Life Sciences Action Summit 3 – February 19, 2010

The Red River Valley Research Corridor and U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan are pleased to announce that a third action summit focused on the life sciences will be held on February 19, 2010. The summit will be held at the new Hilton Garden Inn in Fargo.

Action summits facilitate learning, networking and collaboration in the region and serve as a mechanism for marketing to and connecting with key partners in business and government from outside the region in a highly focused and purposeful manner.

More news about speakers and registration will be available in the next few weeks. If you are interested in sponsoring the Life Sciences Summit, contact Delore at delore@theresearchcorridor.com or 701-775-3354.

STEM Occupations are Growing in the Region

Regional growth in the Corridor science and technology-based economy is translating to more science, technology, engineering, and mathematics job opportunities in the Red River Valley.

Led by physical and life science occupations, the STEM category of occupations (see chart) has added more than 2,200 jobs for 35% growth since 2002. This is well ahead of the 8% growth in the nation for the same occupation group.

U.S. Senator Dorgan Co-Sponsors Building a Stronger America Act

Building a Stronger America Act amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to direct the Secretary of Commerce to award grants for the development of feasibility studies and plans for the construction of new or expansion of existing science parks. Allows the Secretary to guarantee up to 80% of the loan amount for loans exceeding $10 million for projects for the construction of such infrastructure.

Grindberg Joins AURP Board

Tony Grindberg, Executive Director of the NDSU Research and Technology Park has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Association of University Research Parks.

The Association of University Research Parks is a professional association of university related research and science parks. AURP’s mission is to foster innovation, commercialization and economic growth through university, industry and government partnerships. For more information, visit AURP’s Web site at www.aurp.net.

Red River Velley Research Corridor History

In early 2002, Senator Byron Dorgan convened a meeting with the Presidents of North Dakota’s state universities and colleges to propose a bold new program to draw millions of Federal research dollars to North Dakota.

“Experience has shown that where there is significant federal research work going on, new jobs and new businesses begin to cluster in order to provide commercial applications for the result of that work,” Dorgan said. “I think this can be a very big and important part of North Dakota’s economic future.”

Dorgan envisioned the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks and North Dakota State University (NDSU) in Fargo anchoring the research corridor, and then reaching out and working cooperatively with state colleges and universities throughout the state.

That first step has stimulated a cycle of Federal research and economic development in North Dakota and is helping to develop the State’s major universities into world-class research institutions. Since 2002 more than $300 million of funding has been directed to North Dakota to build world class research centers, support our growing high tech sector, build critical infrastructure and specialized facilities, and train skilled workers for emerging industries.

Red River Valley Research Corridor Coordinating Center

Senator Dorgan announced on March 17, 2004 the establishment of a Red River Research Corridor Coordinating Center to coordinate the region’s science and technology-based development strategy. The Center will track and work to acquire federal research funding, provide basic infrastructure support that will attract such work, and identify gaps in technology infrastructure and work to fill them. The Center will also provide links between state colleges and universities, commercialization teams, and business investment capital, and will market the state’s research and technology assets outside the region.

Dr. Delore Zimmerman, President of Praxis Strategy Group, with offices in Grand Forks and Fargo was named to serve as the Coordinator. Delore has over twenty years experience working with companies in technology and information industries, universities and local development groups. Since co-founding Praxis in 1994 the company has been awarded 8 Small Business Innovation Research Awards.

Praxis Strategy Group is a partner with the Flint Group of companies.

The wind energy sector provided 85,000 direct jobs in 2008, and the industry is expected to support up to 1/2 million direct and related jobs by 2030.

Praxis Strategy Group formed a wind energy division (Praxis Energy Group) to assist rural landowners and community leaders reap greater economic benefits from their wind resources, offer guidance on the types of jobs available, the skills and training needed, and how to find them.

Sometimes called Community Wind, the Praxis Energy Group model allows the landowners complete control over the entire process of wind development on their land….some of which has been in their families for multiple generations.

In a recent newscast near Dutton Montana the landowners tell their story. <clink link below>

Agri Energy LLC & Praxis Energy Group wind resource development project

Praxis Strategy Group is a partner with the Flint Group of companies.

GREAT FALLS, MT (Nov. 2, 2009) – The Montana Farmers Union (MFU) and Agri Energy LLC, a Montana based company, in conjunction with a group of wind enthusiasts from the Madison Valley, will host an information meeting regarding the development of landowner community wind projects. The meeting is Thursday, November 12, 2009, at the Ennis Fire Hall just north of Ennis on Highway 287. The meeting begins at 6:00 PM.

Presentations by Warren Enyart, Praxis Energy Group, out of North Dakota, and Kathi Montgomery, Dept. of Environmental Quality, Helena, will be featured.

“Praxis has been assisting with our landowner driven wind development initiative from the very beginning and is doing a tremendous job providing information and options available to individuals and communities,” said Chris Christiaens of the Montana Farmers Union. “Montgomery will outline the various tax incentives and loans available for communities and small wind projects. In addition, representatives from Agri-Energy, LLC will be available for conversations about their own landowner-driven wind project,” he said.

About Montana Farmers Union:

The Montana Farmers Union is a statewide grassroots organization working for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through conferences, scholarships and other educational opportunities as well as legislative representation and support for producer-owned co-ops.

About Agri Energy LLC:

Agri Energy is a Montana owned and operated LLC which was formed to take control of and develop the wind resources on the properties of the members. In addition, Agri Energy LLC will be an advocate for wind development across the entire state of Montana and will assist the Montana Farmers Union with this initiative.

About Praxis Energy Group LLC:

Praxis Energy Group LLC is a wholly owned division of Praxis Strategy Group, a research and economic development strategy company working with economic development organizations, universities, agriculture producers and industries to create sustainable enterprise opportunities. Praxis has offices in Grand Forks and Fargo North Dakota.

Praxis Strategy Group is a partner with the Flint Group of companies.

Praxis Energy Group was created to help rural landowners and community leaders reap greater economic benefits from their wind resource. Rather than simply collecting land lease payments and tax revenue, partners in a community wind project participate in the complete economic cycle of the wind farm business model.

This ‘Landowner Driven’ Model has been adopted by the Montana Farmers Union and Agri Energy LLC, a Montana landowner group, and will be presented by Mr. Warren Enyart, Praxis Energy Group Senior Advisor and Project Consultant for wind energy to all interested landowners at the Farmers Union State Convention.

For more information, go to:

http://www.montanafarmersunion.com/

Praxis Energy Group is a division of Praxis Strategy Group, a partner of the Flint Group.