Archive for August, 2009
Centers of Excellence
Creating commerce, feeding the economy & building jobs
From her third-floor perspective, Kari Knudson, vice president of the new National Energy Center of Excellence at Bismarck State College, can almost see the future of the energy industry forming. The NECE has several expanded labs with state-of-the-art equipment.
Students get quality hands-on experience, preparing them to fill high-paying [...]
Why College Matters
College graduates generally earn more throughout their lifetimes, suffer less unemployment and have a higher standard of living in retirement than those with only high school diplomas.
This is known as the college premium. But is improving economic prospects the only reason for attending college? Doesn’t higher education offer broader personal and social benefits?
Business Watch asked [...]
Higher Education in North Dakota: A History Lesson
University of North Dakota professor emeritus, historian and author Jerome Tweten sat down with us recently to reflect on the history of higher education in North Dakota.
In the late 1880s, when the first institutions of higher education in North Dakota were founded, each had its own governing board that would individually approach the state legislature [...]
Checking out the “EXCELLENT” Competition
North Dakota is well known for being a farm state. Lately the state has been in the limelight for its diversified and healthy economy, as well. Gov. John Hoeven said there has been a hearty net gain of about 40,000 jobs since the state’s strategic plan was put in place.
In the same time frame, salaries [...]
Entrepreneurs abound in the region
“Trust, but verify.”
The phrase was a mantra which was prevalent during the Reagan administration, but it is also a philosophy that can easily be adopted by entrepreneurs. As students of life, entrepreneurs are a unique breed of individual who trust that they can create, enhance or innovate a better product or service to benefit society. [...]
Jamestown: Agriculture & manufacturing push the local economy forward
Following an extraordinary winter, Jamestown residents predictably looked forward to spring thaws and warmer temperatures along with fellow North Dakotans.
Unexpectedly, a rapid melt caused the grounds surrounding town to quickly saturate and area reservoirs to pool alarmingly fast. Overnight the creeks, rivers, dams and lakes were swollen with far too much water.
“At one point water [...]
Septemeber Business Briefs
Delinquency on mortgage loans lowest here
North Dakota and South Dakota remained the states with the lowest mortgage loan delinquency rates in the nation during the second quarter. North Dakota’s rate actually edged down a hundreth of a percent, to 1.5 percent. Ohio, Idaho and Connecticut also saw decreases from the first quarter to the second.
Meanwhile, [...]
BNC: From initial design to the finished product
In a world of economic instability, the need to build a relationship with financial experts becomes a necessary component of running a business. BNC recognizes the importance of providing a professional consulting team for each banking customer – no matter the size of their business.
Each person’s situation is unique. From start-up business assistance, or a [...]
How do you spell value-added agriculture?
In John Schneider’s office, the top of one wooden filing cabinet is filled with Pride of Dakota products. Jars of jam, bottles of natural cosmetics, and seasoning packets nod diplomatically at visitors as if they were emissaries for value-added agriculture.
For Schneider, who directs the granting agency called the Agricultural Products Utilization Commission that is what [...]
September Farm Briefs
Great Plains farm expenses up slightly
Production expenses rose slightly last year for farmers in the Great Plains, including North Dakota. The Agriculture Department says production expenses in the region in 2008 totaled $74.2 billion, up 1.2 percent from the previous year. Farm production expenses nationally were up 8.3 percent over the year. — AP.
N.D. wheat [...]
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