2021 Annual Report

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A N N U A L

R E P O R T

IT’S MAGIC IN

FROM THE CHAIR The goal was for the new organization to do more for the community. As we moved the organization forward this first year as one, we developed a set of key initiatives focused on financial stability, organizational structure, economic development, and programming and community outreach. It’s the mission of the Minot Area Chamber EDC to advocate for and invest in business activity by being a collaborative partner in the community, focused on improving quality of life for all. Our vision is to become the go-to organization for our business community, driving key initiatives that build and strengthen our economy.

Jonn Knecht 2021 Board Chair

SVP Correspondent Banking, Bravera Bank It is an honor to serve as the first chair of the Minot Area Chamber EDC Board of Directors. The Minot Area Chamber of Commerce and Minot Area Development Corporation merged the two organizations into one on January 1, 2021 after seeing a lot of synergies and opportunities for the two organizations. We are combining resources and focusing our efforts on a fresh start to serving the business community as one focused organization.

Three key factors led to the initial discussion and are the basis for the question of: Why is a merger best for the community, organizations and the member investors who support both organizations?

1. International Economic Development Council (IEDC) economic recovery and resiliency strategies identification of the need for organizations to collaborate and develop One Brand 2. Shared leadership for both organizations in 2020 3. Desire to serve members and investors from the business community more efficiently

I am proud to say we already have big wins for our community. North Dakota launched intermodal rail service — the culmination of more than two decades of effort to gain access to intermodal transportation, reducing shipping costs for the state’s agricultural producers and other industries. Intermodal service is the movement of international containers so producers and processors can directly load containers on rail in Minot to ship to international destinations.

Support for Minot Air Force Base continues to be a priority, and Minot is proud to be the recipient of the Barksdale Trophy for outstanding community support to an Air Force Global Strike Command base. This honor was handed out for a second time since it was created in 2017. We say, ‘Only the Best Come North,’ and Minot couldn’t be prouder of Minot Air Force Base and all who serve.

As we all look forward, it is important to recognize where we’ve been, and it is exciting to see what lies ahead. A big thank you goes out to the City of Minot and Ward County, as leading government entities that support the work that is being done in keeping Minot as the economic development driver for our great state. This support, along with what our member investors have given, allows us to advocate for and invest in business activity by being a collaborative partner in the community, focused on improving quality of life for all. Thank you for continuing to support the Minot Area Chamber EDC. We are just getting started!

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2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

E X E C U T I V E CO M M I T T E E

Jonn Knecht CHAIR Bravera Bank

Randy Hauck CHAIR-ELECT Verendrye Electric Cooperative

Kevin Black

VICE-CHAIR Creedence Energy Services

Missy Feist Erickson TREASURER Peoples State Bank

L. John MacMartin PRESIDENT & CORPORATE SECRETARY Minot Area Chamber EDC

B OA R D M E M B E R S

Ryan Ackerman

Bucky Anderson

Cassidy Hjelmstad Les Knudson SRT

AGT Foods

Randy Schwan

Dr. Steven Shirley

Mayor Shaun Sipma

Jason Zimmerman

Ackerman-Estvold

Trinity Health

Ward County Commission

Minot State University

City of Minot

Brekka Kramer Odney

Dr. Mark Vollmer Minot Public Schools

Minot Area Community Foundation

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M I N OT A R E A C H A M B E R E D C STA F F MOTOR VEHICLE DEPARTMENT

M AC E D C STA F F M E M B E R S

Carla Dolan

VICE PRESIDENT

Mark Lyman ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

Lisa Moldenhauer PROGRAM ASSISTANT

Chanda DeCent FINANCE DIRECTOR

Jaime Hauge

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

IT’S MAGIC IN

John, Lisa, Chanda, Jaime, Carla and Mark

Our team is proud to be a part of the Magic in Minot branding campaign! Leaders from Minot Area Chamber EDC, Visit Minot, the City of Minot, Minot Park District and Downtown Minot continue to work together to highlight all that makes Minot magic. This effort is part of rolling out a cohesive brand effort, One Brand, featuring a unified logo, messaging, and plan to highlight a community full of energy and spirit for being a better place to live, visit and love.

