Heading into a month centered around thankfulness, it is fitting to reflect on the unparalleled dedication our service men and women and their families have for the missions they carry out on our behalf. It is for this reason that we at The Chamber work so hard to advocate for and honor these individuals and their families.

For us at The Chamber, dedication to the military forces means a variety of things. It means engaging business leaders and military personnel through our Military Affairs committee, providing opportunities for businesses to honor military members and veterans through our Honor Star program, interacting with public officials to strengthen the Happy Hooligans Air Guard in order to defend against any possible Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) effect on the base, hosting military appreciation events and fundraisers to support and honor the military as well as providing education to the community at large as to the economic impact that the guard has on our region.

In 2016, the Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics at North Dakota State University conducted a study on the economic effects of the Air National Guard on the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area. They concluded that the Air National Guard alone was responsible for $93.4 million in business activity (sum of direct, indirect and induced business activity). Knowing this, The Chamber lobbied on their behalf at the state legislature to ensure military-friendly policies, drawing more service members to the region. With these efforts, we have continually advocated for state funds to assist in recruitment efforts for the Air Guard in order to protect the Happy Hooligans from negative effects in the event of another BRAC.

In order to uphold our commitment to education surrounding the military, this month you will find an article on Military 101. There, you can “meet” our local military leadership in each of the branches, find definitions of common words used in the military, learn more about our Military Affairs committee, Honor Star program and more!

It is an honor to advocate for our military men and women as they give so much to our community, states and nation. Because of this deep commitment from our military men and women as well as their families, we are on a mission to foster a community of support for these individuals. Please join me in this noble venture.