC continued to help the facility overcome obstacles and make smart energy choices.
“The mall started with fuel oil boilers in the ‘70s, and then the oil shortage hit,” explained Chad Brousseau, CCEC business accounts manager. “The fuel supplier didn’t think it would have enough fuel oil for the mall’s heating needs for that winter, so that’s where West Acres and Cass County Electric really worked together.”
With the help of CCEC, West Acres transitioned to electric boilers on the cooperative’s off-peak program. During peak demand times, the electric boilers would switch to fuel oil backups. West Acres received a discounted rate for that electric use.
“It was kind of the start of our dual-fuel offpeak program, for sure on the commercial side,” Brousseau said. “That program has expanded and evolved over the years, and West Acres is still on the off-peak program. But now they switch over to backup generators during those peak times.”
West Acres and CCEC blazed another trail together in 2016, when the organizations partnered for a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station on the north end of the property. It was one of the first in the region at the time.
“That was a great addition for customer service. We’ve added a second one since then – a DC fast charger,” Heaton said. “They get good use, which is fantastic.”
It’s important for West Acres leaders to see the trends ahead, whether it’s on the road or on the rack. New popular stores like Athleta and Sephora recently opened on the property, with Guitar Center soon to follow. Adams says they are close to announcing even more surprises this fall.
“We always have that forward-looking viewpoint. We want to make sure that we adapt as consumers’ wants and needs change,” she said. “The core of West Acres will remain the same, but there will also be a lot of changes to make sure we remain a vibrant retail destination that people can truly enjoy for the next 50-plus years.
“We’re really excited for what’s to come,” she added with a grin.
Scan the QR Code or visit https://casscountyelectric. com/october-2001-highlinesnotes-west-acres to view the last article CCEC published about West Acres Mall.
Dates: November 11 to December 2
*Monday - Friday and Fargodome events
Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Cost: FREE Location: Fargodome 1800 N University Dr. N Fargo
Experiences:
• View more than 160
trees
Share the holiday spirit with a senior!
Be a Santa to a Senior by Home Instead identifies seniors in our area that may be lonely or experiencing financial hardship and coordinates the purchase and delivery of a holiday gift.
• Visit Cass County Electric at 4100 32nd Ave S, Fargo between Nov. 22 and Dec. 16
• Remove a bulb with the senior’s gift request from the tree in our lobby (open 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM)
• Purchase the requested gift(s) listed on the bulb
• Return the bulb and unwrapped gift(s)
Date: Friday, November 25
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Cost: FREE Location: Fargodome 1800 N University Dr. N Fargo
Experiences:
• The Claus family arrives by horse-drawn sleigh at 1:00 PM
• Santa’s mailbox
• Cookie decorating
Sleigh rides
Face painting
Bouncy house
Holiday art project
Photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus
Date:
Time:
Dates: November 25 & 26 December 2 & 3 December 9 & 10
16 & 17
-
Powered by Cass County Electric Cooperative Dates: November 25 through December 31
Time: 5:00 - 10:00 PM
Cost: Online prepurchased:
Gate price: $25 https://www. redrivervalleyfair.com/p/ events/holiday-lights
Location: Red River Valley
1805 Main Ave W West Fargo
by the FM Sertoma Club in Lindenwood Park)
Winter months mean colder weather, which means spending more time indoors at home. It often means we are getting more use out of our kitchen appliances as well.
With a little planning and some handy tips from Cass County Electric Cooperative, you can select the best ways for you to make your cooking more energy efficient:
• Inspect all small appliances and electric cords to make sure they are in good repair before using. Do not use appliances with cracked or frayed cords.
• Read the operating instructions of any appliance before use.
• When purchasing new kitchen appliances, look for UL-Listed appliances with automatic shut-off features.
• Never plug more than one high-wattage appliance into a single outlet.
• Keep cooking areas clear of other items, particularly items that could ignite, like oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, etc. Keep the area clean and free of grease.
