DeAnn Brunner

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Jan 16, 2013) — Recruiting workers to the Jamestown area will be the emphasis of a regional workforce roundtable scheduled later this week.

On Wednesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation’s, Business Devlopment Coordinator, DeAnn Brunner, said the roundtable outlines strategies such as the establishment of a relocation workforce.

The roundtable is comprised of representatives of the JSDC as well as the Valley City/Barnes County business community and encourages the participation of local businesses and educational institutions.

The $1.3 billion Spiritwood nitrogen fertilizer plant set for construction in 2014 has sparked the need for the region to prepare for an influx of traffic and workers.

Ms. Brunner said it’s important for representatives from all around the region to be involved in the discussions.

At the January meeting, JSDC Board of Directors welcomed new members Lorrie Pavlicek, Brent Harris, and Kelly Rachel. Todd Hudspeth was nominated for the Executive Committee. Also, JSDC welcomed Gary Riffe as the new JSDC Chairman, Secretary Chris Rathjen, and Vice President Bob Toso.

The Board of Directors meeting in January focused on established and new committees to assist the community and region in further development.

JSDC has five committees currently that consist of JSDC Board members, city and county officials, industry leaders, job training officials, economic developers, school district representatives, and local and state officials.

The marketing committee has been established to oversee and guide JSDC marketing strategies and campaigns with guidance by KK Bold. KK Bold will assist JSDC in all marketing areas to better assist the community in recruiting business relocation and expansion, workforce recruitment, and housing developers.

The second committee is the spec building committee who will work with developers and research/design spec buildings for Jamestown/Stutsman County. Many companies looking to relocate desire a building that is already constructed and are move-in ready, which Jamestown is currently lacking.

The development committee will continue to assist SRF Consulting in the task of guiding and planning for the future growth of Jamestown/Stutsman County. The Development Committee will also research the development of another park.

The fourth committee is the workforce committee to address the concerns of workforce shortages across the region, plus attract and retain quality workforce. Many businesses in the community have reported a shortage of qualified workforce and will benefit from things such as workforce training programs and worker recruitment programs.

The last committee mentioned was the medical leaders/workforce training committee to continue to work with the CNA, CMA, Welders, and Dental Assistants training courses as well as explore other training courses that should be established.

The JSDC board members also heard an overview of all ongoing projects for the JSDC. JSDC had a very exciting 2012 and looking forward to an even better 2013.

The JSDC website is being updated at

www.growingjamestown.com to learn about the JSDC projects.　

In other business, the JSDC Board this month, reviewed an interim report from

Carbontec Energy Corporation, which is performing a feasibility study regarding processing iron ore at the Spiritwood Energy Park, called E-Nugget.

The company is reviewing supply, loading and transportation requirements for a 100,000 ton/year iron nugget plant sited at Spiritwood.

Iron ore could be sent from northern Minnesota on coal cars.

　

Partial funding comes from a grant from the North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Committee (APUC), and the JSDC.

Carbontec is continuing the feasibility study.

　

In other business, Jamestown Mayor Katie Andersen gave a status update on the city’s negotiations with Stutsman Rural Water District, concerning which entity will serve the Titan Machinery building west of Jamestown, in the area of Jamestown Regional Medical Center.

Mayor Andersen said the same issue is occurring in a number of cities around North Dakota adding that the State Legislature may address it.

She said the issue was difficult but she was confident a solution could be found.