Programs like Operation Intern, marketing money for the state tourism division and the state trade office were dependent on Senate Bill 2018, which was the North Dakota Department of Commerce budget bill this legislative session.

“From an economic development standpoint the commerce department budget is a very important one because it helps us create jobs,” said Gov. John Hoeven.

The bill was about 14 pages long. Shane Goettle, commerce commissioner said the House and Senate versions were very different. By the 77th legislative day the bill was still in conference committee and very fluid, according to conference committee member Rep. Jeff Delzer, R-Underwood.

Some major highlights of the bill as it went to conference committee included the following: Money for Operation Intern was originally funded at $1.2 million in this bill. It’s double the money that was provided for the program in the 2007 legislative session.

The Senate agreed with that amount, but the House version funded the bill at $900,000. Around $2 million was set aside for the Workforce Enhancement program, which allows employers to invest in developing workforce training programs specific to their needs. The state’s two-year colleges conduct the programs, and the workforce enhancement money is used to match the employer investments.

Goettle said Innovate ND, a state competition to reward entrepreneurial ideas was funded at $300,000. That’s an increase of $100,000 for this biennium. The Senate added another $100,000, which the House removed. The bill went into conference committee at the executive recommendation level.

Money to cost-share the installation of biofuels blender pumps (like E-85 or biodiesel) at gas stations was originally set at $2 million, which the Senate agreed with. The House amended the amount down to $1 million and asked that federal stimulus money be used instead of general fund money if it becomes available. $2 million was set aside for the North Dakota Trade Office.

The Senate increased this to $2.164 million, and the House amended it back to the original amount. A new program to help with operating cost increases for Small Business Development Centers across the state was originally funded at $400,000. The Senate agreed with that amount. The House amended it out of the bill.

Around $912,000 was added to the base tourism division budget to cover the inflationary costs of marketing the state. The Senate added another $500,000, which the House amended back out. It went to conference committee at the executive recommendation level. $100,000 was set aside to help fund the U.S.S. North Dakota, a nuclear submarine scheduled to be named after the state.

$20 million for the Centers of Excellence program was amended into this bill from the Office of Management and Budget bill.

“Centers of Excellence is a very important issue,” said Gov. John Hoeven. “We’re always about creating more jobs, more opportunity.”

“We have to stay on top of it,” he said. Goettle said the House had reduced the amount for Centers of Excellence from $20 million to $15 million and changed some of the program requirements. He said the final version of the bill would be hammered out in the conference committee.

Story by GWEN BRISTOL