Launch Grand Forks

YPs hire new Executive Director, Stacey Heggen

2011-09-13T13:56:00.000-07:00

The Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals organization has hired Stacey Heggen as its Executive Director. Heggen will begin her duties leading the YPs on September 6th.

The hiring of an Executive Director for the YP organization is the number one recommendation given by Next Generation Consulting during the YP Launch Grand Forks Project. This new Executive Director will work to strategically move forward organization forward with initiatives that attract and retain young talented adults to the region.

Heggen, a UND graduate, will be moving back to Grand Forks to assume this role as Executive Director. Heggen previously lead the Devils Lake Young Professionals Organization as the chapter’s first chairperson and was also instrumental in founding the Devils Lake YP organization. Prior to this role, Heggen served the Benson County area as an NDSU Extension Agent.

“There’s no doubt that people will catch Stacey’s contagious positivity,” said Amanda Bentow, GGFYP President. “We are excited to bring her back to Grand Forks and have her representing our organization.”

The new Executive Director will have an office at The Chamber. The Grand Forks Region EDC is providing employment services for the position. The YPs thank The Chamber and EDC as well as our YP Corporate Sponsors and the Bremer Foundation for their continued support of our organization and its goals.

Visit www.ggfyp.com for more details on Stacey Heggen, the Executive Director position and other recommendations from the Launch Grand Forks Project, and current initiatives of the YP organization.

For more information contact:

Amanda Bentow
GGFYP President
Amanda.bentow@email.und.edu
218-791-3700

STORY: A GF boomerangers return

2010-09-22T11:56:00.000-07:00

Family first. That simple priority motivated John Nelson to return to North Dakota, Grand Forks and his former company, SimmonsFlint, as an account manager.

“The strong sense of family and community in the Grand Forks region is what residents value most and what brings Boomerangers back,” says the January 2010 Launch Grand Forks Findings and Recommendations report. Sixty-three percent of respondents agreed: family first is what they value most about living in the Grand Forks region.

Nelson and his wife Jill couldn’t agree more. When Miabella was born eight months ago, the couple was filled with joy, excitement and slight panic, like any new parents, especially those living 1,000 miles from the people who shaped them: their parents, their friends, their community.

“You don’t realize what you took for granted until you’ve moved away. A sense of community, safe schools, family first,” explains Nelson. “We take it for granted in North Dakota, but it’s not like that everywhere.”

The Nelsons packed up their ski gear and hiking boots, their professional experience in Colorado and Miabella’s diapers and drove home to North Dakota and their future closer to family.

“Grand Forks is safe, friendly, familiar—yet full of opportunity,” explains Nelson. “It’s the perfect place for us to grow.”

When Nelson called Grand Forks home six years ago, he had different priorities. A band member and regular performer with Crimson Creek players, Nelson was heavily involved in Grand Forks’ music scene. As a high schooler, a college student and a young professional, he regularly shared his musical talents with the community, from Summer Performing Arts (SPA) performances to his college band “Drambuee” to his funk and soul band, Groove Union aka Fatlip.

Nelson’s musical interests even blended into his professional life, as he formed Matrix Recording Studio in the old hospital building in downtown Grand Forks. The studio is still in operation today as Blue Tower Studio in downtown Denver.

Amanda Bentow, president of the Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals (GGFYP) group, explains, “We know that a lot of young professionals move back to Grand Forks because of their family connections, and we’re excited that people like Nelson are seeing the opportunities in the area and coming back to their roots.”

The Flint Group, of which SimmonsFlint is one of six interconnected, full-service marketing agencies, thrives on three principles: family first, community service and personal balance. At 60 years old, Flint has North Dakota’s impressive economy to thank for its longevity. Less than one percent of agencies last that long. A strong economic climate mixed with solid priorities has allowed Flint to provide for numerous families, like the Nelsons, over the years.

And he isn’t the only Flint employee to return to North Dakota after experiencing life in a bigger city. Libby Hall joined the agency last year after spending five years in Minneapolis. Twenty-four-year-old Hall, recent bride and new media strategist, came back for family, old and new: her parents in northern North Dakota and her husband Jameson. “It’s nice to be closer to our families,” says Hall.

“Coming home to family means more than blood relatives,” explains Nelson, who worked at SimmonsFlint in Grand Forks from 2000 to 2004, prior to directing marketing for The Alternative Board®, a business coaching company in Denver. “Flint is family.”

