North Dakota’s growing investment in homegrown startups is back in the spotlight after new details emerged about the public dollars funneled into Thread, a once-promising Grand Forks tech company now facing financial trouble. The firm received far more in state-backed loans and[...]
Tag: Department of Commerce
Commentary |
Port: Another face plant for North Dakota’s Wonder Fund
North Dakota’s Wonder Fund — once pitched as a bold strategy for homegrown economic growth — is drawing sharp scrutiny as two of its high-profile investments falter. A lawsuit claims one company, HerdDogg, only maintained a token presence in the state, while[...]
News Release |
North Dakota Announces 2025 Tourism and Community Enhancement Grant Recipients
The North Dakota Department of Commerce has announced the recipients of the 2025 Tourism and Community Enhancement Grants. Funded by the 69th Legislative Assembly, the grants are designed to enhance tourism, strengthen community infrastructure and preserve historic landmarks across the state.The following[...]
News Release |
ND Development Fund approves $3.46 million for projects in Minot and Fargo
The North Dakota Department of Commerce announced today that four companies were approved for nearly $3.5 million in loan and investment funds through the North Dakota Development Fund Inc. (NDDF) during the third quarter of 2025.“Each investment we make through the NDDF[...]
News |
North Dakota fund buys out $1.25M Wonder Fund investment that conflicted with fed rules
North Dakota’s first investment through the new Wonder Fund hasn’t gone quite as planned. The $1.25 million deal with outdoor access startup LandTrust ran afoul of federal rules and had to be quietly bought out by another state fund to avoid penalties.[...]
Subscribe!
It's free and it helps us grow and provide better information ForMinot!
News Release |
Rural Grocery Store Sustainability Grants Awarded to 11 North Dakota Communities
Eleven rural communities across North Dakota have been awarded a combined $1 million through the Rural Grocery Store Sustainability Grant program to support local food access and economic development. These grants will help sustain and strengthen grocery services in small towns, ensuring[...]
News Release |
Watch: Tigirlily Gold’s New Anthem “Call It Home” Invites Travelers to Experience North Dakota Like Never Before
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ3joxmQU6Q North Dakota Tourism is thrilled to announce a heartfelt collaboration with homegrown country duo Tigirlily Gold. The duo’s brand-new single, “Call It Home (A Song for North Dakota),” beckons travelers to step inside the song and discover the inspiration behind the[...]
News |
Canadian tourism down in North Dakota, with poll linking downturn to tariffs, rhetoric
Border crossings for personal vehicles into North Dakota from Canada were down about 30% for the first half of this year compared to 2024 — a trend that could stem from the U.S. executive branch’s policy and rhetoric. The North Dakota Department[...]
Commentary |
Port: A deep dive into how the sausage gets made in North Dakota
A new podcast is pulling back the curtain on how $740,000 in North Dakota film grants were awarded — and the picture isn’t pretty. The $740,000 Question, produced by filmmaker-turned-whistleblower Matt Fern, uses records, emails, and legislative audio to show how a[...]
News Release |
Minot Child Care Business Among Six Projects Backed by $2.16M in State Development Loans
The North Dakota Department of Commerce announced today that six companies were approved for a total of $2.16 million in loan funds through the North Dakota Development Fund, Inc. (NDDF) during the second quarter of 2025."These investments reflect our commitment to economic[...]
Subscribe!
It's free and it helps us grow and provide better information ForMinot!
News |
North Dakota Commerce to eliminate extra legislative session pay as state begins DOGE effort
The North Dakota Department of Commerce immediately identified a cost saving Wednesday during the first meeting of the state’s DOGE task force – eliminating bonuses paid to employees during the legislative session. Twenty-nine Commerce employees received pay adjustments totaling $122,000 attributed to[...]
News Release |
North Dakota Angel Match Program Invests $345,000 in Tech and Innovation Startups in Q2
The North Dakota Department of Commerce today announced that two companies have been approved for a total of $345,000 in investments through the North Dakota Development Fund Inc.’s Angel Match Program (AMP) during the second quarter of 2025. AMP is designed to[...]
News Release |
Follow the Bloom: North Dakota’s 2025 Sunflower Map is Here
Soon, North Dakota’s landscapes will shimmer with golden sunflower blooms — and now travelers have a roadmap to find them. The state’s 2025 Sunflower Field Map highlights more than 20 locations where visitors can admire this vibrant symbol of North Dakota’s agricultural[...]
News |
Port: Films funded by controversial grant still have not been released 2 years later
Two years ago, North Dakota awarded a $600,000 film grant on a timeline so short it barely qualified as competitive. Officials insisted the rush was necessary—these were time-sensitive projects, they said. But now, the final report is in, and the films still[...]
News |
North Dakota Launches ND Gateway, Laying the Foundation for a One-Stop Portal for State Services
In a major step toward modernizing and simplifying the user experience with state government, North Dakota has launched the first phase of ND Gateway. Led by North Dakota Information Technology (NDIT) and other partner agencies, ND Gateway creates a single portal through[...]
Subscribe!
It's free and it helps us grow and provide better information ForMinot!
News |
Commerce budget bill passes with no funding for presidential library
North Dakota’s state commerce budget is heading to Governor Kelly Armstrong’s desk with one major change — no funding for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. Lawmakers struck the funding after Senate negotiators deemed it a dealbreaker, opting instead to revisit the issue[...]