• Stay focused and attentive to baking, frying, brewing, and simmering foods.
• Have a “kid-free” zone of at least three feet in areas where hot foods and beverages are being prepared.
• Make sure outlets near sinks are equipped with properly tested ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to prevent shocks.
• Always have a working fire extinguisher on hand, and know how to operate it. Never put water on a grease fire.
For more information visit CassCountyElectric. com/safetyblog.
You have a lot going on during the holidays, from searching for the best prices on all those presents to preparing your home for guests. Using a smart plug to automate your holiday lights and electric decorations is one way you can simplify life during this busy time of year.
A smart plug allows you to automate devices around your home as well as manage them from your phone.
Simply plug your smart plug into an outlet and use a compatible app to connect it to your Wi-Fi network. You can then plug electric devices such as LED lights and digital projectors into your smart plug and manage these devices from anywhere.
So, what are all the benefits?
It’s easy to create schedules
Using the app on your phone makes it easy to schedule devices to turn off and on at
specific times. This means that once you’ve set your schedule, you don’t have to think about it until it’s time to take those decorations down. Some smart plugs even have sunrise and sunset settings that automatically power on or off based on your local sunrise and sunset times.
You can sync and manage multiple smart plugs around your home using one app on your phone versus traditional timers, which must be set up individually and managed at each device. Syncing traditional timers is also challenging, and many users notice the timers drift further apart from one another over time. Smart plugs use the same clock, maintaining a consistent schedule across all devices.
Having your holiday lights and decorations set to operate during specific times ensures they’re not using energy when no one is there to enjoy them or during
daylight hours. Using sunrise and sunset settings allows them to adjust along with the shift in daylight, optimizing energy usage even more. Some smart plug apps also track your energy usage.
They’re easy to use Smart plugs’ compatible apps offer easy-to-use interfaces. Some models can even work with your existing Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or Siri assistant, allowing you to manage even more from one app. You can also set up voice commands, such as “turn on the outdoor holiday lights,” making the experience even easier.
Once the holidays are over, and you’re ready to pack up those lights, you can find new uses for your smart plugs, whether it’s operating that slow cooker in the kitchen or patio lights in the summer.
You can trust our technology articles to help you find the best product ideas to help you use electricity responsibly.
Simplifying the holidays with smart plugs
If you are a Cass County Electric member and are interested in becoming a director, contact Sarah Rhea at 701-356-4405 for a 2023 director election petition packet. In compliance with bylaw requirements, a petition, biographical information, and such other information as the board or credentials committee may require to establish and verify the qualifications of the proposed director to serve must be delivered to the cooperative office no less than (90) days (by Jan. 18, 2023) before the date of the annual member meeting of Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at which an election will be held.
District 4 Jeffrey Triebold (I) Fargo
District 5 Thomas Seymour (I) West Fargo District AL Terry Kraft (I) West Fargo
Directors are elected by ballot for a three-year term.
Following the cooperative bylaws, the CCEC board of directors appointed District 1 member Paul White to fill the open District 1 term. An election will be held at the 2023 annual meeting to confirm his seat.
District 1 Paul White (I) Stirum
Nominees in Districts 1, 4, 5, and At Large must be bona fide residents of the director district in which they are seeking directorship (see district map).
The names of all candidates who submit the required information in the time and manner specified in Article III. Section 3.6 of the bylaws will be submitted to a credentials committee consisting of between three and eight members, as determined by the board of directors. The credentials committee may require candidates to provide and verify additional information deemed relevant by the credentials committee. (CCEC bylaws and articles of incorporation can be found at CassCountyElectric.com. A written copy is also available upon request.)
