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Community Builders

Community Builders are businesses committed to enhancing our community by investing in our programs and initiatives.

Ignite FMWF

Ignite FMWF is our region’s newest workforce infrastructure initiative that combines a relationship development strategy with a robust technology platform. This is a community-based approach to developing an exceptional

and workforce system to drive continued success for our business community. Start connecting with your immediate and future talent pipelines today at no cost! Chamber Blog

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know our inspiring Chamber members and community through these unique stories.

MISSION

It is The Chamber’s mission to actively promote a thriving and vibrant Fargo Moorhead West Fargo metro area for generations to come. Powered by over 1,900 members and 109,000 individuals, The Chamber is a catalyst for economic growth and prosperity for businesses, its members, and the greater community through work guided by the following cornerstones.

CORNERSTONES

• Business Vitality

• Public Policy & Advocacy

• Talent & Workforce

• Community Enhancement

• Organizational Excellence

Board of Directors

Committee Chairs

Amena Chaudry Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant @FMWFAmena

Tyler Fischbach Vice President of Communications @FMWFTyler

Chamber Staff

Abby Furchner Engagement Strategist @FMWFAbby

Alyssa Lakoduk Workforce & Talent Strategist @FMWFAlyssa Katherine Grindberg Vice President of Public Policy @FMWFKatherine

Tracy Powell Vice President of Events @FMWFTracyP

@FMWFJim Shannon Full President/CEO @FMWFShannon Cale Dunwoody Public Policy Specialist @FMWFCale

Jenna Mueller Workforce & Talent Strategist @FMWFJenna

and Talent @FMWFMason Darren Dunlop Vice President of Corporate Partnerships @FMWFDarren

Eidsmoe Graphics & Multimedia Specialist @FMWFBernt

Kayla Koehmstedt Content Marketing Specialist @FMWFKayla

Shane Olmscheid Engagement Strategist @FMWFShane

THE BRIDGE (USPS 124-430) is published monthly by the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber. Periodicals Postage Paid at Fargo, ND 58102 and at additional mailing offices. Publication No. 124430. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Bridge, PO Box 2443, Fargo, ND 58108-2443; 218.233.1100. Printed by Forum Communications Printing

A note from the President

I hope you all had an enjoyable holiday season, and were able to spend meaningful time with friends and family. I want to thank you all for your commitment and engagement with us throughout the past year; we accomplished many big things together, and your team at The Chamber is looking forward to starting off this new year with a continued intensity and focus. As you may know, one of our cornerstones of work is Public Policy & Advocacy. This work is integral to our mission, and we understand the importance and power of public policy and advocacy work, and will continue to represent our members, their employees, and the greater community.

I am proud to report that our public policy efforts and capabilities have continued to grow, which has allowed us to significantly increase our local, state and federal advocacy efforts for our region. A new partnership with Primacy Strategy Group, a government affairs and advocacy firm, has enabled our team to more effectively and efficiently work on your behalf. Providing a collective voice in Bismarck, St. Paul and Washington, D.C. is an enormous benefit to our member businesses of all sizes. With a bi-state, multi-city presence, we have an extraordinary opportunity to leverage support for our metro region. A strong business-friendly climate is essential for economic growth and prosperity. We remain committed to advocating for policy, convening public officials and business leaders, and representing our members’ interests at all levels of government.

This month in The Bridge, we will walk you through some of our recent and current efforts, successes, resources and events that we think you need to know about when it comes to public policy. You’ll also discover many upcoming events and opportunities for you to be a part of the conversation, and help propel our community forward. We are excited for the upcoming year and look forward to standing alongside each and every one of you.

Shannon Full President & CEO

Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce

We understand the importance and power of public policy and advocacy work, and actively serve as the voice of business to promote a prosperous and vibrant Fargo Moorhead West Fargo metropolitan area for generations to come.

The Chamber has been a long-standing leader in this arena, serving as a fair and balanced voice that has earned the respect and trust of public officials and community leaders.

Public Policy and Advocacy

POLICY COMMITTEE

Made up of business and community leaders from across the region, the Public Policy Committee serves as The Chamber’s advocacy arm. The committee is dedicated to advancing sound policies that foster a stable regulatory environment for the business community to thrive.

The group routinely drafts overarching stances and legislative priorities, as well as takes action on individual policies as they become relevant. These stances are all recommendations for the board to consider. Action by the board is necessary for them to become official Chamber stances.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors, comprised of 16 leaders in our local business community, is the policy-making body for The Chamber. They help set and carry out the vision of the organization. Once the Public Policy Committee makes a recommendation for a policy stance, the board reviews the information, and considers action on an official Chamber stance.

In the policy world, things can move very quickly. In the case that a policy stance is needed in short time, the board may take the issue up without formal recommendation from the Public Policy Committee.

