Civil Municipal - May 2024

How is that possible? It begins with the North Dakota Department of Commerce, which has actively invested in expanding its fiber optic infrastructure to improve broadband access across the state. This effort aims to connect rural communities and enhance internet speeds, reliability, and capacity for residents, businesses, and institutions. Despite a population of under 800,000, North Dakota boasts one of the best employment rates in the country. The state’s oil industry has grown in recent years, pumping money into the economy. At the same time, renewable energy sources like wind power have boosted sustainability in the state and ultimately the entire country. While the area faces its challenges, such as housing, for example, the North Dakota Department of Commerce envisions a bright future. “Our economy has just exploded,” says Josh Teigen, the Commissioner of Commerce for the state of North Dakota. STAYING CONNECTED Almost immediately, the COVID-19 pandemic yielded opportunities for North Dakota’s economy, beginning with the connectivity aspect. “Most people don’t know North Dakota is the most connected state in the nation when it comes to fiber optic connectivity,” says Teigen. “So we were able to essentially take everyone in state government and most people in the private sector and move them into a digital format almost overnight because all of the infrastructure was already in place.” North Dakota’s previous commitment to internet infrastructure meant it was prepared for the COVID-19 lock-in and allowed the state to be more connected than Vermont or New Hampshire, for example, two far smaller states. The pandemic also revealed a global demand for two of North Dakota’s other key economic resources: energy and agriculture. “Two-thirds of our economy is energy and agriculture,” explains Teigen. “And so those markets have been 21 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 05 NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE