The Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation (GFMEDC) has an exciting, creative approach for economic success--a plan that highlights North Dakota State University and the NDSU Research & Technology Park as major components.

The organization partnered with Tony Grindberg, NDSU Research & Technology Park executive director, in the creation of an Entrepreneurial Communities Task Force with the purpose to craft recommendations for making the greater Fargo-Moorhead community a haven for technology-related entrepreneurs.

The task force developed a report, "A Vision for Entrepreneurial Growth: 2007-2015" that serves as one of four parts of the GFMEDC's overall strategic plan, laid out in a positioning paper titled "Moving the Lines: Transitioning to a High Tech Economy." The report suggests a number of initiatives, ranging from access to risk capital and incubation programs to education and promotion. Among the goals are a growing number of quality jobs, keeping young people in the region and creating an in-migration of employees from other parts of the country.

"The purpose of the strategic planning is to competitively position our community to participate in the nation's job population and income growth, especially as it relates to technology-oriented businesses," said Brian Walters, GFMEDC president. "The future of our community is at stake. We want to compete and win in the global economic environment, and we have the capability to do so.

"I cannot emphasize enough the contribution of the community as a whole in the crafting of this plan," Walters added. "More than 100 people have contributed with their time and expertise, and as a result of that I think we have one of the best plans in the country for technology-led economic development."

NDSU and its Research and Technology Park are critical to the local business landscape as visualized by Walters and others on the Entrepreneurial Communities Task Force. Among other things, the task force report suggests more funding for the Research and Technology Park's Center for Technology Enterprise, an incubator for start-up technology-related companies. It also calls for support of North Dakota and Minnesota Centers of Excellence programs.

As a prominent research institution, NDSU has a strong potential for growth; Walters calls that critical to our area's economic success. He said the expertise of the university's faculty, staff, researchers and students is an integral component of a community plan to compete for and attract new business ventures.

"The role NDSU plays as a research institution, under President Chapman's leadership, has basically changed the mindset of this community," Walters said, also praising the economic development efforts of the state government and the North Dakota Congressional delegation. "NDSU is an important, enabling piece of our community's infrastructure that is allowing us to do some fantastic things. It is absolutely vital to our economic future."

Walters said the NDSU Research & Technology Park is, and will be, an integral piece of the community's economic framework. As new technology-related businesses begin operations in the Center for Technology Enterprise, quality jobs are created and there are further opportunities for more spin-off businesses.

"Without the presence of a research institution and the research park, we would not have a dog in this fight. We wouldn't have the opportunity to do what our community is capable of doing in attracting high paying jobs," Walters said. "The incubator is a key piece because it fosters entrepreneurial skill and provides a home for the companies that want to locate next to NDSU's critical mass of talent."

The concept of promoting entrepreneurialism is another important push by the GFMEDC. The reports suggest developing programs and internships at NDSU, Concordia College and Minnesota State University Moorhead that keep that idea in the forefront.

Walters said educational programs should be built around key technologies in cutting-edge fields. "Technology and higher education are drivers in our strategy. That is our basic recipe for growth in the future," Walters explained. "The theory is you put expertise around certain technologies through quality students, faculty, scientists and equipment. The challenge is harnessing that intellectual talent and encouraging it to go the entrepreneurial route."

If the GFMEDC's suggestions become reality, Walters is confident in Fargo-Moorhead's ability to prosper in the years ahead.

"We have a responsibility to provide quality jobs in an ever-changing economy," he said. "Our nation needs communities like ours that have the educational aspects to realize our potential. We're talking about not only Fargo-Moorhead's economic future, but our country's future as well. I am proud to be a part of that."