Hoeven Signs Legislation To Support Centers Of Excellence, Economic Development

Press Release

Gov. John Hoeven today was joined by legislators, business leaders and university officials to sign House Bill 1018, new legislation providing increased funds to address statewide workforce needs and approving $20 million for the Center's of Excellence program, a cornerstone of the Governor's economic development agenda. The funding is part of the North Dakota Department of Commerce's 2007-09 budget.

"Our aggressive economic development efforts are expanding and diversifying our economy, creating jobs and enabling us to do more for the people of North Dakota," Hoeven said. "This budget funds important tools - like Centers of Excellence, the North Dakota Trade Office, and workforce development - that will continue to grow communities throughout North Dakota as we move into the future."

Over the past biennium, $20 million in state Centers of Excellence funding has leveraged more than $70 million in additional funding for research and development in agriculture, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, business technology and other areas that are creating better paying job opportunities for North Dakotans.

Last year, North Dakota's aggressive economic development efforts produced 7,850 net new jobs, and North Dakota exports grew 27 percent over 2005, to $1.5 billion.

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