BIA Advocacy Update

Building Industry Connect with Fargo Commissioners Strand and Turnberg

Above: Commissioners Turnberg and Strand with some of the Building Industry Connect attendees.

BIA-RRV was happy to welcome Fargo Commissioners John Strand and Michelle Turnberg to our event for August. We had a robust conversation on the city's budget, downtown, housing, housing first and homelessness. It was wonderful to hear the various perspectives in the room and brainstorm ways we can keep Fargo a great place to be.

BIA meets with ND legislative incumbents and candidates 

Above: Candidates and incumbents meeting with BIA-RRV members.

The Association hosted an event for legislative incumbents and candidates on Aug. 6. It was round-robin style with many discussions surrounding workforce, property taxes and affordable housing.

Keep it Local 

The coalition BIA is part of that opposes the N.D. property tax measure (Measure 4) is now 80+ organizations strong and continues to grow. We were told it is one of the largest coalitions in the history of N.D.!

As a reminder, you can access educational resources through the website, keepitlocalnd.org. If you click on the "Connect" tab at the top, you can opt-in for timely updates from the coalition. 

2024 Fargo Growth Plan

The Fargo Planning Commission recently adopted the growth plan and it will be in front of the City Commission for consideration on Aug. 19. The plan received a few more updates in August; to view the updates, head to fargogrowthplan.org.

Once it receives approval from the City Commission, work begins on the land development code.

BIA supports 1/4 cent sales tax for Fargodome improvements

Your BIA encourages Fargo residents to vote "YES" on a 1/4 cent sales tax for improvements to the Dome. 

Here is our reasoning:

• The Fargodome is a crucial tool for economic growth, drawing in people from all over the region for sporting events, concerts, trade shows and community events. These gatherings fuel local businesses and help put Fargo on the map as a destination.
• It's important to take care of and make necessary improvements to this regional asset. There have been very minor enhancements since the Fargodome was constructed.
• The planned improvements include ADA accessible seating, additional restrooms, and technology upgrades, ensuring that the Fargodome remains a top-tier venue for all ages and abilities. These upgrades will help us stay competitive with other regional attractions and maintain the Dome’s status as a vital part of our community.
• The Fargodome is home to the Red River Valley Home & Garden Show, the BIA's largest consumer event. Without the Dome, we’d struggle to find a suitable venue to host this event that showcases our industry.
• The Dome also hosts the Health, Tech & Trades Career Expo, which introduces roughly 4,000 students, from 50+ schools, to lucrative career opportunities in the trades.