Latest news with #MovingtheCommunityForward
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Midco project in Jamestown area about 60% complete
Mar. 29—Editor's note: This story and accompanying photo are advertorial content in the 2025 "Moving the Community Forward" special section of The Jamestown Sun. JAMESTOWN — Midcontinent Communications is about 60% complete with its project to connect fiber-optic lines in Jamestown, according to Cole Mack, vice president of construction and field engineering. He said about 4,800 lots are connected and over 3,300 lots remain for work. Mack said Midco's project should be complete this year. Midco was granted a franchise agreement in 2021 with the city of Jamestown to construct, maintain and operate a telecommunication system for use in the city. Midco offers internet services, home phone and a variety of cable and streaming options. So far, most of northeast Jamestown is connected as well as parts of southwest Jamestown. Midco is working in northwest Jamestown and has parts of southeast Jamestown left to connect. "Now the overhead portion kind of throughout the core of town will all get built throughout the next few months,' Mack said. "Then we'll have our underground construction crews starting up here hopefully soon when the ground freezes or unthaws a little bit." Homeowners will receive mailers regarding construction activity and when new services are available once an area is launched, Rhonda Erickson, senior community relations manager and executive director of the Midco Foundation. "They may see stuff on social media that's a little bit more targeted to them," she said. To view information on Midco's construction process and launch schedules, visit . Erickson said Midco is a "force for good" and has multiple ways it can help communities. Midco does sponsorships and also has a foundation where nonprofit organizations can apply for small grants. "They are making a difference," she said. The Midco Foundation awarded more than $117,000 to 96 nonprofits, schools and government organizations across the Midwest in spring 2024, according to its website. Erickson said Midco Foundation's board meets twice a year and reviews the grant applications. She said the application window for spring is closed but will open again in July and be reviewed in October. To apply for a grant through the Midco Foundation, visit , search for "foundation" in the search bar, click the "foundation link" and hit the "apply now" button under "Apply for Grant Funding." Midco also did sponsorships for the Jamestown Kite Festival, This Putt's for U golf tournament, a basketball doubleheader at University of Jamestown in January ,a basketball game at Jamestown High School in February and sponsored a Christmas program at the North American Bison Discovery Center. "We do want to contribute back to our communities," she said. "We have staff that live in those communities too, and so we want to definitely show support to our team members as well." She said being involved in the community gives Midco staff an opportunity to get to know Jamestown and its businesses and residents. "When we're at the kite festival, you know, we were meeting several 100 people on a single day, and that's it," she said. "There are a lot of opportunities for that, and it just feels good for all of us to talk to them." Mack agreed. "It's common with wherever we are in a footprint, our teams are both there to support, but then also engaged and involved in those events as well," he said.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Valley Plains Equipment seeks students to enroll into John Deere Tech Program
Mar. 29—Editor's note: This story and accompanying photo are advertorial content in the 2025 "Moving the Community Forward" special section of The Jamestown Sun. JAMESTOWN — Valley Plains Equipment is looking for students to enroll in its John Deere Tech Program that helps individuals become a service technician for its equipment. Valley Plains Equipment sends students to Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, South Dakota, to go through a two-year program that emphasizes becoming a diesel mechanic and learning about John Deere equipment, said Brooke Alfson, employee resources at Valley Plains Equipment. "So they go through a bunch of mechanical stuff, electrical, hydraulic, and they do a bunch of different stuff and learn the basics of how to operate machinery, how to remove and replace certain parts and to diagnose something that is wrong," she said. Once students complete the program, they will get their certification as a service technician and a full-time job with Valley Plains Equipment. "There's obviously continuing education that continues throughout your time with us because everything is always changing and evolving," Alfson said. She said students who enroll into the John Deere Tech Program are almost guaranteed a job as a service technician once they graduate. Individuals who want to enroll into the program will do a paid internship with Valley Plains Equipment the summer before they attend Lake Area Technical College to ensure that they enjoy what they are doing and see the work they will do as a service technician. Once students are sent to Lake Area Technical College, Valley Plains Equipment pays for the student's tuition and tools, books and fees and provides each student with a laptop computer. Alfson said Valley Plains Equipment has an apartment complex in Watertown where students can stay and provides a $2,000 stipend per semester for housing. "That is a huge help, obviously, when your college and tools and everything is getting paid for," she said. Alfson said students will work at a Valley Plains Equipment dealership for two weeks each semester to apply what they learned. She said individuals can show interest in the program as early as they want to but Valley Plains Equipment won't bring them on for the paid internship until the summer before they attend Lake Area Technical College. "They can definitely come in earlier and do job shadows and meet the team and look around the shop and just see If that's something that they would like to do," she said. To enroll into the program, visit your local Valley Plains Equipment dealership or go to and select "JD Tech Program" under "How to Apply" to fill out information that includes your name, phone number, what year you graduate high school and which Valley Plains Equipment location you would like to partner with. "That gets sent directly to me, and then I will reach out from there," Alfson said. Locations for Valley Plains Equipment include Ashley, Ellendale, Galesburg, Hillsboro, Hunter, Jamestown, LaMoure, Milnor, Napoleon and Valley City in North Dakota. Valley Plains Equipment also has locations in Britton, South Dakota, and Crookston, Minnesota.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Applied Digital helps Ellendale, ND, with partnership for housing