In the spring of 2021, the installation of the downtown One Brand art piece was completed, standing 12-feet tall in the heart of downtown in front of the Taube Museum at the corner of Main Street and Central Avenue. Colorful and vibrant, just like the city, it truly is Magic in Minot.

M OTO R V E H I C L E D E PA R T M E N T

Carla Vannett MVD MANAGER

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Lacey Coleman MVD CLERK

Tammy Hanson MVD CLERK

Wendy Keldson MVD CLERK

Tracey Oja MVD CLERK

Kim Reedy MVD CLERK

SUCCESS STORIES

Program Launch A regional coalition of support is now in place for entrepreneurs, start-up companies, and anyone with an idea for growing or starting their own business. The mission of Start Up Minot is to invigorate, encourage and entice entrepreneurs in the Minot region to execute their novel business idea through education efforts, de-siloing support agencies, connecting resources and referrals, and communicating success stories.

Start Up Minot is two-pronged, with a cohort-based 10-week class called Start Up Minot Academy powered by CO.STARTERS, and a monthly business showcase/networking event under the name Start Up Minot that will focus on sharing the story of new and growing companies while connecting likeminded business leaders.

Organization members include Minot Area Chamber EDC in partnership with ND Small Business Development Centers, Minot State University Severson Entrepreneurship Academy, Strengthen ND, Creedence Energy, Souris Basin Planning Council, Dakota Business Lending and others.

C e l e b r a t i n g O n e Ye a r o f Intermodal Operations October 2021 marks the first anniversary of North Dakota intermodal rail service — a culmination of more than two decades of effort to gain access to intermodal transportation to reduce shipping costs for the state’s agricultural producers and other industries. Intermodal service is the movement of international containers so producers and processors can directly load containers on rail in Minot to ship to international destinations.

Rail Modal Group (RMG) is operating the facility.

RMG has developed a network of privately operated intermodal facilities providing services to inland containerized export shippers. In cooperation with BNSF Railway, RMG currently operates other intermodal ramps throughout the United States. Multiple ocean carriers reposition trainloads of empty containers from surplus locations in Chicago, Illinois; Memphis, Tennessee; Dallas, Texas; and other origins offering extensive export capacity. Over 8,400 containers have shipped out of the Minot facility.

The introduction of intermodal service creates dramatic economic benefit to producers, processors, miners, and shippers of everything from grain and

minerals to industrial and manufactured products. All of these suppliers benefit from this newly created transportation option.

Promoting an economical and sustainable intermodal transportation opportunity for North Dakota creates tremendous long-term value to agriculture and economic growth throughout the region. It also anchors North Dakota on a competitive transportation level with Minneapolis, Chicago and Kansas City.

Next steps for the Minot Area Chamber EDC will be focused on a track expansion project. Intermodal rail service launched with provisional approval by BNSF exclusively for RMG to operation on the main line. For long-term sustainability of the program, operations need to move off the main line, and a track expansion into BNSF Railway’s Gavin Yard is required. The North Dakota State Legislature approved $2 million for the Intermodal Transportation Assistance Program for stable operation of intermodal service in North Dakota.

While the facility is located in Minot, the benefits of the strategic location serve the entire state and region.

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p eop l e reached by the Yes For Students Facebook page

J UNIOR ACHIEVEMENT CLASSROOMS

3 bond measures passed for the

Minot Public Schools R e a l i g n m e n t P ro j e c t

YEAR

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NEW

CONTINUOUS O P E R AT I O N S

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supported one new

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31,779

WEBSITE

O U T R E AC H

INTERMODAL

E D U C AT I O N

2021 YEAR IN REVIEW

Career & Technical Education program

1 3 e n ro l l e d i n n e w Start Up Minot Academy p o w e r e d b y C O. S TA RT E R S