Once the Board of Directors has voted on an official stance, we get to work. The Chamber then engages with public officials to educate them on the business community’s thoughts or concerns, and also convenes other entities to make a bigger impact. Additionally, The Chamber encourages local businesses to use their voice by disseminating helpful resources such as policy briefs, talking points, legislative contacts and bill updates.

by Ken

THE CHAMBER’S STANCE

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MN Legislative Review

2021Legislative Review

A review of the key business legislation and votes from 2021 legislative sessions.

#FMWFAdvocacy

This 2021 Legislative Review brings attention to the results of The Chamber’s top legislative priorities in both Minnesota and North Dakota, along with the corresponding voting record of our local legislators. As we more publicly hold our elected officials accountable for their votes through this resource, we also intend for it to serve as public appreciation for those who were aligned on so many critical business issues. This does not constitute an endorsement of any political candidate, party or organization.

SSHF9/SSSF26

• OMB TAX BILL (TAX CONFORMITY)

PASSED AND SIGNED BY GOVERNOR WALZ

The omnibus (OMB) tax bill would produce $49.1 billion in revenue in the 2022-23 biennium that started on July 1. It provided $4.2 billion in refunds, aids and credits, including $761 million in new tax cuts and credits. The bill would bring state tax law into conformity with the federal government on tax exempt status to forgive the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and unemployment benefits up to $10,200.

THE CHAMBER SUPPORTED THIS BILL

The Chamber supported this bill, allowing Minnesota businesses to receive a state tax exemption for participating in the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

• OMB EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BILL

PASSED AND SIGNED BY GOVERNOR WALZ

The omnibus employment and economic development bill will spend $1.6 billion on programs ranging from helping businesses recover from COVID-19 restrictions and civil unrest, to subsidizing child care so new parents can work. The two-year budget bill will spend 11.3% above the base amount in the 2022-23 biennium. The bill establishes a three-step process to end nearly all state COVID-19 restrictions

THE CHAMBER SUPPORTED THIS BILL

The Chamber supported the omnibus employment and economic development bill as it provides funding for COVID-19 relief, child care development, and workforce solutions.

PROVISION • FROST FOOTING DEPTH

The provision addressed a disparity between boarder city construction regulation, specifically the frost footing depth between Fargo, ND and Moorhead/Dilworth, MN. New homes in Moorhead and Dilworth must have a frost footing depth of at least five (5) feet, whereas new homes in Fargo must have a frost footing depth of 4-1/2 feet.

THE CHAMBER SUPPORTED THIS PROVISION

The Chamber supported this provision as it reduces regulatory disparities between cities in our metro and reduces the cost of new homes in our community.

4 Senator Kent Eken

4A Representative Heather Keeler 4B Representative Paul Marquart (Voting records reflect final passage of the

SSHF1/SSSF9

ND Legislative Review

HB 1015 • OMB BILL (WORKFORCE ACADEMY FUNDING)

PASSED AND SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BURGUM

The bill includes $70 million directed to career and technical education centers. The Cass County Career Workforce Academy has the potential to qualify for some of this grant funding.

THE CHAMBER SUPPORTED THIS BILL

The Chamber supported this bill as it included funding for workforce solutions, which is one of our top priorities.

SB 2272 • CAREER BUILDERS FUNDING

PASSED AND SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BURGUM

The bill provides funding for skilled workforce scholarships and loan repayment programs, encouraging students to stay in state and enter in-demand fields.

THE CHAMBER SUPPORTED THIS BILL

As workforce solutions are a top priority of The Chamber, we supported this bill as a tool to recruit and retain an educated workforce.

1431 – BONDING BILL

PASSED AND SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BURGUM

The bill provides critical funding from the bonding bill1 to fund projects: Cass County Career Workforce Academy, FM Diversion Project and the Ag Productions Development Center on NDSU’s campus.

THE CHAMBER SUPPORTED THIS BILL

The Chamber supported this bonding bill as a funding mechanism for large scale infrastructure projects like the FM Diversion Project and Ag Production Development Center on NDSU’s Campus. The FM Diversion Project, providing permanent flood protection for the region, has long been a Chamber priority to protect the citizens, businesses, properties, and economic vitality of our region.

PASSED AND SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BURGUM

The bill calls for 20% investment of the $7 billion Legacy Fund, which totals $1.4 billion, for important projects like the Red River Valley Water Supply project, as well as investment in emerging or expanding businesses in the State of North Dakota.

THE CHAMBER SUPPORTED THIS BILL

The Chamber supported this legislation as we realize that retaining and supporting instate businesses will generate job creation and economic stimulation. Investing in our local businesses is good for our overall economy.

