Officials Launch National Find the Good Life in North Dakota Workforce Recruitment Campaign

FARGO, ND–(Marketwired – May 14, 2014) – North Dakota Lieutenant Governor Drew Wrigley and Wally Goulet, North Dakota Economic Development Foundation (NDEDF), today officially launched the state’s national workforce recruitment campaign. The Find the Good Life in North Dakota campaign is aimed at attracting skilled workers from around the country to fill the state’s current and future workforce needs.

To emphasize the importance of the campaign, Wrigley cited the state’s historic economic growth resulting from a strategic focus on job creation and the expansion of the state’s targeted industries. He noted that North Dakota has the fastest growing economy in the nation, with an unemployment rate of 2.6 percent and more than 25,000 current job openings across the state.

“Our economy is growing at historic levels, and if we are to sustain that growth, we need to expand our skilled workforce to continue to meet our employment needs today and to fill the jobs of the future,” said Wrigley. “Currently, North Dakota is reporting impressive job growth statewide — in all regions of the state. In fact, the largest demand for workers is right here in Cass County.”

Find the Good Life in North Dakota is targeting skilled workers in health care, energy, transportation, information technology, construction, STEM-related fields and many others. The campaign will run in states with high unemployment and under employment rates to raise awareness of the myriad of opportunities and great quality of life available in North Dakota.

Wrigley added, “It’s estimated that 250,000 service men and women will be exiting the armed forces in the coming years. These men and women who valiantly served their country bring exceptional skills and work ethic to the civilian job market. We want them to start their next career in a state with excellent career opportunities and a great quality of life.”

“With this rapid growth comes challenges and our state is making huge investments in infrastructure for housing, roads and schools to meet our growing needs, so now the foundation is focused on aggressively marketing North Dakota to help meet our employment needs,” said Goulet.

The campaign has been developed in collaboration with key partners like the Valley Prosperity Partnership, local economic development groups, Job Service North Dakota and private business recruiters to achieve the common goal of meeting the state’s workforce needs today and into the future.

The campaign will use a targeted, multi-pronged marketing campaign that includes:

• Digital advertising targeting job seekers in states with an available workforce with the skill sets we need in North Dakota and high levels of under and unemployment. The campaign will primarily target 15 states: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

• Digital advertising and on-the-ground events targeting veterans and current military members who will soon be transitioning out of the military.

• In-state print and digital advertising targeting North Dakotans and asking them to invite their friends and family to find the good life here.

• A regional and national public relations campaign to raise awareness of North Dakota as a great place to live and work.

• A web portal (www.findthegoodlifeinnorthdakota.com) where job seekers can find the information they need to make a new life in North Dakota, including active links to the North Dakota Job Service employment listings.

• Tools to help communities and companies retain existing North Dakota workers and residents.

According to Sara Otte Coleman, North Dakota Department of Commerce, “The new workforce recruitment website is key to the Find the Good Life in North Dakota campaign’s success. The website will act as an information hub for jobseekers so they can easily learn about career opportunities, housing, training and fun things to see and do in North Dakota.”

For more information about Find the Good Life in North Dakota, visit www.findthegoodlifeinnorthdakota.com.

NOTE: Media can access digital files of the campaign at findthegoodlifeinnorthdakota.com/presskit

The North Dakota Economic Development Foundation is charged with helping the governor and Department of Commerce develop and execute strategies that improve our state’s competitiveness and increase economic growth.

For more information:
Wally Goulet
Chairman
North Dakota Economic Development Foundation
701.667.6784
wally.goulet@nisc.coop