Industry leaders from Manufacturing and Unmanned Autonomous Systems (UAS) sectors were brought together Thursday, April 29 to unveil Region 4’s workforce strategy plan that resulted from ND Regional Workforce Impact Program (RWIP) grants through the ND Department of Commerce. The discussion centered on several key strategies designed to strengthen workforce recruitment, improve relocation resources, and support long-term economic growth.
Becca Cruger from the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation and Kristi Kasprick from the Red River Regional Council presented coordinated plans elevate regional talent attraction initiatives – Way Cooler Than You Think – Greater Grand Forks and Real. Good. Northeast North Dakota.
A major focus of the meeting was external marketing efforts targeting industry conferences, lifestyle expos, geofencing, billboards, and retargeting and social media ads aimed at reaching potential manufacturing and UAS talent outside the region.
Website enhancements are planned for both grandforksiscooler.com and realgoodnd.com. Planned updates include a shared landing page for manufacturing prospects, an improved regional jobs board powered by job scraping technology, stronger navigation and user experience, and expanded content to better showcase relocation resources and career opportunities.
Industry feedback reinforced the importance of showcasing the region’s quality of life, including outdoor recreation, safety, childcare, housing, and other key factors that help families and workers consider a move to the region.
Additional initiatives focused on Career & Technical Education awareness and housing were introduced, with more details to be shared in the coming months.
Eleven regional partners are leading Region 4’s RWIP initiatives including: Red River Regional Council, Nelson, Pembina and Walsh Job Development Authorities, Grand Forks Career Impact Academy, North Valley Career and Technology Center, Red River Community Housing Development Organization, Grand Forks Region EDC, The Chamber of Grand Forks/East Grand Forks, Red River Valley Education Cooperative and Job Service North Dakota.
About the Regional Workforce Impact Program grants:
The ND Department of Commerce received an appropriation from the 69th North Dakota Legislative Assembly to provide support to organizations addressing workforce challenges and barriers to employment through the ND Regional Workforce Impact Program (RWIP). The program provides grants to regional entities to plan, design, and implement innovative strategies that help businesses find workers and connect jobseekers to opportunities and communities. Each proposed solution had to align with a sector strategy related to a prominent regional industry and involve either sector strategy planning or implementation of sector strategy plans completed in the last five years. Projects could also enhance existing talent attraction strategies.