27 Rep. Greg Stemen

27 Sen. Kristen Roers

41 Rep. Pamela Anderson

41 Rep. Michelle Strinden

41 Sen. Kyle Davison

44 Rep. Josh Boschee

44 Rep. Karla Rose Hanson

44 Sen. Merrill Piepkorn

45 Rep. Mary Johnson

45 Rep. Tom Kading

45 Sen. Ron Sorvaag

46 Rep. Jim Kasper

46 Rep. Shannon Roers-Jones

46 Sen. Jim Roers

11 Rep. Gretchen Dobervich

11 Rep. Ron Guggisberg

11 Sen. Tim Mathern

13 Rep. Kim Koppelman

13 Rep. Austen Schauer

13 Sen. Judy Lee

16 Rep. Ben Koppelman

16 Rep. Andrew Marschall

16 Sen. David Clemens

PASSED AND SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BURGUM

The bill provides liability protection for North Dakota businesses who operated in good faith during the COVID-19 pandemic from frivolous lawsuits that would result in damaging revenue losses or in some cases closure.

THE CHAMBER SUPPORTED THIS BILL

The Chamber supported this legislation as it protects the majority of businesses in our region who operated in good faith during the COVID-19 pandemic.

21 Rep. LaurieBeth Hager

21 Rep. Mary Schneider

21 Sen. Kathy Hogan

22 Rep. Michael Howe

22 Rep. Brandy Pyle

22 Sen. Mark Weber

(Voting records reflect final passage of the bill, previous bill versions can be found at legis.nd.gov)

= Aligned with the Chamber’s Stance = Unaligned with the Chamber’s Stance = NOT PRESENT FOR VOTE

**This does not constitute an endorsement of any political candidate, party, or organization.

STRATEGIC BUSINESS INSIGHTS FROM ALERUS

FINDING THE RIGHT FINANCIAL PARTNER

Owning or running a business is a thrilling but stressful endeavor. Long hours, few peers, and knowing other people’s livelihoods depend on you can cause many sleepless nights. Add in the false expectation that a business leader should be an expert in all areas of business and the pressure can be overwhelming.

The truth is, owning a business does not automatically make you a financial expert, a payroll professional, or a benefits specialist. That’s why it is critical to work with partners who are experts in those areas, letting you focus on doing what you do best. Look for a financial partner who can provide:

Experienced, dedicated guidance

Business owners are constantly stretched thin, so the fewer meetings and phone calls needed, the better. Find a financial partner that can provide you with one point of contact for streamlined service and individualized guidance. A business advisor can help anticipate needs, coordinate additional expert insight, and provide strategic guidance to help meet your specific goals. With a holistic view of your business and long-term goals, they can provide recommendations that support the overall financial health and success in addition to meeting short-term needs. Perhaps most importantly, an advisor is there when you need them, because your business is just as important to them as it is to you.

Diversified services and capabilities

Financial service needs change as businesses grow and evolve. There are benefits to be gained from working with a provider who can meet your evolving needs, from

short-term financing to succession planning and employee benefits plans to payroll processing. Not only is it more efficient, it can also be more cost-effective to work with one vendor rather than several. And with a dedicated advisor’s guidance, you can rest easy knowing your business’ best interests are top of mind.

A bank’s size also dictates its capabilities, so make sure you are working with a provider who can meet your specific needs. A very small bank may not be positioned to service your request, whereas an extremely large bank may see your business as insignificant. As a result of the pandemic, some lenders may be overleveraged in certain sectors and unable to service solid opportunities in those areas. Make sure your financial provider’s capabilities and service offerings match your business’ evolving needs.

Shared values

One of the best aspects of ownership is you get to choose who you do business with. Banking relationships can last decades, and the right advisor becomes as emotionally invested in your wellbeing and success as you are. Choose a provider who truly cares about you, your employees, and your community. Banks can be more than a business. Those that value doing the right thing, respecting everyone, serving with passion, and embracing change can be catalysts for economic development, community champions, and dream makers — helping you succeed while strengthening the entire community together.

Find a partnership that helps your business take flight. Visit with an Alerus business advisor today.

POLICY OUTLOOK SERIES

MINNESOTA

NORTH DAKOTA

This three-day event series in December 2021 featured panels of Minnesota, North Dakota and federal lawmakers for a Q&A session on current and upcoming policies. If you missed the event, here is where you can find the recorded sessions to watch discussions and dive into the topics that matter most to you. We encourage our Chamber and community members to watch these sessions or share them with someone who may be interested, as our lawmakers addressed a variety of important topics in great depth.

Representative Paul Marquart

Senator Kent Eken

Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson

Governor Tim Walz

Representative Shannon Roers-Jones

Representative Michael Howe

House Minority Leader Josh Boschee

Senator Judy Lee

Senator Ron Sorvaag

Governor Doug Burgum

Representative Michelle Fischbach

Representative Kelly Armstrong

Senator Tina Smith

Senator Amy Klobuchar

Senator John Hoeven

Senator Kevin Cramer

This significant event brings together five mayors from across the metro to discuss our region’s growth, priorities, challenges and opportunities. Chamber and community members who attend will have the chance to hear directly from their city leaders, weigh in on regional issues and ask specific questions of the mayors. We are excited to welcome Dilworth Mayor Chad Olson, Horace Mayor Kory Peterson, Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney, Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson and West Fargo Mayor Bernie Dardis.

