Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced at the Governor's Workforce Summit that North Dakota had consolidated its workforce programs under a single agency and named Katie Ralston Howe as the state's first workforce commissioner. Ralston Howe had been serving as deputy commissioner and director of Workforce Development at Commerce.

Armstrong said combining programs that had been spread across several agencies would strengthen coordination and improve service for workers and employers. A Workforce Subcabinet review found the fragmented structure was no longer sustainable as federal funding declined.

Ralston Howe said the unified agency would give the state a clearer strategy and make it easier for people and businesses to access services. As part of the change, the state launched NDwin, a new website designed to serve as the front door to workforce programs and help users more easily find support.

About 300 employees from Commerce's Workforce Development Division, Job Service North Dakota, Adult Education, Vocational Rehabilitation and the Office of Refugee Resettlement were included in the new structure. The agency also took on the State Apprenticeship Office to help expand Registered Apprenticeship Programs.

No staffing changes are planned, though roles could shift once lawmakers act on creating the Department of Workforce Development. If approved, the agency would take effect July 1, 2027.

Source: ND Commerce Connection, September 2026

North Dakota made a strong showing at the 2026 Mid-America Economic Development Council Annual Awards, earning four honors in a competition recognizing standout economic development projects and initiatives across a 13-state region.

The annual awards celebrate innovative approaches to economic development, community growth and business investment. North Dakota's 2026 honorees include:

Citizen's Alley + Downtown Minot Activation Strategy, Minot - Placemaking, recognizing efforts to transform underutilized spaces and strengthen downtown vitality.

Coal Creek Station-Rainbow Energy Center, Underwood - Overcoming Adversity, recognizing an economic development project that successfully navigated significant challenges.

Applied Digital, Ellendale - Project of the Year, recognizing a major project and its economic impact.

Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, Medora - People's Choice Award, selected through voting by conference attendees.

Receiving four awards on a regional stage highlights the strength of economic development happening across North Dakota and the partnerships helping communities attract investment, strengthen local economies and pursue new opportunities.

Learn more about the MAEDC Awards here

Source: ND Commerce Connection, September 2026

North Dakota Tourism Director Sara Otte Coleman traveled to Washington, D.C., to testify before a U.S. House Natural Resources subcommittee on the Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horses Protection Act. The legislation, which passed the U.S. Senate unanimously in June, would require the National Park Service to maintain a genetically diverse herd of at least 150 horses in the park's South Unit.

During her testimony, Coleman highlighted the important role the wild horses play in North Dakota's tourism industry and the visitor experience at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The horses have become an iconic part of the Badlands landscape and an experience many travelers specifically hope to see when visiting the park.

Protecting the herd would help preserve that distinctive experience for future visitors while supporting the communities and businesses that benefit from tourism in western North Dakota. Coleman's testimony provided an opportunity to share North Dakota's tourism perspective with federal lawmakers as the legislation continues through the U.S. House.

Read the InForum article here

Source: ND Commerce Connection, September 2026

A $25,000 Rural Catalyst Grant is supporting Home on the Range's larger $3.2 million capital campaign to expand the Badlands Learning Center near Sentinel Butte. Roosevelt Custer Regional Council provided technical assistance to help the organization successfully pursue the grant funding.

The expansion will add two classrooms, a sensory room, an independent living skills lab and outdoor learning space to better serve youth receiving residential treatment. Since opening in 2024, the Learning Center has served more than 90 students, who have earned more than 100 academic credits and completed multiple GEDs.

Expected to be completed in December 2026, the project will expand educational opportunities for youth while supporting jobs and continued investment in rural western North Dakota.

Click Here to Learn More

Source: ND Commerce Connection, September 2026

Commerce brought together more than 100 employers and workforce partners for the 2026 Global Talent Summit, connecting attendees with resources and strategies to strengthen North Dakota's workforce through global talent. Gov. Kelly Armstrong and First Lady Kjersti Armstrong opened the event with remarks on the state's workforce future and the role global talent can play in supporting long-term economic growth.

Throughout the day, national and local experts shared insights on the changing U.S. immigration landscape, the economic impact of global talent and strategies for recruiting, integrating and retaining international workers. Employers also had access to practical resources, including one-on-one consultations with immigration specialist Jonathan Grode.

Led by Commerce's Global Talent Office, the summit is part of the state's broader effort to help employers navigate global recruitment and build stronger talent pipelines. By bringing employers, experts and workforce partners together, the event created opportunities to make connections, share ideas and explore solutions that can be put to work across North Dakota.

Click Here to Learn More:

Source: ND Commerce Connection, September 2026

The North Dakota Department of Commerce recognized six outstanding tourism professionals and organizations at the Governor's Travel and Tourism Awards Breakfast held April 15, 2026, honoring their contributions to the state's tourism and hospitality industry.

Allison Limke of Jamestown Frontier Attractions and Frontier Village received the Sakakawea Award for behind-the-scenes work strengthening operations and reshaping the site into a more interactive, family-focused destination. Madi Lee, Ticketing and Reservations Manager at Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, earned the Heritage Award for front-line service and for serving as an ambassador for North Dakota tourism.

Funatix Events of Bismarck received the Trailblazer Award for revitalizing the city's event landscape, including the restoration of the historic Bismarck Depot. Visit Fargo Moorhead's Sports Awareness Campaign won the Amplifier Award for marketing excellence, and Jessica Ackerman of Citizens Alley in Minot received the Flint Firestarter Award for transforming an underused alley into an engaging downtown gathering space. Doug Bolken, Director of McKenzie County Tourism, received the Legend Award for nearly 15 years of leadership advancing western North Dakota as a premier destination.

Congratulations to all of this year's honorees. For more on the award categories and this year's winners, visit the North Dakota Department of Commerce's award page.

More than 200,000 copies of the official 2026 North Dakota Travel Guide are now circulating across hotels, rest areas, and visitor centers statewide, along with an expanded Hunting and Fishing Guide and the new state highway map.

Local hospitality businesses can order copies of the Travel Guide or state highway maps for their own guests through the North Dakota Tourism Visitor Information Order Form.

For more on this year's promotional materials, see the North Dakota Department of Commerce's announcement and this report from the Minot Daily News.

Mark your calendar for the annual Travel Industry Marketing Summit, coming to Medora on October 15, 2026, at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.

This free event is designed for North Dakota tourism marketing professionals and industry partners, with a look at the 2027 media plan, upcoming marketing opportunities, and cooperative programs.

For the full agenda, lodging information, and registration details, visit the North Dakota Department of Commerce's event page.