As vast as the prairie

When putting together this issue, it struck me (again) how wide the area is we cover and how the topics we address each month can seem equally vast

This month, we take you on a tour of manufacturing facilities in southeastern South Dakota and hear how they continue to struggle to find workers and what leaders there are doing to help re-ignite interest among young people to pursue careers in their industry

We learn from stakeholders in western North Dakota how they are continually building out the fastest growing area in the country and what they think they need to keep up the pace.

We travel to the shores of Minnesota lakes country to get a glimpse into a gargantuan effort to keep communities connected to the rest of the world through the fastest Internet speeds available.

And we visit with health care leaders at independent organizations in western Minnesota, South Dakota and central North Dakota to ask how they are able to compete with large systems and provide the care their residents need during a period of industry reform

The issues are many, but even when the topics seem unrelated there emerges a common theme: collaboration For contributing writer Rob Swenson’s article, “Show and Tell,” he tagged along on a Manufacturing Day tour that brought higher education and economic development leaders to manufacturing facilities to learn how they can collaborate to recruit new workers. Contributing writer Marnie Lahtinen shares how Bakken stakeholders would work to bring amenities to communities with help from state funding in her article on proposed “ surge ” funding In “Getting in the GigaZone,” Bemidji, Minn -based Paul Bunyan Communications CEO Gary Johnson says his company is committed to delivering services to customers that allow them to continue thriving, and he’s willing to work with others to get it done And in “Keeping it Local,” independent health care system leaders say collaboration and a willingness to partner with other systems is the secret to their success

The northern Great Plains is indeed a vast space and those whose ties run deep in the region have an innate sense of independence and pride in their ability to overcome challenges, but we also have an uncanny ability to come together to achieve great things when the situation arises It is encouraging to read so many examples of willing collaboration and thoughtful approaches to complex issues The towns that dot our prairie are widespread, but this issue proves once again that we are one community, willing to work together to make it home

KORRIE WENZEL, Publisher

RONA JOHNSON, Executive Editor

KRIS BEVILL, Editor

BETH BOHLMAN, Circulation Manager

KRIS WOLFF, Layout Design, Ad Design

Sales Director: JOHN FETSCH

701 212 1026 jfetsch@prairiebizmag com

Sales:

BRAD BOYD - western ND/western SD 800 641 0683 bboyd@prairiebizmag com

SHELLY LARSON - eastern ND/western MN 701.866.3628 slarson@prairiebizmag.com

Editor:

KRIS BEVILL

701.306.8561 kbevill@prairiebizmag.com

Editorial Advisors:

Dwaine Chapel, Executive Director, Research Park at South Dakota State University; Bruce Gjovig, Director, Center for Innovation; Lisa Gulland-Nelson, Vice President, Marketing and PR , Greater Fargo Moorhead EDC; Tonya Joe (T.J.) Hansen, Assistant Professor of Economics, Minnesota State University Moorhead; Brekka Kramer, General Manager of Odney; Matthew Mohr, President/CEO, Dacotah Paper Company;

Prairie Business magazine is published monthly by the Grand Forks Herald and Forum Communications Company with offices at 375 2nd Avenue North, Grand Forks, ND 58203

Qualifying subscriptions are available free of charge Back issue quantities are limited and subject to availability ($2/copy prepaid) The opinions of writers featured in Prairie Business are their own Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, artwork are encouraged but will not be returned without a self-addressed, stamped envelope

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Prairie Business magazine PO Box 6008

Grand Forks, ND 58206-6008

Beth Bohlman: bbohlman@prairiebizmag.com

Online www prairiebizmag com