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Cass County approves $581,900 transfer to complete 2025 Innovate '28 match
Summary
The Cass County Commission voted to transfer $581,900 to complete the county's 2025 funding commitment to Innovate '28, adding to a previously approved $1.2 million and creating an ongoing annual county commitment tied to private-sector investments and quarterly metrics reporting.
The Cass County Board of Commissioners voted to authorize staff to transfer $581,900 to Innovate '28, the public–private regional growth partnership led by the Economic Development Corporation and the Chamber of Commerce. Commissioner Breitling made the motion and it passed on a roll call vote, with all commissioners voting in favor.
Innovate '28 presenters Shannon Full and Joe Raso told the commission the initiative has been in development for about 18–20 months and now includes roughly 125 private-sector pledges. The presenters said the partnership has established two sets of metrics: revenue-generating indicators (sales, permits, property values) and internal KPIs for project development, workforce development and public policy. They said Goldmark (Andy Westby and team) has agreed to provide quarterly analyses of sales, permit and value changes to support those metrics.
Commissioner Breitling, who moved the transfer, said the newly approved amount combined with the county's earlier $1.2 million commitment represents the county's annual pledge for 2025. “Having supported this motion when it started, I would move that we authorize our staff to transfer the amount that you set for,” he said during the meeting.
Presenters noted private pledges range from larger corporate gifts down to smaller individual contributions and that many private pledges are multi-year but reviewed annually. Innovate '28 staff said they will post metrics and updates on an Innovate '28 website and provide investor briefings twice a year; commissioners were invited to those briefings.
Commissioners asked about how outcomes will be measured against baseline growth and how to account for post‑COVID shifts and remote work. Innovate '28 staff said they used historical baselines and set workforce and project goals at levels higher than previous results to try to isolate the program’s impact; they also emphasized the role of direct company feedback in attributing location decisions to the partnership's work.
The motion approved by the commission clarified that the $581,900 transfer is added to the prior $1.2 million county contribution for 2025. Commissioners also discussed possible future adjustments if Fargo or West Fargo change their participation in future years.
Ending: Innovate '28 staff said they will return with metrics and investor reports; the commission asked for updates during the budget process and for continued briefings to track outcomes.
