Leadership Bismarck-Mandan students participated in the Energy & Natural Resources Issue Day on Oct. 19 at Basin Electric where they were welcomed by company CEO Ron Harper.
Todd Lindquist, from the Corps of Engineers, started off the presentations and spoke about river management. He shared that the 2011 forecast was 60.4 million acre feet, which was the highest since 1898 when 49.0 million acre feet was reached. Students learned that Garrison, Oahe and Fort Peck hold the most flood storage.
Lindquist shared that it takes 30- 36 hours for releases from Garrison …

At the Chamber, we are working to stay on top of the issues related to the flood in our community. Our survey in late June showed that business is starting to return to normal, but we have a long way to go. Here are a few things we think you should know.
Business Recovery Center Opens
The Small Business Administration and FEMA have opened a Business Recovery Center at the Bank of North Dakota, which is located at 1200 Memorial Highway. This center off ers information specific to businesses that have been …

A recently released CNBC report gave North Dakota this year’s top ranking in its economy category for the nation’s top business states. The report, America’s Top States for Business in 2011, scored all 50 states on 43 measures of competitiveness developed with input from business groups.
States received points based on their rankings in ten broad categories including: Cost of Doing Business, Workforce, Quality of Life, Economy, Transportation and Infrastructure, Technology and Innovation, Education, Business Friendliness, Access to Capital, and Cost of Living. North Dakota ranked 13th overall based on its …

The ND Chamber of Commerce will hold its first annual Congressional Policy Summit on Aug. 23 at 5 p.m. at the Microsoft Campus in Fargo. This event will provide Chamber members, the state’s top industry and business leaders, and local and state officials the opportunity to meet with our state’s congressional delegation.
This is your opportunity to explain the challenges your industry faces and ask the in-depth questions. Our delegation will then bring those concerns back to Washington, D.C., and advocate for changes that support our state’s business community.
Mark your calendar …

Leadership Bismarck-Mandan (LBM) is now accepting applications for the 2011-2012 program. LBM graduates gain from the program’s mission to engage emerging leaders in business and community issues.
The program consists of ten, half-day issue days and a full-day orientation beginning in September and ending with a graduation luncheon in May. Topics covered include: diversity, communication, natural resources, local issues, community characteristics, human services, military affairs, law, education, economic development, agriculture, faith, ethics, values, servant leadership, legislative aff airs and political involvement. Sessions feature presentations by community leaders and are infused with …

Flood’s impact will continue well into future
By Kylie Blanchard, Clearwater Communications
As releases from the Garrison Dam ease and the river begins to stabilize, local officials and Bismarck-Mandan residents are beginning to look toward flood recovery. However, the community remains on hold while the water and many unknowns linger, including the full reach of the river, when the water will recede and what will be left of the homes and land in its path.
The first challenge is we haven’t got out of the flood yet,” says Bismarck Mayor John Warford. “We …

Sleepy Hollow Summer Theatre (SHST) will celebrate its 22nd season with shows from the 1960’s. BEEHIVE, directed by Bismarck native Dan Walstad, features the danceable music of the 60’s from the Supremes through Janis Joplin. Production nights are July 11-14, 19-21 and 26-28.
Complimenting this is the groundbreaking, first rock musical, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, directed by Adam Pankow. Pankow is a North Dakota native currently teaching English and theatre in West Fargo. Production nights are July 15-18, 22-25 and 29-31.
SHST President Stephanie Delmire states, “These are wildly divergent productions of both …

Two of the state’s top Soldiers forged through an exhausting four-day competition to be named the “Best Warriors” in the region at Camp Grafton Training Center, Devils Lake, N.D., June 5-8.
Sgt. Joel Erickson, of West Fargo, N.D., and a member of Detachment 1, 188th Engineer Company (Vertical), based out of Oakes, is the winner of the Region VI Best Warrior Competition in the non-commissioned officer category. In the enlisted-level competition, Spc. Ryan Lindberg, of Fargo, N.D., and a member of the 817th Engineer Company (Sapper), based out of Jamestown, took …

The North Dakota Chamber of Commerce introduced its new President and CEO Andy Peterson to North Dakota Chamber members, businesses and community leaders in a press conference held in Bismarck last month.
Peterson outlined his plans for the North Dakota Chamber, which included leading the organization’s continued focus on its mission to improve the state’s economic and business climate. “I would like to focus on keeping taxes low so our businesses can remain competitive both in the United States and globally,” said Peterson. “In addition, I would like to promote economic …

North Dakota continues to be the shining star in the nation’s tourism industry. According to the United States Travel Association’s (USTA) 2010 research, Impact of Travel on States Economies 2010, North Dakota leads the nation in all four categories of the report. The 2010 report covers the impact of travel on state economies in 2008 and the U.S. national economy for 2009.
According to the USTA, North Dakota led the nation in growth of travel expenditures, which was up by 10.8 percent. In fact, North Dakota was the only state with …