In reference to Grand Forks, Nelson says, “I just can’t think of a better place for my young family to call home.”

Better Bikeability

2010-06-02T06:39:00.000-07:00

The GF/EGF Metropolitan Planning Office (MPO) is working to follow through with Launch Grand Forks Recommendation #8:

Support continued efforts in establishing increased "bike-ability" of the region by expanding bike-friendly infrastructure in Grand Forks, particularly from UND area to downtown and greenway.

The MPO wants your input and ideas! Share them at their "bike-ability" open house.

      Wednesday, June 16, 2010
      6:30pm
      Training Room of the East Grand Forks City Hall
      600 DeMers Ave in East Grand Forks.

The Grand Forks - East Grand Forks Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will hold an open house in order to gather public comment on the existing and planned bikeway system of the Bike and Pedestrian Section of the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).

Bikeway users and the public are encouraged to attend.

A map of the existing and planned bikeway network can be viewed via www.theforksmpo.org. Paper copies can be viewed at the MPO Office, located in the Grand Forks City Hall and East Grand Forks City Hall.

If you are unable to attend the open house, you can submit written comments to the MPO at P.O. Box 5200, Grand Forks, ND 58206-5200. Written comments will be received until noon June 16, 2010.

For further information, contact the MPO at 701-746-2660. Any individual requiring a special accommodation to allow access to participation at this meeting is asked to notify the ADA Coordinator 218-773-0124 of their needs prior to the meeting.

YP Board Training Seminar

2010-05-04T06:52:00.000-07:00

As recommended by Next Generation Consulting in the Launch Grand Forks Findings and Recommendations, the Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals in partnership with the Community Foundation of GF/EGF has creating a YP Board Training Seminar to train young adults how the effectively serve on a civic or non-profit community board or committee.

YP Board Training Sessions:
Tuesday May 4th, 5:30-7:30pm EGF Campbell Library Conference Room
Thursday May 20th, 5:30-7:30pm REAC 1 Training Room

The YP Board Training Session is just one way the YPs are working to retain young talent in our region by engaging young adults and helping them serve and become vested in our community as well as develop leadership skills.

www.ggfyp.com

Launch Grand Forks progress

2010-03-10T08:05:00.000-08:00

The Launch Grand Forks Committee has been continuing to work on the recommendations given to the community at the Launch Grand Forks Roll Out Event. Here are a few of the recommendations that are moving forward...

YP Executive Director Position
- Position description, work plan, budget and fundraising, and other position deliverables are currently being developed
- YP Board and LGF Committee plan to hire a YP Executive Director within 1-3 months

Train YPs to be on local boards and committees
- YP Professional Development Committee along with the Community Foundation will hold a YP Board Training session in May. Plans are currently underway.
- The Community Foundation has a board bank up and running. If you are interested in being a local non-profit organizations board, sign up for the Leadership Connection Board Bank.

Connect the campus and the community
Link Event
- The Grand Forks Region EDC and the UND Center for Community Engagement recently hosted Link. Link is an event that brings community professionals together with students in the same discipline to discuss opportunities available in that discipline in Grand Forks and East Grand Fork
- Link: Communication was hosted on February 16 with 55 students and professionals attending. Link: Engineering is currently being planned for April.

UND and Community Website Message
- UND is currently working to create a new university website. During this website revision, the university is collaborating with community organizations like the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Grand Forks to enhance the UND website with a consistent community message.

Other recommendations at the top of the priority list include
- Continuing to encourage community members to sign the Launch Grand Forks Pledge
- Creating "Next Company" awards and campaign
- Developing a community marketing organization

With the help and support of the community, the Launch Grand Forks project is continuing to move full speed ahead! The LGF Committee appreciates your involvement and support. If you would like more information on recommendations that are moving forward or have ideas or would like to help with a specific initiative email michaelas@grandforks.org.

Sign Pledge to "Launch Grand Forks"

2010-01-25T09:36:00.000-08:00

As part of the recommendations Next Generation Consulting unveiled on January 26th, residents are encouraged to sign the "Launch Grand Forks" pledge.

By taking one minute to enter your name, you are committing to "Launch Grand Forks." This means looking at your community through the lens of possibility. It means encouraging our children, our leaders, and our neighbors to think bigger and more optimistically about Grand Forks' future. It means valuing the people, places, and quality of life in Grand Forks and instilling the community with a renewed sense of pride.

