GOED offers training to local partners

BY PAT COSTELLO

One of the best things about working in economic development is working with and getting to know our local counterparts around the state These hardworking individuals are constantly looking to better their communities a goal that is wholeheartedly shared by the state economic development office

And as a state organization, we often take a leadership role on many of the collaborative efforts we share with the local economic development organizations whether it is a RFI (request for information) from a prospective company, another recruitment effort such as a trade show, or a retention and expansion project

To help aid these processes, the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development is offering several training courses throughout 2014 Our objective is to get all involved parties up to speed so that when requests come in, the process runs smoothly and we are able to work together to present South Dakota in the best light possible

Among the offerings: GOED Over v iew for New Economic Practitioners:

Although we say that this course is for new practitioners, it is also open to veteran developers, board members and other interested individuals The session covers business development resources, data resources, current campaigns and cooperative opportunities, as well as an overview of the structure of the state office

The first session was held in March, but there are three more sessions remaining: June 10, Sept. 9 and Dec. 9. All remaining sessions will be held at our Pierre office

RFI Training:

When companies request information on our state, we want to be ready Our RFI Training session covers the processes we use at the GOED to respond to these requests Local economic developers will learn how their communities can take part to present the most accurate, up-to-date information to these prospects in a timely fashion

One more session of this course remains and will be held June 11 in Watertown

Looking back, we have already conducted the following courses and/or sessions this year: Workforce Development, Business Succession Planning, the Governor’s Economic Development Conference, and Building South Dakota Fund: Business Finance Programs. We will continually work to anticipate the needs of our local partners and businesses, and offer training as the need and feasibility arises

If you would like more information on any of our training opportunities, have suggestions, or would like to see another session of a course added, please contact our office at 605-773-3301 or visit www.sdreadytopartner.com. PB

Pat Costello Commissioner S D Governor’s Office of Economic Development

Pat

Costello@state sd us

Twitter: @sdgoed

ND hotel room inventory exceeds 25,000

More than 6,000 hotel rooms were added in North Dakota from 2010 through 2013, increasing the total number of hotel rooms in the state to more than 25,000, according to the Destination Marketing Association of North Dakota. Half of the 79 hotel projects in the state since 2010 have been associated with a major national hotel chain.

The increase in hotel rooms has meant travelers should now be able to find available rooms throughout the state, according to the group The hotel occupancy rate through 2013 was 66 percent, down 7 percent from 2012 but still higher than the national average of 63 9 percent

Grand Forks Sleep Inn wins hospitality award

The Sleep Inn and Suites hotel of Grand Forks, N.D., is a recipient of Choice Hotels International Inc ’ s 2014 Platinum Hospitality award The hotel is a top performer among the company ’ s more than 5,100 U.S. franchised hotels and has demonstrated an exceptional focus on guest satisfaction and dedication to providing superior service, according to Choice Hotels.

The Sleep Inn is managed by Grand Forksbased Northridge Hospitality Management, which also operates Sleep Inn and Suites hotels in Bismarck, Fargo and Devils Lake, N.D. The company recently opened a Comfort Inn and Suites in Sioux Falls, S D , and has taken over management duties at the Comfort Inn in Dickinson, N.D. It is also building a Sleep Inn and Suites in Rochester, Minn , and a Sleep Inn/Mainstay in Lincoln, Neb

SD frac sand search comes up empty

A recently completed 16-month study conducted of sand from western South Dakota con- cluded that the sand does not meet specifications recommended by the American Petroleum Institute for use in hydraulic fracturing

The study, conducted by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, was prompted by the high demand for sand that can be used as proppant in hydraulic fracturing operations in the Williston Basin.

The study included the evaluation of 256 samples, 26 of which were submitted by private mine operators. Complete results are available at sdgs usd edu/pubs/pdf/ogi-05 pdf

NJ firm finances Killdeer industrial park

Kennedy Funding a New Jersey-based bridge loan firm, recently completed a $2.4 million loan to Mirriah Lender LLC to develop a 96acre industrial property in Killdeer, N D , known as Mirriah Business Park. The company bought the property for $1 7 million last year after obtaining a zoning change from agricultural to commercial-industrial. Kennedy Funding says two of the park’s lots are already under contract.

