Burgum, Sanford discuss child care challenges and solutions with providers and business leaders

Governor Doug Burgum, Lt. Governor Brent Sanford and Department of Human Services (DHS) Executive Director Chris Jones on Monday held roundtable meetings with child care providers and business leaders from across the state to discuss the impacts of North Dakota’s child care shortage and explore ways to increase access to child care to support caregivers, employers and economic growth.

Burgum announced the meetings during his 2022 State of the State address last January as part of a broader effort to address child care challenges related to quality, affordability and accessibility as North Dakota strives to support working parents and compete with other states for workforce.

“We know if we’re going to make progress in our state on solving the workforce issues, then we’ve got to solve the child care issues. We know that workforce is the No. 1 thing that’s holding back the economy in North Dakota,” Burgum said in opening remarks to the business leaders. “We’ve got to increase workforce participation. Part of the way we do that is making sure that we have an opportunity for parents to participate or not drop out of the workforce for X number of years because they can’t afford the child care, it’s not the quality that they want for their kids or it’s not even available.”

Discussion topics included how child care availability affects businesses’ ability to attract and retain qualified employees; obstacles faced by providers in hiring qualified employees and maximizing enrollment capacity; and how the state can best support the stability and success of child care programs to ensure robust workforce participation.

“We’re looking for things you see as an impediment to your business and what might help from a state perspective,” Sanford said in opening remarks to child care providers.

North Dakota has approximately 55,000 children under the age of 5 and more than 30,000 children in licensed child care settings, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and DHS. Last year, the state allocated more than $117 million in federal funding to support North Dakota’s child care sector, which had seen enrollment decrease by roughly one-third during the COVID-19 pandemic. In February, DHS announced expanded eligibility for child care assistance by increasing household income limits to include more working families.

Jones noted that quality, affordable child care can reduce the need for behavioral health services – and the costs associated with them – later on in life, as studies have shown 95 percent of a child’s brain is formed by age 5.

“For families who have both parents in the workforce, their children who have quality child care early on are more successful throughout life,” he said.

Input from the meetings will be considered as policy and budget proposals are being developed for potential introduction during the 2023 legislative session.

Burgum releases statement on U.S. Supreme Court opinion that returns abortion issue to the states

On Friday, Gov. Burgum released the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court opinion issued that effectively overturns Roe v. Wade and allows states to set their own laws related to abortion.

“On June 26th’s landmark Supreme Court decision returns power to the states where it belongs,” Burgum said. “Our administration has consistently supported pro-life legislation and this decision is a victory for the many North Dakotans who have fought so hard and for so long to protect the unborn in our state. We will now work diligently with the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office to fulfill our constitutional duty by carrying out the 2007 legislation that is triggered by the overturning of Roe v. Wade. We must now turn to prioritizing women’s health, including expectant mothers and children in need.”

The 2007 Legislature passed a law that makes it a Class C felony to perform an abortion in North Dakota except to save the life of the mother or in the case of rape or incest. The law, North Dakota Century Code 12.1-31-12, will take effect on the 30th day after the North Dakota Attorney General certifies to Legislative Council that the U.S. Supreme Court has restored to the states the authority to prohibit abortion.

Burgum requests presidential disaster declaration for severe spring storms, subsequent flooding

Gov. Burgum on Thursday requested a presidential major disaster declaration for severe spring storms and subsequent flooding that broke precipitation records, knocked out power to more than 10,000 residents and caused more than $57 million in damage across the state.

In a letter directed to President Joe Biden through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Burgum requested that a major disaster be declared for 40 counties: Adams, Barnes, Billings, Bottineau, Burke, Cavalier, Dickey, Divide, Dunn, Foster, Golden Valley, Grand Forks, Grant, Griggs, Hettinger, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McHenry, McIntosh, McKenzie, McLean, Mountrail, Nelson, Oliver, Pembina, Ramsey, Ransom, Renville, Richland, Rolette, Sargent, Steele, Stutsman, Towner, Traill, Walsh, Ward, Wells and Williams.

From April 22 to May 25, North Dakota experienced a series of wintry, mixed precipitation events around the state resulting in significant freezing rain, heavy snow, sleet and downpours. The severe weather caused damage to infrastructure including roads, bridges and railways and threatened the stability of flood control structures including the Bourbanis Dam near Cavalier, where North Dakota National Guard Black Hawk helicopters placed 213 one-ton sandbags to stabilize areas of concern around the dam. Strong winds and ice buildup from freezing rain led to the collapse of 7,000 utility poles and at least 550 miles of damage to electric infrastructure, leaving households in western North Dakota without power for up to three and a half weeks.

