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If you are someone who wants to help your rural community remain viable long into the future, you don’t want to miss the Governor’s Rural Community Summit coming up on August 24-25, at the Holiday Inn Riverside in Minot. The conference is aimed at providing information and best practices to help rural communities become more sustainable, but one of the key take-aways is the relationships and idea generation that occurs.
One participant from the 2008 event had this to say, “One thing I took away from the 2008 Summit was ideas I can implement and best practices from other rural communities.”
“This is an opportunity for all of our rural leaders and business people to learn about development programs, best practices, and innovative strategies to break through obstacles to discover new opportunities,” North Dakota Commerce Commissioner Shane Goettle said. “We want everyone involved in advancing our rural communities to participate.”
The agenda includes forums focused on community growth, including business and community development, destination marketing, and workforce attraction and retention strategies.
Joel Kotkin, author of “The Next Hundred Million,” will provide a keynote address titled “Revival of the Great Plains”. Koktin’s presentation will explore what America will look like in 2050 when the population approaches 400 million people. He will explain how this unprecedented growth will allow America to emerge by mid century as the most affluent, culturally rich and successful nation in history.
Participants of the conference will also receive an economic development toolkit featuring best practices for promoting communities.
Lead sponsors for the Summit are the Governor’s Office, the North Dakota Department of Commerce, USDA Rural Development and the Economic Development Association of North Dakota. In addition, the Bank of North Dakota, North Dakota Housing Finance Agency, the Secretary of State’s office, Department of Career & Technical Education, Stark Development Corporation and the NDSU Extension Center for Community Vitality are also supporting the event.
For cost, agenda, speaker information and registration visit: Governor’s Rural Community Summit.
The Roxy marquee in Langdon, North Dakota is still lighting up main street.
NBC Nightly News took notice this week of North Dakota. Specifically, they looked at how the small town theater is a measure of success in many North Dakota cities. It’s a great video and it’s pretty fun to hear Brian Williams say “… the GREAT state of North Dakota.”
Why yes, Brian, it is! Comment on your favorite hometown theater if you get the chance.
View the video: A Movie Theater Survives, Main Street Thrives
In 1987, North Dakota residents came together to take part in the state’s first Prairie Rose State Games, a multi-sport festival for North Dakota’s amateur athletes.
North Dakota is set to get athletic this weekend with our version of the Olympics – The Prairie Rose State Games! Starting on Friday, July 9th, the Prairie Rose State Games features multiple sports for North Dakota’s amateur athletes to complete in in all age and skill levels. Whether you are whacking a volleyball, walking the non-competitive volksmarch or simply a cheering spectator, the games bring together people from all walks of like in the spirit of friendship and competition.
The Opening Ceremonies will be taking place on Friday at the Bismarck Community Bowl for those interested in taking in the pageantry. A big round of Ambassador applause for all the competitors this weekend. We wish the best of luck to our North Dakota athletes and hope they all leave with more friends and hopefully a few medals.
The 4th of July weekend is upon us and I hope all our Ambasadors come through it with a renewed sense of patriotic spirit. We are truly lucky to live in free country and sometimes it takes a holiday like the 4th of July to remind us of all the sacrifices that were made to give us the right.
I hope your weekend is filled with fun, most preferrably in North Dakota, and a sense of pride in the country you call home. In the end, no one says it better than Red Skelton, who reminds us what the Pledge of Allegiance really means. Happy 4th of July!