“The value of this property is, in a word,

‘oil,’” Kennedy Funding CEO Kevin Wolfer says. In a news release, he noted that there are real estate shortages in all sectors of the Bakken region and the Killdeer property “is clearly poised to take advantage of that need ”

Fargo-based office furniture dealer expands

Hannaher’s Inc., a Fargo-based office furniture dealer, has expanded to include a location in Detroit Lakes, Minn The company also owns Gaffaney’s of Grand Forks, N D

“The Detroit Lakes location will allow us to better serve our many customers and showcase our products to the region,” says Paul Hannaher, company president. “Our showroom will serve not only as a model for potential clients, but a real commitment to growth in this emerging region ”

CHS, Fessenden Co-op to build fertilizer warehouse

CHS Inc. and the Fessenden (N.D.) Cooperative Association have formed a 50-50 joint venture to build and operate a fertilizer warehouse at Hamberg, N.D. Construction of the facility, which will have a 28,000-ton storage capacity and product blending capabilities, is expected to begin this summer and be complete by next fall The facility will serve the cooperative’s farmer-owners and nearby CHS wholesale customers.

CHS and the cooperative also collaborated last year to build a greenfield grain shuttle loading facility on the BNSF rail line at Hamberg.

AE2S opens Dickinson office

Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services Inc (AE2S) recently opened an office in the newly renovated 101-year-old Elks Building in downtown Dickinson, N.D. From this location, the firm is providing civil engineering services to North Dakota cities including Killdeer, Watford City, Williston, Richardton and New Town in addition to working on a variety of other projects throughout the surrounding area

Deon Stockert, the firm’s Dickinson operations manager, says the firm has been providing services in the area since before the most recent oil boom and has grown along with Dickinson and the region. “There’s so much going on right now due to the oil industry and the development associated with it,” he says “The firm has been steadily adding staff over the past few years, just to keep up with demand.”

Valley Imports Volkswagen named top Midwest dealer

Valley Impor ts Volkswagen in Fargo has b e e n n a m e d t h e M i d w e s t re g i o n ’ s To p Volume Select Dealer for 2013. It is the seco n d co n s e c u t i ve ye a r t h e d e a l e r s h i p h a s received the honor

Twenty-one dealers in the Midwest region compete for the award, which is based on total retail sales and population base Valley Imports sold 223 new Volkswagens in 2013, edging out the second place finisher, Mikan Volkswagen of Butler, Penn , by just three units

PolyOne CEO donates to SDSMT wellness center

Construction has begun on an $8.9 million student wellness and recreation center at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Stephen Newlin, chairman, president and CEO of Polyone Corp. and SDSMT alumni, contributed $2 million for the project, which is expected to be complete by April 2015 The remainder of the project cost is being funded through a student-approved increase in fees. The

NDSCS, Komatsu partner for diesel tech program

North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, N D , has partnered with Komatsu America Corp to add a Komatsu-specific program to the school’s diesel technology department. The program will launch in August and will provide students with training on Komatsu construction equipment and related products through a combination of classroom

Stephen D. Newlin Family Student Wellness and Recreation Center will provide more than 34,000 square feet of new or remodeled space and will include two basketball courts, a group fitness room, a rock climbing wall and other amenities.

Marco named small, mid-size business partner of year

Cisco recently named Marco Inc its 2013 Central Area Small to Medium Business Partner of the Year The award was presented in honor of the company ’ s leadership position in implementing unified communications and cloud networking systems amongst other Cisco technologies, according to the company Cisco also recognized Marco for creating custom processes designed to help scale resources, extend sales reach and contribute to its growth

Amity Technology, Dakota MEP receive export awards

Amity Technology, a Fargo-based manufacturer of agriculture machiner y, was named instruction, hands-on lab instruction and cooperative educational work experience at participating Komatsu dealerships, such as General Equipment and Supplies Inc. and Road Machinery and Supplies Co. The program will be housed in the college’s recently expanded Bisek Hall.