We asked our cities and mayors what they have been up to lately and to share a bit about what the plan to share at the event on January 13.

The City of Dilworth

Highlights from 2021

The biggest highlight of 2021 is the grand opening of our new commercial corridor on the east end of town. The Rail District signifies, what we anticipate being, the start of a series of opportunities for future businesses and residents. Another strip mall is now under construction as well as phase one of a 144-unit apartment complex within the Rail District.

The City of Dilworth also developed new tax abatement policies for both commercial and multi-family residential ventures that will help spur growth. The above-mentioned projects took advantage of these programs, as well as applications being filed for a 44unit workforce housing project and another 39-unit complex on the west side of Dilworth.

State of the Cities

Addressing Challenges

We always strive to maintain high level services and amenities and are commited to addressing the growing needs of citizens in terms of affordable housing, homelessness, infrastructure capacity, and food insecurities. These issues remain at the forefront in the minds of city leadership and are addressed by continually evaluating these evolving needs and adopting policy to combat these struggles.

Mayor Chad Olson

“I enjoy sharing all the wonderful things we have accomplished with our metro-neighbors at State of the Cities, but I most look forward to the opportunity to engage with the FMWF Leadership participants following my speech.”

The City of Fargo

Our 2022 State of the City is especially poignant as we commemorate the 150th year of Fargo’s existence and reflect on the successes of the past year. 2021 was a year in which Fargo strengthened its commitments to excellence. Fargo continues leading the region by prioritizing impactful endeavors such as the 64th Avenue Bypass, the addition of a new snow removal route and planting more than 1,700 trees.

Fargo is always planning & improving. We encourage managed growth through in-depth studies of return on incentive investments and the efficacy of the planning & development process. Transparent and intelligent policing was also made a top priority with the integration of

The City of Horace

Highlights from 2021

• We began two water projects (Water Improvement District No. 2020-6 and Water Improvement District No. 2020-7) to improve our water quality.

• Fiber optic internet capability for all residents was installed.

• Fradet’s, West Brook and Lazy-A residents were welcomed into our city following their annexation.

• Over 285 new single family dwelling permits were issued this year.

• 956 lots were platted in the last 24 months alone.

body-worn cameras, the hiring of additional crime analysts and the realignment of the police department to provide more effective neighborhood services.

We pride ourselves on thinking forward. In 2021 we did this by advancing generational climate resiliency efforts like the Red River Valley Water Supply Project and FM Diversion. Fargo has been working on the regional stormwater retention pond, which will double as a recreational lake when complete. We also converted many lights in City facilities to LED--saving up to 40% on operational costs.

Above all, the greatest highlight of the past year has been Team Fargo working for you, always. Whether it is encouraging citizen involvement through boards and committees or encouraging public input, what you say matters here.

• Horace Elementary School was expanded.

• Horace High School opened its doors this fall, seeing the enrollment of 215 freshmen and sophomore students.

Addressing Challenges

The water supply in Horace has been less than desirable for many years, with sediments from high levels of iron and manganese collecting in pipes and causing damage to appliances -- as well as resulting in a foul odor and an offensive taste. After overwhelming feedback from residents, this chapter will come to a close over the next year. Mayor Peterson was able to secure over $4 million in funding to connect the city to Cass Rural Water, which will alleviate the water issues the city has experienced for decades.

Mayor Tim Mahoney

“I am excited for the 2022 State of the Cities as it is an opportunity to share our successes, celebrate our mutual metro-wide accomplishments and provide a roadmap of how we will continue to ensure the state of The City of Fargo remains as strong as ever.”

Mayor Kory Peterson

“I am looking forward to talking about our growth and the updates to our infrastructure to handle the growth.”

The City of Moorhead

Highlights from 2021

The Onward Moorhead! comprehensive plan update will envision the community’s future for the next 10 years by outlining goals and action steps to make the vision a reality. Citizens, elected officials and City administration are evaluating topics like arts and culture, mobility, parks and open space, urban design, land use and community sustainability and resilience.

The City of Moorhead and Roers Development are working together to identify opportunities for the existing Moorhead City Hall space and surrounding city-owned

The City of West Fargo

Highlights from 2021

The year saw the completion of the North Sheyenne Street Urban Reconstruction project. This reconstruction created a safer and more walkable area, enhanced The Yards on Sheyenne downtown district as a West Fargo destination and improved outdated and undersized infrastructure along the corridor.

The City used CARES Act

Funding to support West Fargo businesses by providing every household a $25 gift card to spend locally as we recover from the pandemic. Additionally, we’ve seen a number of new businesses open throughout West Fargo, especially around The

properties. Now that the Downtown Master Plan has been completed, Roers is also taking the lead on developing a master plan for the Moorhead Center Mall that is consistent with the Downtown Plan.

The City of Moorhead also received legislative authorization to request voter approval in the 2022 general election for a one-half cent sales tax for a regional library/community center. A citizen-based steering committee is working to create a vision for the project.

