The Grand Forks East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce will create a task force to try to tackle retail problems, the organization announced at its annual banquet, which closed by honoring the CEO and president of a longtime local business.
Chamber President and CEO Barry Wilfahrt used the stage at the group's annual dinner Thursday to announce the formation of the new task force, called the Regional Market Capture Committee. The announcement came prior to a speech about the UAS industry by keynote speaker Tom Swoyer Jr., president of Grand Sky Development Company.
The dinner concluded by bestowing the Chamber's highest honor upon Strata Corporation CEO and President Jim Bradshaw.
The event at the Alerus Center drew a sold-out crowd, with 480 tickets purchased.
Wilfahrt said the Chamber's new task force will be focused on bringing retail into the Grand Forks and East Grand Forks areas, looking for gaps in the retail market, how to fill them and what kind of retail the towns are losing. The committee also will assess targeting specific groups, like Canadians, and how to attract more people from those target demographics.
"This is one of the Chamber's top priorities for 2019," Wilfahrt said.
The committee also will look to see if there are any types of entertainment or experiences that can be supported by the Greater Grand Forks market. The shift in the retail market, and the closing of large stores like Macy's and Kmart, is alarming to many in town.
"This is something a lot of people are asking about and concerned about," Wilfahrt said. "We're trying to see if there are things that can be done as a community."
The committee will be made up of an advisory group of about 25 to 30 people, Wilfahrt said. Executive committee members include Julie Rygg, executive director of the Greater Grand Forks Convention and Visitors Bureau; Keith Lund, president and CEO of the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corp.; Todd Feland, Grand Forks city administrator; and Bret Weber, Grand Forks City Council member.
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The dinner and meeting began with a prayer from Monsignor Brian Donahue, who asked all in attendance to take a few moments to remember and pray for Troy and Jessica Nelson and their families. The couple were killed in San Diego earlier this week when a tree crashed through the roof of a house they were renting. They owned Trojan Promotions in Grand Forks and lived just outside of town in Thompson.
During the keynote speech, Swoyer talked about achievements in the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) industry in Grand Forks, including a nonstop flight from Grand Forks to England, as well as the industry's job creation capabilities.
"I remember going to the dinner last year and the governor spoke. To be asked to speak on a stage like that is an honor," Swoyer told the Herald.
In his speech, Swoyer said Grand Forks is a leader in the worldwide UAS market.
"We're in tremendous competition for the growth of UAS," Swoyer said. "We need to continue to push forward and most importantly we need to believe that we should be first."
The state also recognizes this as a priority, Swoyer said.
Gov. Doug Burgum has proposed nearly $30 million in his budget to build out infrastructure to support beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations.
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"We're team 'North Dakota UAS,'" Swoyer said. "And we're moving forward together."
The dinner closed with the presentation of the Havig Award to Bradshaw, president and CEO of Strata Corporation, an aggregate mining, ready-mix concrete and construction firm. Bradshaw also helped found the Grand Forks Christian Schools, now called the Riverside Christian School, in East Grand Forks.
Bradshaw didn't know he was to receive the award.
"This is a first-class ambush, in a good way," Bradshaw said upon receiving the award, presented by Bob Boyd, the retired vice president of student and outreach services at UND.
Boyd commended Bradshaw for his past work and for his legacy.
"His legacy will include his support of our military, his leadership qualities that bring competence and loyalty from those who work for him, success in business based on integrity and hard work and his commitment to his faith," Boyd said.
Bradshaw said he was "tongue-struck" and honored to be joining other Havig Award winners, many of whom stood just off-stage as Bradshaw spoke.
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"This isn't really about me. This is about all the great people in the community that I've associated with," Bradshaw told the Herald. "We have a great community here. It's been a real honor working with the community."
The winner of the Havig Award is chosen by past award winners from a pool of nominations.