Infrastructure damage is currently estimated at over $57 million, with that number expected to climb once all damaged sites are tallied. Burgum previously declared a statewide emergency for the April 22-24 storm, which caused major damage to electric grid infrastructure in western North Dakota and kickstarted the flooding that impacted the eastern half of North Dakota for the following 30 days. The storm was preceded by an April 12-14 blizzard that dumped more than 30 inches of snow on some areas and was exacerbated by a third storm April 29-30 that dumped record rainfall. April 2022 was the second wettest April on record in North Dakota.

“Communities and households throughout the eastern portion of the state worked to protect their homes and personal safety from floodwaters while the western portion fought ice and extensive power outages,” Burgum said. “We appreciate the administration considering our request for assistance to help communities recover from these spring storms and build resiliency against future severe weather events.”

If granted, a presidential declaration would unlock FEMA public assistance to help cities, counties and townships pay for the costs of repairing roads and other infrastructure.

In addition, Burgum also is asking that the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program be implemented on a statewide basis to help communities pay for projects that increase resiliency and reduce costs in the long term.

Burgum opens Joint State Cybersecurity Tabletop

Gov. Burgum on Tuesday opened the Join State Cybersecurity Tabletop exercise, detailing the work North Dakota has completed, and is continuing to develop, in enhancing cybersecurity measures to protect all North Dakotans.

The Joint State Cybersecurity Tabletop, which started in 2020, is the first of its kind in the country and includes six states that are part of the Joint CyberSecurity Operations Center (JCSOC): Colorado, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and New Jersey.

Following the introduction, the exercise simulated a cyberattack against the power grid, allowing states to practice talking to each other during a major event, what information needs to be shared and the best ways to share it.

Governor, first lady to host sixth annual Recovery Reinvented on Nov. 10 in Grand Forks

Gov. Burgum and First Lady Kathryn Burgum are inviting the public to join them for Recovery Reinvented, an event dedicated to eliminating the shame and stigma of the disease of addiction, on Nov. 10, 2022, at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. The event will be free and open to the public.

This will be the first time the event is held in Grand Forks, having previously been hosted in Bismarck three times, once in Fargo and virtually in 2020. The daylong event will feature state and national addiction and recovery experts who will focus on reinventing recovery through the sharing of stories, creating recovery-friendly cultures in the workplace and community, and eliminating the stigma surrounding the disease of addiction.

“We continue to build on the message that storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have to end the stigma surrounding addiction,” First Lady Burgum said. “Bringing this experience to the community of Grand Forks will allow us to lift up more faces and voices of recovery and inspire people to know that recovery from addiction is possible.”

Opportunities to volunteer at the event will be available. The public is also asked to submit nominations for the Recovery Champion awards, which honor local individuals and groups making an impact in the field of addiction and recovery. Addiction- and recovery-related nonprofit organizations and service providers are encouraged to join the Recovery Resources Expo, which will connect people to extensive addiction, recovery and mental health organizations and resources from across the state. Anyone who is interested in these opportunities to get involved can visit recoveryreinvented.com to learn more and sign up.

Registration for Recovery Reinvented will open at a later date, and event information is available at recoveryreinvented.com with additional updates being shared by the Governor, First Lady, and Recovery Reinvented’s social media on Facebook at @GovernorDougBurgum, @FirstLadyND and @RecoveryND and Twitter at @DougBurgum, @FirstLadyND, and @Recovery_ND.

Boards and Commissions openings

Currently, there are many boards or commissions openings accepting applications.

Boards and Commissions is made up of North Dakota citizens appointed to represent their community and peers as they help influence policies and programs that play an instrumental and invaluable role to help Empower People, Improve Lives and Inspire Success.

The Governor appoints to over 150 Boards and Commissions representing a wide variety of industries.

To be considered for an appointment candidates are invited to complete the application located below.

Boards and Commissions

Main Street Initiative Survey

The North Dakota Main Street team is excited to begin planning visits for 2022 and beyond. We genuinely look forward to the opportunity to meet with MSI communities again and catch up on the progress and reflect on the challenges brought in 2020 and 2021.

To help us identify potential community visits, we ask you to complete a brief survey in order for us to plan a successful year!

Take the survey!

Click Here for more information.