Addressing Challenges

The City of Moorhead and businesses in the City must work harder today to find workforce. The City is trying new tactics that are proving effective.

Moorhead Police Chief Shannon Monroe created the Police Cadet program, a creative way to attract female and minority applicants and expose them to the work they would perform as police officers.

Area businesses will also benefit from the opening of the Moorhead Career Academy. By preparing students to enter the workforce with skills that they can use immediately, the Career Academy will help businesses address the labor shortage.

Mayor Shelly Carlson

“The City of Moorhead is a rising metro with a bright future. I look forward to sharing many of the exciting things going on in our great City during the State of the Cities address.”

Lights on Sheyenne entertainment mixed use district. Our 2021 sales tax revenues are expected to increase 16% over 2020.

Another highlight of the year was the success of our Community Outreach Programs & Services Unit (C.O.P.S.) which continued to grow relationships between law enforcement and residents. Our fire department’s Community Risk Reduction team has provided education to businesses, community groups and residents throughout the year. We are proud of the proactive approach our public safety departments are taking in engaging with the community.

Addressing Challenges

Like many of our neighbors in the metro area, the City of West Fargo is concerned about the workforce shortage. We will continue

to partner with the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation and the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce on Fueling Our Future to address this issue and find actionable steps. This includes looking for ways to partner with our neighbors to address issues like housing, which we know is a connected issue. We believe this issue will be a catalyst for identifying new strategies for attracting a 21st century workforce.

Mayor Bernie Dardis

“The City of West Fargo is grateful to the FMWF Chamber for once again hosting the State of the Cities. Along with sharing how our economy continues to grow and develop, I am especially looking forward to discussing how we are working to cultivate community in our City.”

PRESENTING SPONSOR

EXECUTIVE SPONSORS

CORPORATE SPONSORS

Alerus | Apex Engineering Group | Bell Bank | Bethany Retirement Living | BNSF Railway Company

Beverage Wholesalers, Inc. | Bremer Bank | Cass County Electric Cooperative | City of Fargo

Cornerstone Bank | Dawson Insurance, a Marsh & McLennan Agency | Eventide Senior Living Communities

FM Area Association of Realtors | Fargo Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau

First International Bank & Trust | Flint Group | Gate City Bank | Heartland Trust Company

EVENT PRODUCTION SPONSOR

The Midwest Summit series convenes regional and national thought leaders and area chambers for conversations on four significant regional topics. These events are held in FMWF, but are also livestreamed to chambers and industry leaders across the Upper Midwest and beyond.

On February 8, we will be kicking off the series with the Midwest Economic Forecast Summit as we bring together chambers of commerce, industry leaders and economic experts from across the Midwest to take part in a holistic, timely and in-depth discussion. Our nation recently faced a global recession, record U.S. unemployment and extreme economic uncertainty. This is an opportunity to learn about regional and national trends, examine factors that keep our area competitive, and hear from leaders across various sectors including agriculture, energy, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing and technology.

Developing and maintaining a vibrant economy is essential to the continued growth of the Midwest; we hope you join us for this new, major event series and important discussion.

PRESENTING SPONSORS

Midwest Economic Forecast Summit

Neel Kashkari

President and CEO • Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

As President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Neel Kashkari serves on the Federal Open Market Committee, bringing the Ninth District’s perspective to monetary policy discussions in Washington, D.C. In addition to his responsibilities as a monetary policymaker, Kashkari oversees all operations of the Bank, including supervision and regulation, treasury services, and payments services. At the Midwest Economic Forecast Summit, Kashkari will be addressing economic conditions, interest rates, the impact of COVID-19, workforce challenges and more.

Steve Grove

Commissioner • Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

As commissioner of the state’s principal workforce and economic development agency, Commissioner Grove is focused on empowering the growth of the Minnesota economy, for everyone. Under his leadership, the department works on growing the state’s workforce, closing the opportunity gap, and providing businesses and startups the support they need to grow and thrive in Minnesota’s economy.

Commissioner Grove was previously an executive at Google for 12 years, most recently serving as the founding director of Google’s News Lab, a global division of the company that partners with media companies and startups to drive innovation in the news industry.

Dr. Scott Beaulier

Dean of Business • North Dakota State University

Dr. Beaulier has spent his career actively engaged in understanding and advocating for policies that foster dynamic, vibrant economies that best allow businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive. He will discuss how policies are integral to our economic success, and how people – innovative, creative and dedicated business leaders – are the life blood of any economy.

Bryce Johnson

CEO • Home Builders Association of Fargo-Moorhead (HBA)

” “

The HBA has always had a collaborative relationship with The Chamber, but efforts for teamwork and partnership grew exponentially after the 2009 flood of the Red River Valley. This happened particularly through the Business Leaders Flood Taskforce and regional campaigns for sales tax support for permanent flood protection and further efforts of support for the FM Area Diversion. It naturally evolved into a valuable relationship where today’s efforts include addressing the skilled labor shortage, Fueling Our Future, housing and affordability issues, and advocating for business at the state and federal level. The Chamber has been at the forefront to elevate the importance of a healthy business community and all those challenges that go along with it. We are stronger together in impacting the economic vitality of our region and are proud to be a partner with our fabulous Chamber.

