Commerce Highlights

July 17, 2025

The Global Talent Summit is Back

Join local leaders, national experts, and innovators to explore immigration and global talent as real workforce solutions. Whether you're in business, education, government, or community development, you’ll leave with strategies you can use immediately.

Event Highlights:

• Immigration & Workforce Insights – Kick off the day with John Medeiros, a national expert on immigration and global hiring pathways.
• Recruiting Entry-Level & Skilled Trades Talent – Learn how to recruit for high-demand roles through domestic pipelines, U.S. territories, and the H-2B program.
• Hiring Advanced Degree Talent – Get practical tips on hiring international students and grads already in the U.S.
• Onboarding & Retention – Explore inclusive strategies for recruiting, training, and retaining global talent at the worksite.
• Special Welcome – Governor Armstrong will open the event.
• Plus: Policy updates, employer success stories, community-based retention strategies—and yes, FREE lunch.

View the Agenda & Register

Learn More About Global Talent

Tigirlily Gold Takes the Stage with New ND Anthem and Partnership

It was an exciting night at ND Country Fest as Gov. Armstrong joined North Dakota Tourism to announce a new partnership with country duo Tigirlily Gold. Hazen-born sisters Krista and Kendra Slaubaugh debuted a new song inspired by the beauty, people and spirit of North Dakota.

The performance marked the first time the public heard the song, which will officially release later this year as part of the state’s Hello campaign. Adding to the excitement, Krista and Kendra’s parents and grandparents were in the crowd, proudly cheering them on.

The partnership includes additional performances, national promotions, social media content and personal storytelling aimed at sharing North Dakota’s story with audiences across the country. The duo went back to work Friday morning with a three-day North Dakota photo shoot and shared some of the shots on their social channels.

Read More About the Partnership

North Dakota Tourism and Marketing

Wellspring Hydro & Volt Lithium Propel North Dakota to Forefront of Domestic Lithium Supply

Wellspring Hydro and Volt Lithium hosted a field visit in June 2025 to showcase the first-of-its-kind lithium extraction project using raw oilfield wastewater in the Williston Basin. Supported by over $10 million in North Dakota grant funding, the project demonstrates the potential to produce up to 10,000 tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (tLCE) annually—positioning North Dakota as a national leader in lithium production.

Several members of the Economic Development & Finance team attended the field visit, including Director Rich Garman, Energy & Economic Coordination Office Manager Tom Oakland, Deputy Director Tracey Miller, and Advanced Manufacturing Business Development Manager Dave Lehman, along with local developers from throughout the region. The group toured the Compass SWD site near Killdeer to observe Volt’s proprietary direct lithium extraction (DLE) process in action.

This modular, scalable solution leverages existing oilfield infrastructure to address both wastewater disposal and the growing demand for domestic lithium supply. The trial marks a critical step toward commercialization, with promising implications for North Dakota’s energy sector, economic diversification, and role in advancing strategic mineral independence.

Learn More About Economic Development & Finance

Ellendale Continues Strategic Planning as Community of the Future Pilot

Ellendale recently hosted a strategic planning session as the pilot community for Commerce’s Community of the Future program. This effort is helping shape a case study focused on rural development during major economic shifts. The lessons learned will guide new resources and tools to help communities statewide plan for sustainable growth and future challenges.

Ellendale’s proactive partnership with Applied Digital is a standout example of how collaboration between businesses and local leaders can boost quality of life and create lasting opportunities. Next, a community-wide event is planned to unveil the final strategic plan and outline next steps for the Community of the Future initiative.

