Impact Dakota has a reputable background of providing quality training to companies and as a result the ND Department of Commerce Workforce Development Division supports the review of any Technical Skills Training Grant application that lists Impact Dakota as the training provider.

Please ask any Impact Dakota team member about how we can help your company!

Our industry is facing a new reality: We may never have enough people in manufacturing to fill our current talent gaps and meet future demands. Another reality is that manufacturing is no longer about who is making the cheapest parts, components, and products, but who is making them the smartest. Quality, materials, timely delivery, and collaboration matter greatly in the current supply chain. 

This article will look at how several North Dakota-based manufacturers are using grants to leverage technology to improve productivity and fill talent gaps.

Manufacturing Leadership Roundtables:
• February 12 • Fargo • 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
• February 13 • Dickinson • 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (MT)

Impact Dakota will be hosting two Manufacturers' Roundtables to address emerging supply chain realities, foster collaboration, and develop strategies to mitigate disruptions, enhance resilience, and drive growth for North Dakota's manufacturing sector. Participants will engage in collaborative discussions to share insights and learn from one another.  Impact Dakota is investing in and covering the costs of these events to make them available to all manufacturers.

The new year is the perfect time to rethink your approach to talent. Commerce’s Workforce Development Division has everything you need to connect with top talent, sharpen your team’s skills, and supercharge your success. Make 2025 your best year yet! Explore our tools and programs.

Don’t Miss: Operation Intern – Applications Open February 3!

Ready to grow your team and build North Dakota’s future workforce? Operation Intern is here to help!

Focus Areas: Energy, manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, technology-based businesses, and autonomous systems, and healthcare.

Employer Perks: Up to $5,000 in matching funds for wages, tools, training, or tuition reimbursement.

Spots fill fast, so don’t wait! Learn more and apply starting Monday, February 3, 2025.

Questions? Contact Kerri Kraft:
📧 kkraft@nd.gov | 📞 701-328-7263

Coming Soon: Global Talent

Next month, we’ll spotlight the Global Talent Program— including a proven pipeline for filling entry-level roles. Stay tuned to see how North Dakota employers are already winning with this program!

The Department of Commerce, in partnership with Deloitte, is conducting an Employer Survey to assess North Dakota’s workforce ecosystem. Your insights are crucial to this effort.

Why Participate?

• Address workforce challenges.
• Improve staffing, training, and retention.
• Evaluate Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) services.
• Enhance collaboration between agencies and employers.

Survey Details:

Deadline: Complete by Friday, 2/7 at 5:00pm CST.

Survey Link: https://deloittesurvey.deloitte.com/Community/se/3FC11B2648F08E27

Impact: Your feedback will help shape recommendations that support economic growth and strengthen North Dakota’s workforce.

Review Process: Responses will be reviewed by the project management team and summarized for the Department of Commerce and key leaders.

Thank you for your commitment. For questions, contact Janna Pastir at jalpastir@nd.gov.

Are you a small business looking to expand your reach and connect with government buyers? The 2025 Midwest Matchmaker is your chance to meet federal, state, and local government procurement officials. This unique opportunity will bring together businesses and buyers in one of the largest online procurement events in the region.

When: February 18, 2025.  REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Where: Online – accessible to all businesses, nationwide!

Cost: FREE – no registration fees

April 22, 2025 • 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. CDT • Bismarck

This newer GNDC event is a rapid-fire intro series to current opportunities available to business in ND.

The first two hours of this 3-hour event will feature a sequence of concise, 10-minute vignettes to explain available solutions related to workforce challenges.

February 12
Supply Chain Roundtable Event • Fargo

February 13
Supply Chain Roundtable Event • Dickinson

February 13
Lean 101 Workshop

February 19-20
Internal Auditor Training: ISO9001 + AS9100

March 4
Lean High Performance Manufacturing Training

March 12-13
Lean Six Sigma - White Belt & Yellow Belt Training

March 19, 2025
ExporTech™

As 2024 has drawn to a close, the manufacturing sector is at a complex crossroads, shaped by evolving economic conditions and a shifting policy landscape. Surveys from major regional agencies across the Midwest show lingering uncertainties about future trade policies and tariffs. Though supply chains have largely recovered from the pandemic and inflation has moderated, manufacturers remain cautious and are stockpiling materials.

On January 15, 2025, the FAR Council—comprising the Department of Defense (DOD), General Services Administration (GSA), and NASA—introduced a proposed rule to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). This game-changing update brings the National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA) Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Program into focus, creating a unified standard for managing sensitive information.

Why does this matter to you? If you’re a defense contractor, this rule isn’t just about compliance—it’s about safeguarding your business and unlocking growth. The CUI Program defines clear protocols to protect information critical to national security, ensuring your contracts remain secure and competitive in an increasingly regulated landscape.

Impact Dakota has expanded and launched the North Dakota Supply Chain Connectivity Program. 

This is a national initiative from NIST MEP (Manufacturing Extension Partnership) designed to significantly help North Dakota Manufacturers link together to build local and regional suppliers and potentially customers and thereby strengthen North Dakota manufacturing. 

DO YOU HAVE A GAP? ARE YOU ABLE TO FILL A GAP?

— Open Opportunities —