Public Policy & Advocacy efforts and outcomes affect every single person that lives and works in our great region. Our members are all engaged in unique ways, depending on what is most important to them and their business. Here is what a few of our members had to say about our Public Policy & Advocacy events and initiatives.

Member Moments

“Jakelle Hoffmann

Development Director • Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley

The Eggs & Issues series is an awesome opportunity to network and engage in dialogue about creating a healthy and vibrant community. I leave these events feeling informed and connected to the community. The Chamber is such a gift to our community and has played a special role in my professional development.

“Jon Eisert

Vice President – Market Development Officer • Bell Bank

I have always been interested in local economic activity and events that impact the community I love. I regularly attend Eggs & Issues events to keep up to date on economic topics that impact our community, which helps me in my banking role. At Bell Bank we are encouraged to be experts in our field, and the speakers at Eggs & Issues are specialists in their fields and have firsthand knowledge on the issues being discussed. There are always opportunities for people that attend the event to ask questions related to the topics or get involved to make a difference. It’s also a great way to meet different people within the community and make connections.

“”Lisa Workman

President • Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce

Collaboration is a key strategy for chambers throughout the region. We are the glue for our own communities, and by collaborating with regional chambers for the Midwest Summit series, we’re leveraging the knowledge and strength of and for the entire Red River Valley business community and Upper Midwest. These opportunities play a critical role in growing our region and are a must attend for all business leaders.

Thank you to our dedicated Public Policy committee, Chamber members and Public Policy sponsors for investing in and supporting this important work. We will continue to work diligently on the behalf of our region, and look forward to providing a voice, resources, education, access and engagement opportunities for our community leaders and businesses.

Thank you

PROGRAM SPONSORS

Beverage Wholesalers, Inc. | Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota

Bremer Bank | Cass County Electric Cooperative | Essentia Health

First International Bank & Trust | MWC Advertising of Fargo Moorhead

Sanford Health | Ulteig | Xcel Energy

2022 CORPORATE CUP 2022 CORPORATE CUP 2022 CORPORATE

Team Registration

Opens Monday, February 7 at 10 a.m. | register at fmwfchamber.com

Current list of events … more to come!

• Human Foosball

• Mission Impossible

• Obstacle Course (with a new twist)

Event Date – May 26, 2022

Don’t have enough members to make a full team? You can combine with another Chamber member to form an official Corporate Cup team!

• Kickball

• Volleyball

• Ultimate Frisbee

Presenting Sponsor

2022 ChamberChoice Awards

Nominations now open!

It’s time to honor and celebrate the best of the best in our community. We are excited to highlight this year’s most visionary and community-driven businesses that are leading the way and contributing to the vitality of our community.

Nominate the organization you feel has made an impact in our community. You can nominate as many organizations as you’d like, including your own! Not only can you nominate more than once, you can nominate in multiple categories. We’re looking for proven growth or stability, innovation, creativity, community leadership and achievements. Economic conditions should not deter any qualified applicant. They will be taken into account when judging employee and revenue growth.

Award categories

Non-Profit of the Year

Small Business of the Year

Business of the Year

Diversity & Inclusion Award

Young Professionals Best Place to Work

Emerging Business of the Year

Resilient Business of the Year

How to nominate Online: fmwfchamber.com Email: tpowell@fmwfchamber.com

Nominations close on Friday, January 28

Save the date for this year’s awards luncheon! Friday, May 20 | Noon to 1:30 p.m. | Delta by Marriott

Get your co-workers out of hibernation to compete in Frozen Business Showdown! Six games promoting friendly competition in the business community. Does your organization have what it takes? Register your team by January 14 at FargoParks.com. Space is limited. Friday January 28, 2022

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

December

The Delta Hotel was the place to be on Thursday, December 2. With a packed crowd of over 800 attendees, this year’s Holiday Business After Hours had everyone feeling holly and jolly and happy to reconnect for the holidays. Attendees visited more than 100 booths, enjoyed apps and beverages, made new connections and caught up with old friends. We are already looking forward to next year!

WOMEN CONNECT

December - Jingle Mingle

The first ever Women Connect Jingle Mingle was a roaring success. The event, which consisted of an open networking format, featured live stage performances, musical acts, photo opportunities, beverages, a hot cocoa bar and even a visit from Santa himself! Over 200 attendees were able to form connections with each other in a laid back environment filled with holiday cheer.

BUSINESS TRAINING

December - Maximizing Greatness: Using Psychological Safety to Drive Team Performance

Have you heard of psychological safety? Mike Meagher of Sagency treated attendees of December’s Business Training to an easy-to-grasp conversation surrounding the concept of psychological safety and how it can maximize greatness in a team. Attendees learned the 4 Domains of Psychological Safety and how it can be leveraged. Attendees raved about the presentation, noting Mike’s ability to make the topic easy to understand and relevant to their current teams.

