Community Profile Guests

and added some distance learning options and advanced practice programs. “Students are responding, but it takes time,” Richard says.

Minnesota State University Moorhead’s focus has been on master’s programs and professional-level courses, but the university is also looking at expanding into some areas it used to offer degrees in, says Marsha Weber, dean of MSUM’s College of Business & Innovation. MSUM has a strong master’s program in public health that is expanding rapidly but the university has seen a rapid expansion in other areas as well.

“We just started a degree in project management, which allows students to focus in certain areas, as well as expanding our programming in big data and data analytics,” Weber says. “We’ve really gotten into programming on entrepreneurship. We’re developing a maker space to help students create ideas and get into the entrepreneurship community.”

Weber says MSUM is always aware of the region’s needs. “We have to show employer demand and student interest when we create new programs. We’re doing a lot with experiential learning, really increasing internships, sending students out to do consulting work with businesses and starting a mentorship program. We’re emphasizing real-world experience before students enter the workforce, and we’re working on connecting students more with the community and local and regional businesses.”

At North Dakota State University, Laura McDaniel, associate vice president for university relations, says the university is focused more on innovation and entrepreneurial activity. “In health care, it’s a constant evolution of what the employers need,” she says. “We’ve also seen an evolution to help students be more of problem solvers than just an English major or forcing scientists to have to communicate their work, for example.”

Microsoft’s Fargo campus is growing its number of employees significantly, says Don Morton, senior director of the Fargo campus. Microsoft is building seven inside sales campuses around the world, and the first is in Fargo. “We’re looking at younger people for these jobs, and we’ve been interviewing every Wednesday since July 1 of last year and start a new training every three weeks,” Morton says. “We’ll to remodel a floor for that, and eventually we’ll remodel an entire building. To find employees, we’ve identified schools that have sales programs, and we have 2016 graduates coming from all the schools in the region. We’re really looking at schools with a sales certificate program.”

The manufacturing industry is also facing a workforce shortage but for a unique reason, says Lisa Borgen, vice president of administration for American Crystal Sugar. “From a manufacturing standpoint, there’s been a paradigm shift in what you are doing after high school,” Borgen says. “Five years ago, you had to go to a four-year school whether you should or not. We’ve started what we call Community Roots, focusing on STEM education in the high schools, so students can go on to four-year or two-year schools. A lot of our jobs need the two-year tech school degrees. We have 100 engineers, but when you have 2,000 employees, you need the person in the field to have some ability."

American Crystal has taken the lead in changing the idea that everyone has to go to a four-year school to be successful. The company also partnered with Minnesota State Community & Technical College to create a tailored manufacturing certificate. “We used to go out and find mechanics with ability,” Borgen says. “Now there aren’t any, so we’re growing our own. Two years ago, we had 150 openings, today we have 30. We’re making people who work for us realize you can work your way up and have a good job and good pay. People don’t quit our company because they aren’t making enough money.”

But farmers also are having trouble finding seasonal work at harvest time, she says. While the ag industry is in a bit of a slump, Borgen says American Crystal hasn’t felt the brunt of it, as it’s a cooperative and its farmers are shareholders. Sugar beets are one of the few crops still bringing in money for farmers, she says. Only so many sugar beet shares are available, so they are going for a good profit, Borgen says. Interest in sugar beet farming is high, and that’s good for the Red River Valley, she says.

Economic Development

The controversial FM Diversion Project is another substantial topic of conversation as of late, says Craig Whitney, president and CEO of The Chamber of Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo. “From a community standpoint, the diversion is right up there (as a challenge),” he says. “It doesn’t help we haven’t flooded here for several years, but not too long ago, when the EDC worked to get businesses here, flooding was a major issue. We understand for some people the diversion is very controversial, but from the business standpoint, it’s absolutely essential.”

While getting the diversion built could help attract more businesses, the vibrancy of the cities themselves is vital to attracting workers. “We have all sorts of stuff going on but the trick is to make sure people know about it and understand this isn’t the same community as 25 years ago,” Johnson says. “Certainly people from the outside know the stereotype. In the workforce effort, we’re targeting college alumni who might not recognize the town.”

The cities, along with the CVB, have focused on public art, entertainment, sports and cultural options, all of which make the communities more attractive to outsiders. “What if we didn’t have the Fargodome? What if we didn’t have the Scheels Arena? We wouldn’t get state hockey or NCAA regional hockey,” Johnson says. “People like to say, ‘I don’t think we need that facility,’ but what would we do without these facilities now? We can’t wait for West Fargo to get their new aquatic facility because we’ll be able to get all sorts of events here.”

Mahoney says the City of Fargo has a consultant for public art and for livability and walkability downtown. “That urban area is starting to be attractive and people are looking for places to live down there,” he says. “People like to walk or bike to work. We have to have places millennials want to live and enjoy. We’re trying to create an environment where people have things they can enjoy, even in the winter.”

Booher moved to Fargo from Cincinnati, Ohio, two years ago when that city was at the peak of its own urban revitalization, he says. “Fargo is like a mini and high-impact version of that, with all of its breweries and vibrant downtown. When I’m talking to students when I’m looking for software engineers, they’re starting to realize there are things going on here.”

Ultimately, the vibrancy and livability of the metro area helps businesses that are struggling to find workers. “There’s no question the vibrancy of our community contributes to our ability to retain,” Richard says. “The more you folks do to create vibrancy and opportunity for the next generation, it really helps our retention. If people love where they’re living, they don’t want to leave.” PB

Kayla Prasek Staff Writer, Prairie Business 701.780.1187