Commerce seeks restored funding for workforce and global talent programs in SB 2018 hearing

Chairman Nathy opened a hearing on Senate Bill 2018 and the North Dakota Department of Commerce presented its budget request and program updates, asking the committee to restore positions and one‑time funding the Senate cut.

At the hearing Commissioner Chris Shilkin of the North Dakota Department of Commerce summarized the agency’s mission and budget request, saying commerce “exists to attract and retain wealth and talent for the state of North Dakota.” He asked the committee to reinstate the governor’s executive budget recommendations and highlighted requested FTEs including a procurement officer and a workforce program manager that the Senate removed.

Commerce officials reported a total base budget near $87,000,000 for the department, with roughly $33,400,000 in general funds, about $44,000,000 in federal funds and $9,500,000 in special funds. Commissioner Shilkin also described two proposed transfers the department included in the executive recommendation: a $50,000,000 request for the North Dakota Development Fund and $10,000,000 for the Legacy Investment for Technology (Lehi) program.

Katie Ralston Howe, workforce director for the Department of Commerce, walked the committee through workforce programs funded or requested in the executive budget. She said the agency seeks reinstatement of several items the Senate reduced and described performance concerns if salary and position requests are not approved, urging support for the governor’s total‑rewards proposal of 3 percent performance increases in both years of the next biennium.

Regional Workforce Impact Program (RWIP)

Howe described the Regional Workforce Impact Program, launched in April 2022 with $15,000,000 in ARPA funds and sustained at $12,500,000 for the…