EGGS & ISSUES

December - Necessity of Water Infrastructure: A Dive into Scarcity and Protection

December’s session of Eggs & Issues was all about water and the importance it plays in our region. More than 100 attendees gathered to hear about the FM Diversion Project, the Red River Water Supply Project and more. The event also featured the Red River Valley Alliance, the P3 developer which was selected for The Diversion Project. This was their first time publicly addressing Chamber members and the public.

BUSINESS TRAINING

Creating a Community of Respect

Wednesday, January 19 | 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hilton Garden Inn and livestream

Angela Fowler NDSU

An organization’s commitment to embrace diverse, equitable and inclusive business practices ranks among the top of issues this next generation of workers cares deeply about. Now, more than ever, employees are looking to their organization to be a leader in this space. But what does this mean for a business? Where should your organization, or even you as an individual, even start on this journey? Join us for this training where you will learn about cultural differences and be encouraged to think critically about the impact of other cultural values in relation to yours.

The Art of Storytelling

Wednesday, February 9 | 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Courtyard by Marriott Moorhead and livestream

Successful leaders and public speakers throughout history have understood and harnessed the power of good storytelling. According to Forbes, it’s a powerful business tool, the backbone of a strong marketing strategy, and a competitive advantage that creates brand loyalty. Every person and business has a story to tell that instills purpose and meaning in what they do. At this session, you’ll learn how you can leverage the power of storytelling to attract and hold attention while delivering key messages that will prompt action.

PROFESSIONALS OF COLOR

Discuss, Connect & Reflect

Wednesday, January 12 | 12 to 1 p.m. | Virtual

Join us for our very first Discuss, Connect & Reflect gathering of the new year! We will dive into an episode of The Tight Rope with Cornel West & Tricia Rose. Our conversation will explore how our lived experiences and relationship to a mentor inform who we are, development of our personal purpose, and how to remain true to one’s morals, values, and spirituality when faced with pressures to conform.

Our conversation will also center around the episode titled, AOC Not Understood For Who She Really Is, where you get to hear two giants in the social justice world engage in the story behind congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s path to activism.

Networking Before 9

Friday, January 28 | 8 to 9 a.m. | Virtual

Join this virtual networking event to grow your personal and professional connections; make sure to invite a friend or coworker to join the conversation! Throughout the hour, you will connect with many individuals and get to know everyone on the call – we look forward to seeing you.

EGGS & ISSUES

COVID Mandates: Keeping us safe or damaging the country?

NEW TIME Thursday, January 6 | 8 to 9:30 a.m. Courtyard by Marriott and livestream

Since 2020, the American people have had to combat not only a virus, but the government shutdowns and mandates that followed. This event will cover the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to government intervention as it relates to the pandemic. You can expect to have an update on the federal OSHA ETS mandate for businesses with 100 or more employees, the morality and legality of who decides if employees should mask or vaccinate, how interstate businesses are handling the various mandates and protocols, and the conflict between state and federal law. This crucial discussion will get us all up to speed and have attendees leaving with a better understanding of how we can move forward as leaders, businesses, communities and as a country.

WOMEN CONNECT

You Have Permission

Tuesday, January 25 | 3:30 to 5 p.m. Avalon Events Center and livestream

It’s time to give ourselves permission to live our heart’s desire, to say no to what doesn’t serve us and yes to what fills us up. And it’s time to really support each other. Let’s cultivate our circles of support and hold on tightly to them. Let’s invite radical self care into our own lives and watch the world around us change in response to the love we give ourselves.

Intentional Collisions

Tuesday, February 22 | 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. Avalon Events Center

This inaugural event will feature highly influential women sharing their insights, experiences, journeys and advice in short seven-minute segments. Attendees will have the opportunity to select up to 15 ‘collisions’ and directly engage with the influential women of their choice. This highly interactive experience will be extremely rewarding for all that participate.

Lisa Gulland-Nelson Passion To Pen, LLC

Katie Munion

Dale Carnegie of ND and NW MN

SIGNATURE EVENTS

State of the Cities

Thursday, January 13, 2022 | 8 to 9:30 a.m. | Delta by Marriott and livestream

Where are our cities headed? This annual event brings our community together to ask our mayors from across the metro about future growth, goals, priorities, opportunities and challenges. Don’t miss this conversation and opportunity to directly ask our mayors the questions you have for them.

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Midwest Economic Forecast Summit

Tuesday, February 8 | 8 to 11 a.m. | Delta by Marriott and livestream

Developing and maintaining a vibrant economy is essential to the continued growth of the Upper Midwest. The Midwest Economic Forecast Summit on February 8 is in partnership with chambers of commerce from across the Upper Midwest, and will bring together leaders and experts from the following sectors to engage in a timely, in-depth and holistic discussion: agriculture, energy, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, and technology. Keynote speakers for the event will be Neel Kashkari, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and Dr. Scott Beaulier, dean of business at North Dakota State University.

