Thrivent to build 12 Habitat houses

Thrivent Financial has announced plans to build 12 Habitat for Humanity homes in northwestern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota in 2009.

The list includes two homes in Moorhead, two in Grand Forks, N.D., and single homes in the Minnesota communities of Akeley, Bagley, Blackduck/Kelliher, Bovey, Brainerd, Evansville, Wadena and in the Detroit Lakes area.

Thrivent will construct 314 homes nationwide next year using more than 100,000 volunteers and about 628,000 volunteer hours.

ND groups chosen for shoe gifting

Payless ShoeSource has chosen two North Dakota nonprofit groups for its Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids program.

The national, grass-roots campaign aims to deliver

$1 million shoes to American children of families in need.

The family footwear retailer chose 630 nonprofit partners representing 50 states and the District of Columbia to participate in the program.

The North Dakota agencies are Southeastern North Dakota Community Action Agency Head Start of Fargo and Community Action Region VI, based in Jamestown, which serves a nine-county area.

Payless is giving nearly 67,000 $15 gift coupons redeemable through Jan. 31, 2009, toward a new pair of kids’ shoes at any of its more than 3,600 stores across the United States.

Innovate ND draws nearly 175 entrants

Nearly 175 people with 89 ideas have enrolled in the third annual Innovate ND program.

They include six ideas from northwestern North Dakota, 19 from the southwest, 32 from the northeast and 24 from the southeast. Seven out-of-state teams have enrolled from Minnesota, California, Ohio and Virginia.

Innovate ND is a statewide initiative designed to help entrepreneurs turn business ideas into viable new North Dakota business ventures. Winners must agree to launch their businesses in North Dakota to receive prize money.

The Innovate ND finals are May 18 in Bismarck. Five champions will receive $10,000 to build their business venture.

People still interested in competing this year should contact Brandi Schoenberg at (701) 328-5373 or e-mail bschoenberg@nd.gov for late registration information.

Anytime Fitness joins with Rasmussen

Fargo-Moorhead health facility Anytime Fitness has joined forces with Rasmussen College, Moorhead, to give students in the School of Allied Health Exercise Science job-shadowing experience.

Students who graduate from the seven-quarter exercise science program will earn a certificate with the American Council of Exercise, which allows them to be a personal trainer.

Part of the requirement for the course is participating in a job-shadowing program.

For more information about the program, call Lisa Hoggarth at (218) 304-6200 or email Lisa.Hoggarth@Rasmussen.edu.

Readers can reach Business Editor Craig McEwen at (701) 241-5502 and business reporter Tracy Frank at (701) 241-5526

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