From left: Barbara Bang, North Dakota State College of Science dean of technologies and services division; John Richman, NDSCS president; Terry Marohl, NDSCS diesel technology department chair; Donald Shilling, General Equipment and Supplies Inc. president; Mike Hayes, Komatsu North America director service marketing and distributor development; Mike Mencel, Road Machinery and Supplies Co. vice president product support.

North Dakota’s 2013 Exporter of the Year during the Global Business Awards ceremony held April 29 in Fargo The ceremony was held in conjunction with the annual Global Business Connections conference hosted by the North Dakota Trade Office The annual award recognizes a business for its expansion to a new international market, increased export sales and support of the statewide effort to expand North Dakota’s global reach Amity Technology was founded by Howard and Brian Dahl, grandsons of Melroe Co. founder E G Melroe, and manufactures the WIC Sugar Beet Equipment line Amity has exported more than $300 million in products to more than 25 markets around the world in the last decade Dakota MEP, a nonprofit group focused on helping North Dakota companies improve business results through continuous development, received the 2013 Service to Exporters award Dakota MEP was launched in 2001 and is an affiliate of the U S Department of Commerce National Institute of

Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership

SDSMT, RESPEC launch shale research initiative

The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and RESPEC, a Rapid City, S Dbased engineering consulting firm, have launched a shale research initiative focused on a range of energy and environment-specific experiments, including enhanced energy production, carbon dioxide sequestration, underground hydrocarbon storage and waste disposal in shale. The state-funded initiative will begin with a feasibility assessment of what would be the nation’s first underground shale research laboratory

The project is being led by SDSMT research scientist William Roggenthen and Lance Roberts, RESPEC senior vice president In a news release, Roberts says the collaboration will position South Dakota as a leader in deep underground storage and disposal in shale

Representatives from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development join city leaders and executives of India-based Axis Clinicals to celebrate the company’s expansion to Dilworth, Minn

India-based clinical trials firm expands to Dilworth

City leaders and representatives from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development recently joined executives from Indiabased Axis Clinicals in Dilworth, Minn , to honor the company ’ s commitment to establish a facility there The company is investing $12 million to convert a former Wal-Mart into an operations facility that is expected to eventually employ 100 people MN DEED financed $1 million through its Minnesota Investment Fund and has agreed to provide up to $800,000 in additional grant money through its Job Creation Fund. In late April, the company said it expected to begin conducting some clinical studies in May and would become fully operational in June

Axis Clinicals CEO Dr Yati Chugh said the company selected Dilworth for its expansion project in part due to the area ’ s skilled workforce Dilworth has a population of about 4,000 and is located on the eastern edge of the Fargo-Moorhead metro.

Bismarck tech startup scores $500K angel investment

CoSchedule, a Bismarck, N D -based social media and blog publishing platform, recently closed a $500,000 angel investment led by Sandin Holdings and Bullinger Enterprises of Fargo, N.D. Matching funds were provided by the North Dakota Development Fund

CoSchedule is the first social media editorial calendar built exclusively for WordPress Company co-founders Garrett Moon and Justin Walsh says they plan to use the funding for marketing, new hires and to build out the service before scaling more widely.

USD med school expands MD class size

The University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine will expand its class size beginning this fall. The expansion is an effort to meet the needs of an aging state population and increasing demands placed on health care providers under the Affordable Care Act, according to the school.

Currently, 56 students are admitted to the M D program annually Eleven students will be added per class during the next four years.