Click here to pledge to "Launch Grand Forks" today!

See who has signed the pledge!

Launch Grand Forks Roll Out Event

2010-01-15T09:17:00.001-08:00

Mark your calendars for the Launch Grand Forks Roll Out Event!

Tuesday, January 26th 5:30-7:00pm
Canad Inns, Playmakers Upstairs Lounge & Conference Room

Rebecca Ryan will return to Grand Forks to reveal Next Generation Consulting's recommendations for the Grand Forks Region. NGC has culminated the results of the Launch Grand Forks survey, focus groups, dream session, and community comments and used them to develop ways for Grand Forks to attract and retain young talent in our community.The Roll Out Event is open for the entire Grand Forks Region community!

Come get information, show your support, and get involved in strengthening our community.

Tell us your DREAM for Grand Forks!

2009-11-23T12:33:00.000-08:00

Grand Forks will be a magnet for talent of all kinds when...

Young professionals, city officials, students, and business leaders came together last week to talk about this statement and engage in a dialogue around attracting and retaining young talent in the Grand Forks region.

The Dream Event was phase II of the Launch Grand Forks Project. The evening consisted of small table discussions and a large group session where community leaders, influencers, and innovators in all areas shared their experience, expertise, and ideas on how to make our community a stronger place to live, work, and play.

Attendees were asked to think BOLD and FUN around finishing the statement, Grand Forks will be a magnet for talent of all kinds when...

Couldn’t attend? We invite you to share with us your ideas by posting a comment to this site. We also invite you to TAKE OUR POLL and vote for what you feel should be priority in moving Grand Forks forward. The list to the right are the common themes generated from the Dream event last Thursday. Have more ideas? Tell us! Click on the comment link below to leave your feedback or email michaelas@grandforks.org.

Dream Event Invitation

2009-11-12T14:54:00.000-08:00

Grand Forks will be a magnet for talent of all kinds when...

If you have ideas that can help to finish this sentence then we want you at our Dream Event!

The Dream Event is phase II of the Launch Grand Forks Project. Dream is a large group session where community leaders, influencers, and innovators in all areas are invited to share their experience, expertise, and ideas on how to make our community a stronger place to live, work, and play.

Your ideas and feedback during the discussion will help to create a strategy to strengthen Grand Forks.

DREAM:
Thursday, November 19th
5:15pm Dinner
6:00pm Dream
Center for Innovation - Idea Lab

Please RSVP to michaelas@grandforks.org if you would like to be a part of the discussion. Space is limited!

Dream Event announced

2009-11-09T13:55:00.000-08:00

Launch Grand Forks is moving into Phase II of its project... the Dream Event! The Launch Grand Forks Dream Event is a large group session where community leaders in all areas are invited to share their experience, expertise, and ideas on how to make the our community a stronger place to live, work, and play.

The Dream Event will be held the evening of Thursday, November 19th. More details will be announced soon.

The ideas gathered from the Dream Event will be incorporated with the data from the survey and focus groups perfromed during Phase I. After all of the information and ideas are processesed, Launch Grand Forks will share with the entire community a strategy on how we can make the Grand Forks region a magnet for young talented adults!

If you would like to attend the Dream Event to share your ideas, please email michaelas@grandforks.org.

Survey data being processed

2009-11-06T07:04:00.001-08:00

Thank you everyone for taking the Launch Grand Forks Survey and participating in the focus groups. 840 people took the survey and over 25 boomerangers and college students participated in focus groups. Next Generation Consulting (NGC) is currently working to slice the data from both.

As NGC works to process the results, we still want your feedback. If you have ideas, suggestions, concerns, etc. about Grand Forks and how we can make it a stronger community for young talented adult please email us or post it to the blog. We always want your feedback.

Community members will also have a chance to voice their feedback at our upcoming Dream Event. Dream Grand Forks will be an open forum for discussion to solicit ideas and responses to the statement "Grand Forks will be amagnet for talent of all kinds when..." So if you have ideas let us know. We will keep you updated on the date and location of the upcoming Dream Grand Forks event.

Launch looks at Gen X and Millenials to keep them here in Grand Forks.