District
District
District
District
oven to 400°F. Grease a 9”
dish and set it aside. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook sausage, stirring
to crumble. Once the sausage is cooked, transfer it to a paper
plate to absorb some of the grease. Leave the remaining grease in the pan. In the same skillet, heat 1 tsp butter over mediumhigh heat. Add in butternut squash and sauté for 5 minutes. Stir in water and continue to cook until tender. Add in spinach and cook until wilted, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs and cream. Stir in tomatoes, green onions, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Add in sausage and butternut squash mixture and stir to combine. Pour mixture into casserole dish. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until eggs are set and cooked.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup milk
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup espresso (or strong coffee)
1/2 teaspoon mint extract or peppermint candy cane
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Whipped cream
Pinch of chocolate shavings
Preparation: Add milk, unsweetened cocoa, and sugar to a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves completely. Stir occasionally.
While the milk mixture is heating, brew ¾ cup espresso or strong coffee.
Pour into large mugs and top with whipped cream. Sprinkle chocolate shavings.
All ads must be 40 words or fewer and will be abbreviated following our guidelines. No real estate or commercial ads will be accepted. Ads are published for members at no charge as space permits on a first-received, first-printed basis. Ads are due by the 10th of the month prior to publication. Members may submit only one ad per issue. Editor reserves the right to edit or reject any ad. Email ads to: ccec@kwh.com
Golf pull cart, parts, & wheels. Used golf balls. Various books. Antique American-made plastic figures produced between 1938-58. 2 Red Wing crocks, 5 & 20 gal. Norwegian sweater. 701-799-4677
Raw honey, 8 oz. $6, 16 oz. $12, 32 oz. $22. 1 lb comb honey, $15. Homemade cherry & plum jelly, 12 oz. $8. 662-251-5954 or 662-386-3286
2 male Spanish Mastiff mix puppies UTD on vaccines & worming, vet checked at 6 wks. DOB 7-16. Rehoming fee applies. 701-490-0690
Radio Flyer rocking horse, $60. Child wood restaurant highchair, $10. Antique stainless-steel milker, $100. 2 pink crib sheets & pad, $10. 701-373-5939 or 701-238-3337
Double stainless steel sink w/ new faucet. Small Wells cargo trailer. 701-282-8127
1979 Cadi Baritz diesel new style 350 updated. Landow roof stainless steel retractable window with the Landow. 701-588-4600
Electric lift chair recliner, chocolate brown, nice fabric, $290. 218-770-5956
Cherrywood American Drew furniture. Buffet server, 3-piece L-shaped desk, 2-piece China hutch, $2,500/OBO. 701-213-2778
PA system Peavey XR8300 Head & Yamaha BR15 speakers, $525.00 701-219-0593
275+ 33 1/3 LP records. Country western & older artists. 701-967-8920
Craftsman 42” 2 stage snowblower attachment for lawn tractor, $125. 701-799-2318
John Deere 4400-watt standby generator, $400. 701-371-3355
Victorian doll house, lots of furniture 34” long, 20” deep, 32” high, $200 for house, $100 for furniture. 701-799-1952
Portable washing machine, $125/OBO. 701-540-1456
Martha Stewart 9 ½” skillet pan, never used, $19. 701-866-0712 or 701-866-0218
ND license plates 1920’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s & more. Two-bottom horse-drawn plow, $350. Winchester 1894 air rifle NIB, $250. 701-840-0538
3 - 11’ cafeteria tables on wheels, $200/ all. 701-540-7973
4 boxes Nosler cartridges-trophy grade ballistic tip, 6.5 – 284 Norma caliber, 120-grain boattail, $200/all. 701437-3259
2 wooden storage sheds, 8’ x 12’, pine siding, double doors open to 56” W x 71” H, $3,200/ea. 701-749-2619 or 701-840-5438
1985 8 hp Bobcat snowblower, needs new impeller sprocket, $25. 701-261-0659
Dodge Brothers, Ford, Violet Ray headlight lenses, Tilt Ray, & Warner headlights, $40-$80/ea. 701-388-2877
Reloading bullets cal. 30, .243, .223, .270 & others. 701-799-1114
Pickup cover for crew cab or club cab, used once, $20. XL Advantage Wetlands insulated QUAD hunting jacket, $50. 701-866-6671
