Innovate28

Innovate28 is a partnership between the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation to deliver a collaborative vision of regional growth.  It is a transformative initiative that enhances our regional workforce, boosts economic growth, and positions the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo region as a premier destination for business expansion.  

Over the next four years, regional leaders will work to develop and attract a skilled talent pool, attract new and support existing business expansion, and influence public policy that foster long-term success. 

Primary Goals 

The Innovate28 leadership is executing a multi-year strategy to support economic growth and vitality. Critical components of our playbook include:

Talent and Workforce 

Assist in growing the regional labor force by more than 12,000 workers by January 2029, representing 30% growth over historical rates. 

Business Development 

Facilitate 130 company expansions or relocations (33% increase) creating more than 3,500 new jobs that will provide an annual compensation of more than $74,000. When these jobs are created, the region will experience an additional $1B in annual business sales. 

Public Policy 

Ensure at least 28 of 38 local legislators (ND & MN) are aligned on policies prioritized by the regional business community (Currently 24 of 38 local legislators 100% aligned on priorities). 

“Because of our metro’s extremely diverse economy, which has been driving relatively higher wages, along with a relatively lower cost of living, the data suggests that our community is growing at a faster pace than most in the U.S.; however, it’s not growing fast enough to meet the workforce needs of growing area businesses. This is exactly the time to capitalize on our relative success through a recruitment campaign targeted at those areas of the U.S. that have higher unemployment rates, lower relative wages, higher relative cost-of-living, etc.,” Mike Arntson, Cardinal Glass Industries.   

Innovate28 Executive Summary

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