8400+ containers shipped out of Minot facility

$ 2 MILLION

state grant funds for infrastructure improvements

12 C O M M U N I C AT O R S PUBLISHED

3,306

Facebook followers

606 new

Facebook followers

26,973

impressions on Instagram

468,388 impressions on Facebook

2021 YEAR IN REVIEW

o rg a n i z a t i o n f o r m e d

48

NEW

NEW BUSINESS

initiatives

14 691

member

businesses we represent

51

29

investors

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE

4 KEY NEW

ONE

(C O N T I N U E D)

primary s e c to r

ribbon cuttings

Business Retention & Expansion meetings

9 Business After Hours

BOARD

MEMBERS

243

169

EAGLE AWARD RECIPIENTS

member news stories shared

$ 2 7 , 0 6 6 . 24 S AV E D with the New Jobs Training Program

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TA S K F O R C E 2 1 m e e t i n g s a n d eve n t s

146

attendees at

TF21 Nuclear Triad Symposium in Washington, DC

$18,094.67 ra i s e d f ro m

Prairie Warrior Auction 7

MISSION I t i s t h e m i s s i o n o f t h e M i n o t A r e a C h a m b e r E D C to a d v o c a t e f o r a n d i n v e s t i n b u s i n e s s a c t i v i t y b y b e i n g a c o l l a b o ra t i v e p a r t n e r i n t h e c o m m u n i t y, f o c u s e d o n i m p ro v i n g q u a l i t y o f l i f e f o r a l l .

VISION To b e t h e g o - to o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r o u r b u s i n e s s c o m m u n i t y to d r i v e k e y i n i t i a t i v e s t h a t b u i l d a n d s t r e n g t h e n o u r e c o n o m y.

VA L U E S A d v o c a c y : We s e r v e a s t h e c h a m p i o n a n d v o i c e f o r b u s i n e s s b y r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t s o f o u r m e m b e r i n v e s to r s a t l o c a l , r e g i o n a l , a n d n a t i o n a l l e v e l s .

C a t a l y s t : We a r e a c a t a l y s t a n d c o n v e n e r f o r r e g i o n a l e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t focused on business expansion, retention and recruitment.

C o l l a b o r a t i o n : We a r e s t ro n g e r a n d b e t t e r to g e t h e r. P a r t n e r s h i p i s t h e c o r e o f w h a t w e d o , w o r k i n g to g e t h e r to s t r e n g t h e n o u r c o m m u n i t y.

C o m m u n i t y : We f o c u s o n c r e a t i n g a d i v e r s e c o m m u n i t y i n w h i c h p e o p l e w a n t to l i v e , w o r k , a n d p l a y.

L e a d e r s h i p : We e n c o u ra g e c o m m u n i t y i n v o l v e m e n t a n d p ro v i d e o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r engagement and leadership development.

I n t e g r i t y : We a r e s t e w a r d s o f t h e c o m m u n i t y r e s o u r c e s w i t h w h i c h w e h a v e b e e n entrusted.

MEMBER INVESTORS T h a n k yo u to a l l 6 9 1 m e m b e r i n ve s to r s i n t h e M i n o t A re a C h a m b e r E D C . I t i s o u r p r i v i l e g e to re p re s e n t e a c h o f yo u . A s p e c i a l t h a n k yo u to t h e b u s i n e s s e s s u p p o r t i n g o u r o rg a n i z a t i o n a t t h e to p t i e r s a n d o u r g ove r n m e n t p a r t n e r s .

C o r n e r s to n e $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 + SRT Tr i n i t y H e a l t h

Magic $5,000 - $9,999 Bremer Bank F i r s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l B a n k & Tr u s t F i r s t W e s t e r n B a n k & Tr u s t Verendrye Electric Cooperative Xcel Energy Westlie Motor Co.

Premier $2,500 - $4,999 Ackerman-Estvold Delta Vacations Gate City Bank Midco Minot Milling Montana Dakota Utilities Company North Star Community Credit Union Ryan Family Dealerships United Community Bank

Collaborative Partners/Public Funding 8

City of Minot Wa r d C o u n t y