Marv's News
Marv's News - where you can read about the latest information regarding Fargo and all of North Dakota. It will feature articles about business and growth as well as overall information on the incredible opportunities that await those opening businesses in the State. Check back weekly for updates.
October 25, 2011 - THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH....
And I'm not talking about Disneyworld either!
According to The New York Times, North Dakota is not only the most employment-rich state in the country. It's also on its way to becoming the happiest. According to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, based on a daily survey of Americans that tries to measure the elements of "the good life," North Dakota is the second happiest state, behind Hawaii. (Hawaii has been the happiest state for a while now.) North Dakota has been in the Top 10 list for the last couple of years, but has been steadily climbing its way upward.
North Dakota's Well-Being Index score has also moved up proportionally more than any other state in the last year. Dollars to doughnuts.
The index is based on an average of six component indices, which reflect Americans' answers to questions about how they evaluate their lives; their emotional health; how they feel about their work environment; their physical health; the kinds of healthy behaviors they do (or don't) engage in; and how much access they have to basic necessities. Perhaps not surprisingly, given the state's fleet-footed job growth, North Dakota's score benefited most from respondents' views of their work environment. How's that for good news for North Dakota! Try us out - you might find you never want to leave!
August 22, 2011 - ND ranks No. 3 in new Pro-Business Report
According to a Pollina Corporate report released last week, North Dakota was named the third most pro-business state in the nation.
Pollina, an Illinois-based corporate real estate and consulting firm, bases its ranking on several factors including education, human resources, taxes, economic development programs and budget deficits. The big news is that North Dakota climbed from an 18th spot last year to its current third place spot this year which makes it the most improved state on the list.
Yet another reason why doing business in North Dakota just makes common sense!
June 10, 2011 - NORTH DAKOTA LEADS NATION IN ECONOMIC GROWTH
North Dakota continues to defy odds as the state adds new jobs, increases wages and expands its domestic and international business interests.
In 2001, North Dakota led all other states in economic growth with a 7% increase in gross domestic product. Comparatively, the nation's GDP grew by only 2.6% last year. Here are some truly remarkable statistics to further show what a great place North Dakota is to do business. North Dakota's per capita personal income has increased 58% since 2000 - about 22% higher than the nation's per capita income.
North Dakota's average wage has increased by $13,444 or about 54.57% between 2000 and 2010. The national average wage increased by only 30% between 2000 and 2009.
Since 2000, North Dakota has created 47,900 new jobs which is an increase of 14.6% while the number of new jobs nationally has declined by 1.49% over the same time period.
And lastly, the value of North Dakota exports totaled $2.5 billion in 2010, an increase of 303 PERCENT from the state's export value of $626 million in 2000.
Need I say more about why North Dakota is the perfect fit for so many companies moving here to do business. Coming in the next column is a snapshot of one prestigious company with a campus located in Fargo and how the economic impact they make benefits both the State as well as Corporate America.
APRIL 13, 2011 - NORTH DAKOTA - RIDING THE GLOBAL COMMODITY WAVE
North Dakota is the #1 producer of durum wheat and is currently riding the wave for oil production which will only increase over the next several years. Over the last 12 months, North Dakota's crude oil production has increased by 43% which is triple the rate it was five years ago. How's that for a progressive state. With an extremely strong economy and a population that appreciates the value of saving, North Dakota could certainly be a wonderful place for new businesses to consider. The State of North Dakota is sitting on a budget surplus unlike many other states with a hefty deficit (such as Minnesota)and this continues to increase. Among other States in the US, North Dakotans can claim fame to having the following:
1. Best Job Growth Last year - according to a Gallup Survey
2. Lowest Credit Card default rate - According to TransUnion
3. Lowest Unemployment Rate among the 50 States - With 3.8% unemployment, North Dakota is less than half of the national average
4. Stable Housing Market - with only the third lowest foreclosure rate in the entire country and a median home price in North Dakota of less than $150,000.
So when we tell you that North Dakota has some of the happiest and best places in the United States to live and work, we're not joking. Why not try us out sometime? You won't be disappointed - I guarantee it.
March 24, 2011 - FARGO/MOORHEAD ATTRACTS TALENT FROM ACROSS THE US
It was recently written in The Fargo Forum that in an era of job shortages and budget deficits, North Dakota is in a position to press its advantages and take a lead on competing states in attracting key mobile groups to come to the state.
Quite simply, a quick look at some of Fargo's new businesses certainly lend credence to the theory. There is a palpable sense of opportunity here in the Fargo Moorhead area. While most of the US is sputtering with high unemployment rates and massive state deficits, Fargo is booming and is truly a city on the grow.
The mere fact that we live in one of the healthiest economic areas in the country sometimes seems to slip by others. Last November, the Milken Institute ranked Fargo as the best small city in America for creating and sustaining jobs. Not to mention in 2009 when Forbes ranked Fargo one of the nation's best places for jobs.
If all of this seems to have passed investors by, now would be the time to consider opening your retail location in such a booming metropolis - or to invest in existing companies already open and operating in this thriving market. Just don't pay any attention the The Weather Channel's own version of March Madness for cities with the worst weather...please!
March 18, 2011 - CATCH YOUR EYE?
According to USA TODAY on March 16th, 2011, North Dakota is the State of choice in the USA that has not suffered any of the economic woes that the rest of the country has gone through and is ripe and ready for new business, not to mention a population that just keeps on growing in all areas (more on that in my next posting!). Here are some excerpts from the article printed:
"North Dakota, the state with the nation's lowest unemployment rate, capped a decade of economic prosperity with dramatic population growth in its biggest cities. Fargo added nearly 15,000 residents to hit a record population of 105,549, the Census Bureau reported Wednesday. Its fast-growing neighbor of West Fargo added an additional 11,000 residents to reach a population of 25,830.
Fargo has seen steady growth over the decade — the housing boom missed it - to reach a size that surprised many.
The superstar of North Dakota is its economy. The state's unemployment rate hasn't touched 5% since 1987. The state's per capita income rose over the decade from 38th in the nation to 17th, the biggest advance of any state.
"We've had an absolutely stellar few years," says University of North Dakota economist David Flynn. "In all honesty, when you look ahead, we should continue to do well for quite a while."
North Dakota is enjoying an oil boom in the western part of the state, drawing workers from across the country. Williston, in oil country, grew 17.6% to 14,716. The oil windfall has created a
$1 billion state budget surplus.
North Dakota is one of the few states to add manufacturing jobs over the decade. Bobcat, maker of farm and construction equipment, is headquartered in the state.
"We don't have big factories like Gary, Ind., or steel mills that are hard to retool," Flynn says. "We have smaller plants that are some of the most efficient in the world." When factories closed elsewhere, production was often moved to North Dakota."
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