KLJ opens Twin Cities office

Bismarck-based engineering, surveying and planning firm KLJ has expanded to the Twin Cities with the establishment of an office in St. Paul, Minn The firm’s initial focus in the Twin Cities market will be on transportation

Applied Engineering acquires Quiet Waters Engineering

Applied Engineering, a regional firm with offices in Fargo, N D , and Bismarck, N D ; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Brooklyn Park, Minn.; Eau Claire, Wis.; and Addison Texas, has acquired Ottertail, Minn -based Quiet Waters Engineering QWE was owned by Rhonda Menze, who took over company operations in 2013 following the death of her husband and company founder, Adam Menze Applied Engineering plans to create a legacy award to honor Adam Menze and his contributions to the mechanical engineering profession

Wahpeton company offers Bakken tour

Wahpeton, N.D.-based World Class Tours LLC has launched an Oilfield Educational Tour, a three-day, two-night tour meant to provide a firsthand, factual perspective of the Bakken region to business professionals, local leaders, educators and other interested parties, according to the company. The initial tour is scheduled for June 3-5 and is expected to include networking opportunities with attendees as well as special guest speakers. For more information, visit wctours net

Choice Financial recognized as top performer

Grafton, N.D.-based Choice Financial earned the top place in SNL Financial’s ranking of top-performing community banks of 2013 with assets between $500 million and $5 billion The bank, with 14 locations in North Dakota and one in Minnesota, recorded double-digit loan growth in 2013, bolstered by its end-of-year acquisition of Belfield, N.D.-based Great Plains National Bank.

Choice Financial ranked 35th in SNL’s 2012 ranking

SBA names Atchison ND small business person of year

Dean Atchison, president and CEO of Fargobased Spectrum Aeromed, has been selected as the U S Small Business Administration’s 2014 North Dakota Small Business Person of the Year The award is given in recognition of exceptional business owners who demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit in starting and growing a successful business

Spectrum Aeromed, a designer and manufacturer of custom air medical and air ambulance equipment, was purchased by Atchison in mid2007 Since the first full year of his ownership, the company ’ s sales have increased 164 percent and the number of units sold has more than tripled. The business was moved from rural Minnesota to Fargo and has increased its staff to 26 full-time employees and seven part-time employees.

McFarland named SD small business person of year

Ryan McFarland, founder and CEO of Rapid City, S.D.-based Strider Sports International Inc., has been named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2014 South Dakota Small Business Person of the Year

McFarland formed Strider Sports in 2007. The company designs patented no-pedal balance bikes for use by children as young as 18 months and distributes its products worldwide To promote its product, the company has created and grown a series of Strider riding events and competitions since its launch, evolving to include a Strider World Championship Racing event which attracts toddler participants from around the world every year

AE2S names Boe business development director

Andrea Boe has been named business development director of AE2S Water Solutions, AE2S Industrial and AE2S Construction All are affiliated companies of Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services Inc. (AE2S), where Boe has served as marketing manager for more than 17 years

In her new role, she is responsible for directing sales, marketing and client relationship activities for the three affiliated companies, focusing heavily on design/build water projects for oil producers and industries in North Dakota’s Bakken region

In March, Boe was named one of Prairie Business magazine’s top 25 women in business for 2014

Gregg named St. Alexius human resources VP

St Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck, N D , has named Tom Gregg vice president of human resources In this role, he is responsible for providing leadership in developing and executing human resources strategy in support of the overall business plan and strategic direction of the medical center, specifically in the areas of succession planning, talent management, change management, organizational and performance management, training and development, compensation and benefits

Gregg has more than 36 years of human resources and physician medical practice experience. He most recently served as the interim president/CEO and vice president of human resources at St Peter’s Hospital

Blackhurst named MSUM president

Anne Blackhurst has been appointed president of Minnesota State University Moorhead, effective July 1. She succeeds Edna Szymanski, who has served as MSUM president since 2008 and is retiring in June

Blackhurst has served as provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at MSUM since 2011 Prior to that, she served in various roles at Minnesota State University, Mankato, including professor and chair of the department of counseling and student personnel, interim dean and dean of graduate studies and research and, most recently, acting vice president for academic and student affairs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Boise State University, a master’s degree in counseling from the College of Idaho and a doctorate in college student personnel from Ohio University.

First Bank & Trust promotes Toy

Michael Toy has been named chief operating and strategy officer at First International Bank & Trust in Fargo Toy joined the bank in 2007 and served most recently as the chief operations and chief information officer. In his new role, Toy will continue to fulfill the role of COO with a greater emphasis placed on bank-wide strategic initiatives