2009-10-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

Article at DakotaStudent.com by Paige Wold
Issue date: 10/2/09 Section: News

Monday night saw the "Launch in the Loft," the official kick-off for the Launch Grand Forks Survey, a project aiming to retain and attract young adults to Grand Forks.

The evening's speaker, Rebecca Ryan, founder of Next Generation Consulting, teamed up with the project to help develop the survey and implement a plan for Grand Forks based on the data. Next Generation Consulting specializes in the Generation X and Millennial demographics, with the majority of current college students belonging to the latter.

Click here to read full article.

What makes the Grand Forks region a great place to live?

2009-09-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

What makes the Grand Forks region a great place for the next generation?

YOUR INPUT NEEDED: Take the online survey now!

We want to hear from current and former residents of the greater Grand Forks region. This includes the North Dakota counties of Grand Forks, Trail, Nelson, and Walsh, and the Minnesota counties of Polk, Red Lake, Pennington, and Marshall.

The survey is part of the Launch Grand Forks project and the goal is to gauge your ideas about what makes (or will make) the region a vibrant place to live and work. Former residents are being asked what changes could be made that would encourage you to move back, and current residents are being asked why you stayed or returned.

Information gathered from the survey, as well as through community forums and other means, will be used to develop action strategies and be presented in a report to regional leaders in the months ahead.

The survey is confidential, and takes an average of 10-15 minutes to complete. Please only take this survey once, as duplicate surveys will be deleted. Upon completion, you will be eligible to submit your email address to win a FLIP video camcorder. The winner will be notified by email.

Ready? Take the survey now!

“LAUNCH IN THE LOFT” KICKS OFF REGIONAL PROJECT

2009-09-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

The Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and the Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals (YP) kick off their upcoming project at “Launch in the Loft” on Monday, September 28th at 7:30pm. This project begins with the launch of a survey and two focus groups that will gather information to help our region attract and retain more young talent.

With a grant provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the EDC and YPs have the opportunity to benefit our region’s economic future. They have teamed up with Next Generation Consulting, a market research firm specializing in the Gen X demographic, to develop a survey that helps find the answers to questions of why talented youth stay in our region or why they leave.

On Tuesday, September 29th, two focus groups will be conducted to obtain more in-depth information. One group will host area college students; the second group will host ‘boomerangers,’ citizens who left our region, then later came back.

With the information obtained from these focus groups and the ongoing survey, the EDC and YPs along with the community can work to develop a strategy that keeps talent young adults here in Grand Forks and brings talented individuals back to the area. It will also work to increase community citizen engagement and prepare young professionals to assume local leadership responsibilities.

The “Launch in the Loft” event invites all members of Grand Forks and the surrounding communities to the 5th floor loft at 322 Demers Ave Downtown for the opening of the survey, remarks by Rebecca Ryan from Next Generation Consulting, free food, music by Jarrod Schell and Matt Strand, and more information and idea sharing on the project.

If you would like more information on the event or are interested in being involved in a focus group contact:

Michaela Schell
EDC Marketing Associate
701-746-2720
michaelas@grandforks.org

Tricia Linnell
YP President
701-780-1952
tlinnell@altru.org

College Students & Boomerangers sought for focus groups

2009-09-21T10:23:00.000-07:00

Focus groups aim to attract and retain talented individuals to our region.

As part of a project working to gather information to help our region attract and retain more young talent, the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and the Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals (YPs) are seeking college students and community members to participate in their upcoming focus groups on Tuesday, September 29th.

Two focus groups will be conducted, the first focus group hosting area college students. It includes questions and discussion of why students chose the region, what their plans are after graduation, and why they wish to leave or stay in the region.

The second group hosts “boomeranger” participants. The term boomeranger refers to community members who once lived in the Grand Forks region, moved away, then later came back to live. This focus group will include questions and discussion of why participants left the region and why they decided to come back.

If you are a college student or boomeranger interested in being a participant in one of these focus groups please email Michaela Schell at michaelas@grandforks.org.
These focus groups, along with an ongoing survey, began with a grant provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The EDC and YPs will work with the information obtained from these focus groups and survey to create a strategy that works to attract and retain talented young adults to our region.

If you would like more information on the project or are interested in being involved in a focus group or taking the survey contact:

Michaela Schell
EDC Marketing Associate
701-746-2720
michaelas@grandforks.org

Tricia Linnell
YP President
701-780-1952
tlinnell@altru.org