Wed, Nov 20th, 2019 - 5:02pm
January 29, 2020 - 3:06pm | By Chris Larson
Gov. Doug Burgum today announced the 2020 Main Street ND Summit and new Main Street Initiative grant programs during the 2020 State of the State address in Grand Forks.
The 2020 Main Street ND Summit will be held Oct. 6-7 at the Bismarck Event Center in conjunction with the Economic Development Association of North Dakota fall conference and the North Dakota Council on the Arts fall convening.
All three events will seamlessly frame the year’s theme of Building Community to Attract and Retain Workforce, with an emphasis on the role that art and culture has on workforce attraction and retention efforts.
In addition to the summit, Burgum also announced two grant programs that will supplement the Main Street Initiative: The Partners in Planning Grant program and The Main Street Community Vibrancy Grant program.
The Partners in Planning Grant program will provide grants up to $30,000 to fund comprehensive plans or economic development and diversification strategies. Maximum awards and matching requirements will vary and consist of rural and urban allocations.
“The need for funding to support local planning projects emerged as a common theme during our many insightful listening sessions with Main Street communities across the state,” Burgum said. “The Partners in Planning Grant program will support sound planning and development decisions and promote healthy, vibrant communities with smart, efficient infrastructure.”
The Main Street Community Vibrancy Grant program will fund small projects that activate space or added vibrancy in other ways.
“The Main Street Community Vibrancy Grant program is a great resource that will sprout inspiration for small projects in local communities,” Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer said. “By providing seed funding, communities will have the opportunity to build engagement and momentum with projects that will add vibrancy to the entire community.”
Applications for the first round of both the Partners in Planning Grant program and Main Street Community Vibrancy Grant funding are due to the North Dakota Department of Commerce by April 1, 2020. More information can be found at nd.gov/living-nd/main-street-nd.
The Main Street Initiative supports North Dakota communities in becoming healthy, vibrant communities with smart, efficient infrastructure that will attract and retain a 21st century workforce. The Main Street Initiative is housed in the North Dakota Department of Commerce and is supported by many participating state agencies.
