Fargo Moorhead is poised to take the next steps in a positive economic evolution, according to civic and education leaders who spoke during the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation (GFMEDC) annual Report to Investors meeting today in Fargo.
     Speakers at the event focused on the potential for Fargo Moorhead that can result from full implementation of the Cass/Clay Economic Plan.
     North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven, the meeting’s keynote speaker, touched on the state’s Centers of Excellence program and other economic development issues. His speech followed presentations by Dr. C. Satishchandran, professor of pharmaceutical science at North Dakota State University (NDSU); Tim Flakoll, Tri-College University provost; and Shawn Dobberstein, executive director of the Fargo Municipal Airport Authority.
     Satishchandran has been named director of the newest N.D. Center of Excellence, the Center for Biopharmaceutical Research at NDSU. A nationally renowned entrepreneur, vaccine researcher and vaccine developer, he previously was the chief technology officer of the Nucleic Acid-Based Therapeutics Division of Pfizer’s Biotherapeutics Division.
     Vaccine development and smart technologies are two key industry sectors targeted in the Cass/Clay Economic Development Plan. The GFMEDC and its community, business and education partners developed the plan over the past three years. The plan is designed to facilitate economic growth and help create good, high- paying jobs by developing a critical mass of intellectual capacity, research expertise and university specialization in those two specialized areas.
     “There is immense potential for vaccine development in the Fargo Moorhead community,” said Satishchandran. “There is already a strong base of biopharmaceutical activity here and the universities are collaborating to build a complementary curriculum. With the knowledge and expertise of graduate and faculty researchers, this Center will be a catalyst for making Fargo Moorhead one of the country’s vaccine development leaders.” He added that his goal is to develop and take to market at least one new vaccine within the Center’s first five years, with at least one more every year thereafter.
     Flakoll is leading a committee with the GFMEDC and representatives from Tri- College University, Concordia College, Minnesota State University Moorhead and North Dakota State University that is developing the collaborative and complementary curriculum in vaccine development.
     Another pillar of the Cass/Clay Economic Plan focuses on improving air service and fare structures for the community’s businesses and individual travelers. The Fargo Municipal Airport Authority, under Dobberstein’s direction, has been instrumental in securing new and expanded service from a variety of airlines that have linked Fargo Moorhead to new hubs around the world. In addition, the increased competition has contributed to keeping fares competitive.
     The GFMEDC strives to enhance economies in Cass County, N.D. and Clay County, Minn. communities by attracting, expanding and retaining primary-sector businesses. Its primary objective is to facilitate the creation of primary-sector jobs. A primary-sector business is one that brings new dollars into a community through the sale of its products and services outside of the trade area. The primary sector is the foundation of an economy and the principal driver of economic development.