Central ND News

The City of Bismarck, in collaboration with the Downtown Bismarck Community Foundation and the Gary Tharaldson School of Business at the University of Mary, has announced a second public "Call for Projects." This initiative invites citizens to propose ideas aimed at enhancing community development, economic growth, talent recruitment and retention, as well as improving the quality of life for both residents and visitors.

Community members, partners, and students are encouraged to submit proposals. The initial "Call for Projects" was launched in 2019, resulting in ten submissions being considered by the city commission. Many of these projects have since been completed or are underway.

The 2025 "Call for Projects" will be overseen by the city's economic development partners who will collect, evaluate, and present applications to the City Commission. The application period is expected to last approximately six weeks and conclude before the city's budget process begins. Evaluation criteria include alignment with community needs, entrepreneurial engagement, sustainability, scalability, measurable impact, community involvement, resource availability, innovation and creativity, accessibility, legal and ethical considerations as well as partnerships and collaboration.

The City of Bismarck is not obligated to fund any projects but will assess each on a case-by-case basis regarding their alignment with current and future city goals or needs. If applicable projects meet Vision Fund criteria or Special Projects Funds requirements, up to $25,000 may be allocated from these sources; however ongoing funding is not guaranteed.

Applications can be submitted online through a designated form. Inquiries about the application process should be made via the application webpage where they will be directed to economic development partners.