Dear members,

It is an unbelievably exciting time for the region, and our community should be proud of the landmark accomplishments we have seen this summer.

Nearly a decade ago, The Chamber formed a Business Leaders for Permanent Flood Protection Taskforce to passionately advocate for and advance permanent flood protection for our region. Today, The Chamber, other community organizations, residents and policymakers celebrate a milestone event; the Metro Flood Diversion Authority has selected Red River Alliance as the Public-Private Partnership developer for the project. This developer selection signals the beginning of the multi-year build process for the key piece of the FM Diversion, and as the next phase of the project approaches, we remain committed to and excited for the diversion’s journey to completion.

Talent and Workforce efforts have also been a top priority for our region for a very long time, and July 2021 marked the groundbreaking of an incredible asset to our business and education community: a Career Innovation Center. The academy will work in collaboration with four of Cass County’s local school districts, granting students the opportunity to advance their skill sets and prepare them for in-demand and future career paths. This fall, the Moorhead Career Academy will open its doors to the students of Moorhead and the businesses of our region. This fall, The Chamber will launch Ignite – a comprehensive workforce strategy that will encompass work with all levels of our workforce ecosystem; more to come on that very soon.
 
Recently, Fueling Our Future (FOF) brought together 120 community leaders to identify, understand and discuss major issues with a broad regional impact. The retreat provided education about our regional economy and how we compare to other markets, determined our pressing challenges and opportunities, and began structuring a way forward to give us the best chance at being a leading economic and livable market of the future.

We have a lot to be proud of and look forward to as we continue building a thriving and vibrant community for generations to come.