Grand Forks added a few more ideas Tuesday to the 1,400 that organizers say have been gathered through the North Dakota 2020 and Beyond project, meant to identify goals for the state over the next decade.
"I encourage you to think big," facilitator Roger Reierson told a group of professionals asked to brainstorm ideas for the 2020 effort.
Grand Forks was the last of eight cities where similar events have been held since it was launched earlier this year and provided the most ideas so far.
Some ideas were practical, including affordable housing, day care services and matching education to employers' needs. Other ideas were not so practical, including a professional sports team and a museum dedicated to Internet sensation Marilyn Hagerty.
Some ideas reflected specific goals, such as eliminating the initiated measure process or building a state-owned oil refinery, while one simply said, "Promote the awesomeness that is North Dakota."
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Reierson's company, the Flint Group, has been facilitating sessions along with the state Department of Commerce and the state Chamber of Commerce. 2020 was started by the governor's office, the Chamber, the Freedom of Enterprise Foundation and the North Dakota Economic Development Foundation.
Sorting ideas
The information-gathering is the first step of the process. Next, the steering committee will winnow the ideas and identify how the best ones could be implemented, whether through the state Legislature, through businesses or nonprofit organizations, said Chamber President Andy Peterson.
Recurring themes from all the sessions were child care, jobs development and affordable housing.
"We're hearing that across all of the state," and not just the oil-producing counties, Reierson said.
Evan Andrist, an engineer with environmental engineering company BacTee Systems, attended the event with a young professionals group.
"One of the big one's that hit the table a few different times was tuition," said Andrist, a 2011 UND graduate.
The implementation process will be up to state leaders, and it is hard to predict which ideas will become reality, Reierson said. But developments in aerospace and nanotechnology in the state were goals in similar discussions in the past, and later became concrete developments.
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"If you can seed an idea and put it in the right people's hands, it will develop," he said.
On the Web: Those who did not participate in 2020 sessions can submit ideas at www.ND2020andBeyond.com .
