2020 and Beyond | Video

Jessica Roose | 12/19/2012

Right now, as we know, North Dakotas economy is doing well. But what will it look like in 2020 and Beyond? The Governor and other state leaders want to make sure the states fiscal outlook continues to remain positive.

When the legislature meets next month Governor Jack Dalrymple wants members to think not only about the current biennium but he wants them to look even farther into the future. The 2020 and Beyond Steering Committee has been meting with community members around the state to get input on what the most pressing needs are.

"Whether we were in Williston or Wahpeton or Grand Forks or where ever, we heard, childcare. So you hear these themes that come out again and again and again and it was difficult to ignore them," said Andy Peterson with the ND Chamber of Commerce.

The Governor doesn`t plan to. He says he has already included some of those recommendations in his executive budget proposal, including help for the childcare shortage.

"Childcare capacity we have proposed, as you know, five million dollars to be spent on facilities either temporary portable facilities or renovation of existing facilities."

Other recommendations include enhancements to main street districts and downtown areas across the state and to expand public-private research development efforts at our state universities.

"We think the research universities are where we`ve had our best successes and it`s a tremendous job creator."

The Governor says $20 million dollars of his budget proposal have been put towards these proposals, now it will be up to the legislature to fund those proposals.

The committee gathered over 1,700 ideas through the public meetings.

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