Learn More About Community Services

Also Happening at Commerce

• Tomorrow, Maria Effertz, Director of Community Services, will meet with local leaders in Powers Lake to share an exciting look at Commerce’s Community Development and Rural Prosperity initiatives. Topics include the Rural Catalyst Grant Program, a $2.5 million effort to spark economic development and enhance quality of life in small towns, plus the Rural Grocery Store Sustainability Grant, which helps keep fresh food accessible in rural communities. Maria will also highlight tools like the LOIS/LASSO statewide site selection platform, and share resources designed to help North Dakota’s rural areas thrive through partnership, innovation, and support.
• Last week Commerce joined the Indian Affairs Commission and other state agencies at the Governor’s and Tribal Nations Visit to Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. Commerce was represented by Commissioner Chris Schilken and Economic Development & Finance Division Director Rich Garman. The roundtable listening sessions centered on economic development priorities and feedback directly from Tribal Nations.
• Commerce is proud to share that Tourism and Marketing Director Sara Otte Coleman has been selected as one of three finalists for the 2025 State Tourism Director of the Year by the U.S. Travel Association. This national honor recognizes directors whose leadership and innovation have elevated their state’s tourism profile.

Grant Opportunity

The Rural Grocery Store Sustainability Grant is now accepting applications to help rural North Dakota communities strengthen local food access and support grocery store sustainability. Up to $150,000 is available per project, with a focus on collaboration and long-term impact.

Who’s eligible? 
Political subdivisions, tribal entities, and regional councils serving communities of 4,500 or fewer.

Key Dates
Apply by: Sept. 3 at 5 p.m. CDT
Awards announced: Sept. 17

Learn More

Upcoming Events

• Join us for our Tourism Industry Chat on July 24. These informal sessions help keep partners informed, encourage collaboration, and ensure the industry stays aligned on strategies to grow North Dakota’s tourism economy. Register TODAY!
• Developer Day 2025 is set for Aug. 6 in Bismarck, hosted by Commerce and EDND. The event will cover incentives, financial tools, legislative updates, RFI/RFP best practices and LOIS/Lasso training. It’s also a chance to collaborate with Commerce, EDND and other community leaders. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the BSC National Energy Center of Excellence.
• Workforce leaders, educators and employers will gather for the 2025 Global Talent Summit in Bismarck on August 14. Attendees will gain valuable insights from national and international experts on key aspects of global talent and immigration.
• Save the date for the Travel Industry Marketing Summit! This event will take place on October 7.

Power in Partnerships

Cows & Co’s Rural Growth Story

Across North Dakota, businesses and communities are proving that innovation, collaboration, and hard work can create lasting impact. Here's one powerful example of what happens when vision meets support:

When Maartje Murphy dreamed of staying on her family’s dairy farm near Carrington, she found a creative way to do it—by transforming fresh milk into handcrafted gelato. With early support from Commerce’s Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC), she launched her business from her parents’ garage, starting with a custom gelato cart and bold flavors like Lemon Poppyseed and Dark Chocolate Sea Salt.

That small start has grown into Cows & Co Creamery, a thriving rural business offering small-batch gelato, aged gouda cheeses, bottled milk, and curated gift boxes. With additional support from Commerce programs like the Ag Diversification and Development fund and the Creamery Assistance Grant, Cows & Co expanded their Carrington facility and even opened a Fargo location in Brewhalla.

Today, they’re creating jobs, doubling sales, and turning scoops of gelato into a bigger story of rural innovation, community connection, and the sweet taste of success.

Read the Cows & Co Creamery Story

See More Partnership Wins

In The News

• North Dakota Ranked #1 for Business Friendliness—for the 4th Year in a Row!
• North Dakota Tourism Announces Partnership with Tigirlily Gold
• Grants available to help small-town grocers, tourism in North Dakota
• LIFT Program Opens Applications in Business Loan Funding
• Workforce grows by 30,000 as ND helps with talent recruitment
• Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library to Open in 2026
• Follow the Bloom: North Dakota's 2025 Sunflower Map is Here

Did You Know

North Dakota’s unique geology positions it as a national leader in carbon capture and storage. The state has the capacity to permanently store up to 25 billion tons of CO₂ underground, the equivalent of more than 4,400 years’ worth of North Dakota’s current annual carbon emissions.

With this capacity, North Dakota is proving that environmental stewardship and economic development can go hand in hand.

Learn More