Thanks to a recent article by Forum Business Editor Craig McEwen, Forum readers already know that Marketplace for Entrepreneurs will be held in our community Tuesday and Wednesday at the Fargodome, the Fargo Civic Memorial Auditorium and other local venues.
Sponsored by U.S. Sen. Kent Conrad and North Dakota Ag Commissioner Roger Johnson, Marketplace for Entrepreneurs is the largest, longest-running economic development event and showcase in North Dakota. However, I believe that Marketplace has something for nearly everyone, including Forum readers in Minnesota, South Dakota and beyond.
This is the first time that Marketplace has been held in our bi-state, metropolitan community. More than 1,000 private, public and nonprofit organizations are involved with and support Marketplace and its goal of fostering an entrepreneurial business culture in North Dakota.
Marketplace presentations, programs and events are designed to help students and other individuals, businesses and communities discover, develop, enhance and implement new ideas and plans. This activity provides new opportunities for them and for all of us in our region.
This year's Marketplace includes a variety of special events and activities along with the traditional Marketplace showcase and classes. These include a housing developer's summit, tours of area businesses, a national rural action network forum and opportunities to visit New American entrepreneurial ventures.
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Keynote luncheons feature Fannie Mae's chief economist and Amazon.com's chairman and CEO, and a free Tuesday night concert features The Four Tops.
Topics for this year's Marketplace classes include advertising and marketing, business ideas and advice, export assistance, doing business with the government and marketing your artistic talents.
Awards will be given to both the Entrepreneur of the Year and Entrepreneurial Community of the Year. Career development classes will help residents young and old to take a look at current and emerging career opportunities or starting your very own business.
As the region's leading business organization, the Chamber of Commerce of Fargo Moorhead knows how important it is to both attract outside interest and opportunity to our region and to grow it from within. For 17 years, Marketplace has helped North Dakota residents and communities to better understand this and has helped equip the state for future business growth and economic success. We appreciate and applaud efforts like this to help our region grow and prosper.
Martin is president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Fargo and Moorhead.
