Impact Dakota is grateful for the ~26 years of partnership with our North Dakota manufacturers. Together we’ve driven billions of dollars in economic impact for our state and beyond. 2024 was an exceptional year, we collaborated on projects with more than 100 North Dakota manufacturers, resulting in reported impacts exceeding $151 million—as measured by the manufacturers themselves. This represents an outstanding return on both the fees invested by our manufacturers and the public funds supporting these initiatives.

These achievements underscore the vital role small and medium-sized manufacturers play as key suppliers to OEMs, strengthening supply chains and contributing significantly to North Dakota’s economy and global reach. We are proud of the work we've done to help North Dakota's manufacturers succeed.

It is with a heavy heart that while Impact Dakota received notice of Award for period 1 OCT 2025 thru 31 MAR 2026; NIST/US Department of Commerce are still withholding federal funds appropriated and signed into law by President to operate this year.  Therefore, Impact Dakota is planning on closing down 31 December 2025, or shortly thereafter in January to finalize obligations. However, we are continuing to support manufacturers with deliveries planned in November and December.

Preamble by Jodie Mjoen, CEO/President
Impact Dakota

In North Dakota, manufacturing isn’t just an industry—it’s family. It’s neighbors helping neighbors, friends showing up early and staying late, and teams working smart and working hard to build the products, technologies, and food systems that keep our state strong and our nation secure. I’ve been privileged to witness firsthand the grit, innovation, and generosity that define our manufacturers across this great state. They create new wealth for North Dakota, they provide opportunities for thousands of families, and they contribute meaningfully to the fabric of our rural and urban communities alike.

At Impact Dakota, we exist for one reason: to support these manufacturers—our friends, family, and neighbors—with the tools, training, and expertise they need to grow, compete, and thrive. Over the past year alone, their partnership has helped drive millions in cost savings, investments, and increased sales, while supporting and creating hundreds of jobs across the state. Our work together is proof of what North Dakotans have always known: when we invest in each other, when we lift together, everyone rises.

It’s within this spirit of partnership and shared prosperity that federal policy decisions—especially those affecting the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network—carry real consequences for real people. Decisions made far from our communities can either strengthen the hands of our manufacturers or make their work harder. As you read the following article, I encourage you to keep one thing front and center: the impact of these programs isn’t abstract. It lives in every company we serve, every job we help support, and every community that depends on a strong, resilient manufacturing sector.

North Dakota manufacturers show up for us every single day. We must continue showing up for them.

Click the button below for full story on the systematic shutdown of the MDP by the current administration.

Commerce has opened the Automation Tax Credit Program Portal for applications. The program provides income tax credits of up to 15% for primary sector businesses investing in automation that improves productivity, efficiency and competitiveness in manufacturing and animal agricultural processes.

Funded with a $3 million annual allocation, the program includes set-aside amounts for first-time claimants and animal agricultural processors. To qualify, businesses must be certified as primary sector by Commerce and show that automation investments add value, improve job quality or increase output.

Applications, including all required documentation, must be submitted by 5 p.m. CST Jan. 31, 2026.

Cyber threats are constantly evolving and preparation is key.

In this 1-hour webinar recording session, led by Iviry IT’s Cybersecurity Compliance Analyst, Adam Kangiser, you’ll hear about the latest cybercrime trends, proactive security measures, and practical strategies for maintaining business continuity. In the latter half of the webinar, Adam also shares important updates on CMMC compliance and the revised implementation timeline.

This month, Bismarck State College officially opened the state’s first XR for VR Immersive Room, marking a major step forward in North Dakota’s efforts to expand workforce readiness, empower individuals with disabilities, and introduce manufacturers to the next generation of training technology.

The Immersive Room—developed through the XR for VR Disability Innovation Fund Project—is a fully interactive environment where users can explore real manufacturing facilities, machinery, processes, and safety scenarios without ever stepping onto a production floor. Using advanced extended-reality systems, high-resolution projection, and accessible design features, the room allows youth and adults with disabilities to discover career opportunities, practice job tasks, and build confidence in a low-risk, supportive setting.

The Global Talent Office (GTO) is launching a groundbreaking statewide partnership with EnGen, a virtual, career-aligned English upskilling platform designed to help North Dakota employers strengthen their workforce. This new initiative provides no-cost English instruction to employers, employees, and job seekers across the state—helping remove language barriers and support long-term talent development.

December 1
Osha 30 General Industry

December 2
State of Manufacturing - Moorhead Regional Event

December 4
2025 Upper Midwest Defense Industry Roundtable & Networking

December 15
Fall Protection Awareness - General Industry

December 16
OSHA Recordkeeping

December 17
IndustryEdge: CNC Concepts - Bridging Engineering and Manufacturing 

February 16
Females in Robotics

For decades, Lean principles have helped manufacturers eliminate waste, improve efficiency, and boost profitability. But as we move into 2026, a new force is amplifying these benefits: Artificial Intelligence (AI).

When combined with Lean, AI doesn’t just automate tasks—it transforms how manufacturers identify problems, make decisions, and sustain continuous improvement.

By Josh Herbold, Impact Dakota Board Member
Senior Vice President, Corporate Banking Relationship Manager - Old National Bank

North Dakota offers a robust suite of programs designed to help manufacturers grow, modernize, and attract skilled talent. These incentives combine financing tools, tax benefits, and workforce development programs to strengthen the state’s manufacturing sector. Click on the link below for a recap of some of the most commonly used:

North Dakota manufacturers supplying the Department of Defense or other federal customers may not need to be paying tariffs at all — and many can recover tariffs already paid. Under federal law (DFARS 252.225-7013; supported by the official DoD memo), most DoD-related imports qualify for duty-free, tariff-free entry. That means:

If you’re paying tariffs today, there’s a strong chance you shouldn’t be.
If you’ve already paid them, there is a path to get your money back.

This is not theoretical — it’s authorized DoD policy. And it can immediately reduce cost burdens for our friends, family, and neighbors building America’s defense supply chain.

Impact Dakota and our partners at Anglicotech are here to help you unlock this relief right now. If your company imports materials for DoD or other federal contracts:

👉 Contact Impact Dakota. We’ll connect you to the experts who can help you STOP paying tariffs you don’t owe — and recover what you’ve already paid.

“I recently met with the Bifrost team to discuss North Dakota’s manufacturing ecosystem and was amazed by their capabilities. Beyond traditional metal fabrication, they operate one of the most advanced 3D printing shops in the state—a true gamechanger. While I’ve seen smaller composite and plastic printers across North Dakota, this scale of innovation is impressive. It’s exciting to know our manufacturers are leveraging these resources for tooling and parts production.”
— Jodie Mjoen, CEO, Impact Dakota

Bifrost started though industry needs in another industry we're involved in, data centers. At Sundog we were setting down co-located modular data centers that hadn't experienced a lot of market testing and needed a lot of changes once on the ground. We were experiencing a lot of no quotes and a lack of industry experience in making engineering changes in this niche market - so we started our own.

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American manufacturing isn’t just about making things anymore. It’s about building careers, strengthening communities, and securing our economic future. While the challenges have evolved since 2012, one truth remains: manufacturing jobs still matter—and so does the value of the dollar.

In 2025, the United States faces a critical moment. 

— Open Supplier Scouting Opportunities —