Terry DeVine column: Publicity that money can't buy

Fargo was the recipient of the kind of publicity money can't buy earlier this week.

The Wall Street Journal, the second largest general circulation newspaper in the United States, said some nice things about Fargo Thursday in a piece by reporter Robert Gavin.

It did refer to the area as the "frigid tundra," but then doesn't every article that's ever written about this region? Besides, that doesn't offend most of us because we know it's true, at least during the first three months of many years.

But the article also had this to say: "... this metropolitan area of 175,000 is showing that business opportunities in the frigid tundra can be surprisingly hot. As most of the nation struggles to shake off the recession, Fargo's economy has stayed strong and steady, attracting investment, adding jobs and extending a decade of prosperity."

The article noted that Fargo posted the lowest unemployment rate of any metro area in the nation in September -- 1.7 percent -- less than a third of the national average. And it mentioned that employment in Fargo has grown 5 percent since the beginning of 2002, compared with nationwide job growth of 2 percent.

The article said the work ethic here is so good and workers so efficient that we're starting to run out of workers. It's a sobering thought here, but some areas of the country would love to have workers like ours.

It talked about the successes of Cargill Inc., Navigation Technologies Inc., SEI Information Technology Inc., Marvin Windows & Doors Inc., and Microsoft Business Solutions.

We know our region's good schools, friendly people, low crime rate and overall quality of life are great drawing cards. Even though I'm not expecting a planeload of people from the East to land in Fargo anytime soon, publicity like the Wall Street Journal article certainly can't hurt.

The newspaper didn't identify the former economic development director who called Fargo "the least photogenic place in America," but I do know nothing could be further from the truth. Anyone who can't see the magnificent beauty of the northern Great Plains isn't looking very hard.

I liked the closing line by Fargo Mayor Bruce Furness, who said -- with a straight face -- that "we only get one week of 35 below" in the winter. Actually, he would be right most years. But some years ...

Haugen praises decision

Maj. Gen. Michael Haugen, North Dakota's adjutant general, Friday praised a decision by the state Board of Higher Education to adopt a policy making it easier on student members of the North Dakota National Guard called to active duty.

Haugen said 10 percent of North Dakota's Army and Air Force National Guard personnel are enrolled in the state's institutions of higher learning.

Haugen said the new policy allows activated students to receive a tuition refund if they withdraw, take an incomplete and finish the classes later, or make other arrangements to complete the classes.

In 2002, Haugen said more than 1,000 Guard personnel have been deployed outside the state for varying lengths of time.

"We're a big piece of the war on terrorism and I don't see that changing," he said.

Readers can reach Terry DeVine at (701) 241-5515 or tdevine@forumcomm.com