Workforce Development

Recruiting all Resources to Help Workforce Development

We have all the tools in our toolbox and plenty of ideas, and we work hard to hone in on what companies need to recruit and retain talent.

Workforce is arguably one of the biggest challenges our region faces. At the EDC, we work directly with companies to learn what they need and how we can best support their efforts to recruit the best talent.

Our organization assists companies in a number of ways: one-on-one help, our Live In Fargo website, the FM Welcome Party or our Live In Fargo Tours (now going virtual). We connect, create and collaborate to solve the region’s workforce challenges.

One-on-one help for companies

Supporting companies with demand-driven workforce development is a primary focus of the EDC. We connect companies to programs and services to enhance their recruitment efforts. If we can’t help, we’ll find the organization that can.

• Aldevron – Supported recruitment efforts by providing community tours. We provided data to support recruitment efforts and employees have attended the in-person FM Welcome Parties.
• Vigilant Aerospace – Supported their efforts identifying qualified candidates, resulted in them hiring software development and business development positions to establish their presence in Fargo.
• Space Age Synthetics – Connected them to F5 resulting in hiring two employees.
• Elinor Coatings – Provided workforce data information to help their recruiting efforts; assisted a new hire get connected to the community.

FM Welcome Party

What is it?

It’s a party to welcome people who are new to the area. In the past it’s been in person and in 2020, we took it virtual for the first time. The virtual party reached more than 1,000 people and is accessible on our YouTube channel and website.

What’s the goal?

Our goal is to welcome people, provide information and connections. While we focus on people who have recently moved here, it benefits everyone, even people who have grown up here.

Virtual Tour

What is it?

The EDC offers a Live in Fargo Moorhead Community Tour. An EDC team member drives a candidate around and shares information about the FM area so the candidate can see firsthand what Fargo Moorhead West Fargo offers. COVID has pushed us to get creative and in 2020, we began creating a virtual tour.

What’s the goal?

The goal is to provide candidates a sense of what the area has to offer. Oftentimes, people carry with them misperceptions about the region. These tours help dispel those misperceptions giving the candidate an accurate view of our community. The virtual tour will allow candidates to do that from anywhere in the world, in the comfort of their own living room.

Labor Market Data

Accurate data drives good decisions. Survey tools, CRM systems and data tools are part of our tool kit. When we add in our robust technology, we have all we need to support local business. While the tools can get complicated, the reason for them is simple – to support primary-sector businesses and stimulate the economy.

*Source: Emsi—economic modeling.com

Accessing Labor Data to Assist Existing and Prospective Companies

The EDC has the information to assist clients with wage information, talent and skill scouting, cost of living comparisons and other information to help find and retain talent.

New Companies

Our analytics can assist companies looking to come to Fargo Moorhead by helping to understand wage comparisons in key occupations, detailing workforce demographics and job projections, analyzing job postings and education programs to supply key positions.

Existing Companies

Using our data tools, we can help existing companies find information and answer questions like: How do our wages compare for those in our industry? Where do we find talent?