NORTH DAKOTA

“Those are the kinds of results we were hoping to achieve and we want to continue to achieve,” Gov. John Hoeven said of the Centers of Excellence program.

"That 100 dollars basically says you are gonig to be in the movie as an individual, you are going to be in the movie as a business, you are going to be in the movie as a town. So that is bascially how we are financing the movie. In hope that these businesses, towns and people are going to see that we are trying to add value to North Dakota through a good North Dakota movie."

"Given all the stuff that is going on, for the institution and especially for the students, the people who really matter in all this, it’s just time to do something else." North Dakota State University President Joseph Chapman

As an example of its potential, just one acre of algae produces between 5,000 and 15,000 gallons of fuel, compared to only 50 gallons from 1 acre of soybeans.

Just a few years ago, North Dakota’s unemployment rate was so low that officials traveled to other states, trying to convince people to move there. Now officials don’t have to do that; the economy is doing it for them.

The Minot City Council is considering a loan to a Minneapolis company that may help lure 100 jobs in the next two years to this city.

“We have to have the research and skilled workers necessary to build up our cutting-edge technology industries. This center will help attract businesses to the state and give students career opportunities in an exciting field that is growing here in North Dakota. It helps keep our best and brightest here at home, and helps North Dakota schools become an example of teaching methods across the country.”