PRESENTING SPONSORS

Women Connect Celebration

Wednesday, June 1, 2022 Sanford Health Athletic Complex

Mel Robbins

Registration now open

Join us on the eighth anniversary of Women Connect at this special event with the most-booked female motivational speaker in the world! Delivering this year’s keynote message is Mel Robbins, serial entrepreneur, best-selling author, internationally recognized social media influencer, and one of the most sought-after motivational speakers in the world.

PRESENTING SPONSOR

YPN

YPN Holiday Party

Thursday, January 20 | 5:15 to 7:30 p.m.

YPN’s Holiday Party is back! Come to enjoy great food, a cash bar and the famous ‘naughty or nice’ paddle game for some awesome prizes. This is the biggest bash of the year; you don’t want to miss the fun. Bring a nonperishable food donation and receive a raffle ticket to win one of our larger prizes! Up to five extra raffle tickets per person.

Thank you to the sponsors that make these events and programs possible —find them on pages 34 and 35.

Kory Peterson Mayor of Horace

Tim Mahoney Mayor of Fargo

Bernie Dardis Mayor of West Fargo

Chad Olson Mayor of Dilworth

Shelly Carlson Mayor of Moorhead

Neel Kashkari President and CEO | Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

Dr. Scott Beualier Dean of Business | NDSU

Herd and Horns

Welcome to the following businesses who joined The Chamber in November! We thank each of them for their support in our

51 Strong

fiftyonestrong.com

Fitness Centers

51 Strong is a small group strength training gym. Our focus is on using basic exercises to get everyday people stronger for everyday life.

Centropix by JZ Wellness

centropix.us/jzwellness.us

Wellness

At CENTROPIX, we’re here to give you a wellness protection solution that will transform your life and take your body and mind to the next level. Our products are built to activate and regenerate your molecular activity.

Digital Plains LLC

digiplains.com

Information Security

Information Technology experts providing Cyber Security, Managed Services, Help Desk, Engineering, Project Management, Staff Augmentation and Recruitment.

Ladyboss Midwest

ladybossmidwest.com

Clubs & Organizations

Ladyboss Midwest empowers and connects women through an engaged social media community and professional development including an annual summit, workshops, networking events, marketing services, and a podcast.

LiftEase LLC

liftease.net

Moving – Storage

LiftEase has developed an innovative, patent-pending storage system designed to utilize often-wasted garage space. The system stores items on a high, hidden platform atop a safe, secure, and efficient hydraulic lift. The system lowers the platform to the floor, so even large items, such as a lawn mower and snow blowers can be easily loaded and raised back into position.

RBC Wealth Management

rbcwealthmanagement.com

Financial Consultants/Advisors

At RBC Wealth Management, we’re the firm you can depend on to help you achieve your financial goals. Your aspirations may involve your family, your business or the legacy you want to leave. We can help you navigate opportunities, changes and challenges as they happen—from generation to generation.

Teleion, LLC

teleioncoaching.com

Consultants

I bring over 20 years of pastoral experience to the table as I coach leaders to win at work and life. I use simple business frameworks and cutting-edge discoveries in neuroscience to help them succeed and put them in a position to leave a legacy by making our world a better place to live, work, and worship for everyone.

Ignite FMWF is our region’s newest workforce infrastructure initiative designed to drive continued success for our business community.

17th St. N., Moorhead d-sbeverages.com

4582 32nd Ave., Ste B., Fargo facefoundrie.com

1780 17th St. S., Fargo fargo.k12.nd.us/exploreracademy

Bethany Retirement Living earns USNews Award

Bethany on 42nd and Bethany on University have been rated HighPerforming nursing facilities for 2021-22 by US News & World Report, with both Bethany locations earning the BEST NURSING HOME designation. The two Bethany campuses received top scores for both short-term stays and for long-term care.

DFC Company takes parent company role for five entities with brand refresh

Dakota Fence, Dakota Playground, 3D Specialties and newly added Sign Solutions USA and Park & Play USA are now companies under DFC Company. DFC Company, the new parent company, stems from Dakota Fence Company (“DFC”), which was the founding company dating back to 1972.

NDSU breaks ground on new agriculture building for the future

State leaders, agriculturalists, and the North Dakota State University campus community gathered for the Peltier Complex groundbreaking and naming ceremony on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. This state-of-the-art facility will be a hub for agricultural innovation, product development, and advancing research and education that will provide new economic opportunities for North Dakota, the region, and the world.

The Village achieves national accreditation

The Village Family Service Center has achieved national accreditation again through the New York-based Council on Accreditation (COA). Organizations pursue accreditation to demonstrate the implementation of best practice standards in the field of human services. The Village, which offers mental health counseling, addiction treatment, adoption services, credit counseling and more, has been accredited since 1982.