Central ND News

Over 100 participants gathered at the North Dakota State Museum and Heritage Center auditorium for the first North Dakota Rural Planning Symposium. The event, hosted by the Commerce Office of Community Development & Rural Prosperity, brought together community developers, policymakers, and industry leaders from across the state.

Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken emphasized the importance of planning in maintaining vibrant and sustainable rural communities. “Rural North Dakota is evolving, and planning is key to ensuring communities remain vibrant and sustainable,” he stated. “Events like this help our rural community developers connect, share ideas, and move us forward in continuing to build strong, resilient towns throughout the state.”

Nicole Kempf, City Auditor of Ellendale, highlighted how her community is adapting to economic and demographic changes through innovative solutions. "Ellendale is adapting to changing economic and demographic conditions through innovative solutions," she noted. She also mentioned that collaboration with Applied Digital has supported housing efforts and created positive changes in Ellendale.

The symposium began with a presentation by Becky McCray, a Rural Development Expert and Co-Founder of SAVEYOUR.town. She praised North Dakota communities for their strong sense of identity and spirit. "North Dakota communities possess a remarkable sense of identity," McCray observed. "Their strong community spirit and love for the outdoors are invaluable assets."

Throughout the event, discussions covered topics such as rural development funding opportunities, mobilizing volunteers and advocates, as well as workshops on building idea-friendly communities.

For more information about the Commerce Office of Community Development & Rural Prosperity, interested parties can visit their website.