Mar. 29—Editor's note: This story and accompanying photo are advertorial content in the 2025 "Moving the Community Forward" special section of The Jamestown Sun. ELLENDALE, N.D. — Applied Digital Corp. is helping a rural community by partnering with the city of Ellendale, the state of North Dakota and Headwaters Development to build 20 homes and a 38-unit apartment complex. "Since we're bringing in a large new workforce, we need a place to have rentals for a period of time," said Nick Phillips, executive vice president of external affairs for Applied Digital. He said 18 of the 20 single-family homes for Ellendale Acres are nearing completion and the other two are constructed but not permanently anchored to a foundation. He said those 18 homes will be move-in ready any day. He said work on the 38-unit apartment complex is expected to begin in June or July. "The anticipation is that that will also be available this year as well," he said. Applied Digital develops, builds and operates next-generation data centers and Cloud infrastructure. Applied Digital has blockchain sites that support cryptocurrency mining about 7 miles north of Jamestown and 1 mile west of Ellendale. Phillips said the housing project leverages dollars from the North Dakota Industrial Commission's Rural-Workforce Initiative to Support Housing (R-WISH) pilot program. The program utilizes up to $10 million of Bank of North Dakota capital to complement the work done by the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency and the North Dakota Housing Initiative Advisory Committee, according to Bank of North Dakota's website. The maximum amount from the R-WISH fund is the lesser of 30% of the project costs, $3.5 million or the matching contribution from the company. "In our case, we committed to invest $3.5 million," Phillips said. "Bank of North Dakota will match that through the program. The city of Ellendale is doing a TIF (tax-increment financing) district, which will help with some of the infrastructure improvements, roads, etc. And then obviously we had to find a developer to come in and do this." Applied Digital's data center was annexed into the city of Ellendale in January. Headwaters Development will own the homes and apartment complex and rent them to Applied Digital employees. Once those employees find a different living arrangement, those residences will be available for new employees, Phillips said. He said Applied Digital is asking its employees to move to Ellendale and the city needs help in order to grow and accommodate that. He said Applied Digital's partnership with the city of Ellendale and its businesses and the state of North Dakota is vital. "Having good working relationships is vital," Phillips said. He said Applied Digital's community involvement in Ellendale is important. He said Applied Digital partnered with businesses for a new $200,000 pin setter for the bowling alley, helped the Ellendale park board by bringing in truckloads of dirt for a park, provided movie nights for families and donated art kits to elementary students in Ellendale. In Jamestown, Applied Digital has donated to the Two Rivers Activity Center for the outdoor pickleball courts and has participated in other fundraisers. The company also purchases memberships at TRAC for its employees. When Applied Digital officials are in Jamestown, they take employees to local restaurants. The company also donated to the University of Jamestown's sports programs after student-athletes helped unpack items for Applied Digital's facility.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alpha Opportunities Inc. opening new residential habilitation group home
Mar. 29—Editor's note: This story and accompanying photo are advertorial content in the 2025 "Moving the Community Forward" special section of The Jamestown Sun. JAMESTOWN — Alpha Opportunities Inc. recently opened a second residential habilitation group home to serve clients, said Mallory Everson, executive director, and plans to open another one in April. "Last December, we opened an all-men's residential habilitation group home on the southwest side of Jamestown, and six gentlemen live there," she said. The third home will be located in northeast Jamestown. "It will originally open as a four-bed home for women for residential habilitation but it will be expanded to having six people (women) living in the home," Everson said. Alpha Opportunities Inc. is a nonprofit organization providing person-centered services to people with developmental disabilities over the age of 18, Everson said. In addition to the residential habilitation group homes, it also operates two intermediate care facility group homes for people with higher needs, she said. Residents have their own bedroom in residential habilitation group settings, Everson said. They make their meals together, go grocery shopping together and are encouraged to help with cleaning and maintaining the home, she said. They also have 24/7 staffing support, Everson said, including help with transportation and teaching them skills needed to live in that apartment setting on their own. "They go out in the community, some of them work jobs, some attend the day program (Alpha provides)...," she said. Everson said the goal of a person in a residential habilitation group program is to build skills and gain independence to move into an apartment and be successful in the community. Alpha Opportunities supports 54 people in the community, Everson said, including 22 who live in their own apartments. There are 38 individuals currently in its day program. Alpha Opportunities has 87 employees, Everson said. She said there is a high need for more group home facilities to support people and it can be difficult to open one when everyone is looking for employees. "It makes it very challenging for a provider to expand and to grow," she said. "However, Alpha has now been able to have this impact on the community of Jamestown two times in the last about year and a half. And so I think that's a huge asset for the community to be able to have a provider that is flourishing enough to offer these services to more people that need them." She said the referral list is very long in North Dakota for those looking for services. "I think Jamestown is very lucky," Everson said. "They're a very good community. Alpha's been around since the '80s and the community is very welcoming for what we do and the people we support. We have a lot of people that work in different businesses here in the community and the community has been a very big supporter of Alpha. And so any chance that we can to be able to enhance our services in the community and provide something back to the community, we're really trying to focus on that." For more information, visit or call (701) 252-0162.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New programs allow University of Jamestown to serve more students
Mar. 29—Editor's note: This story and accompanying photo are advertorial content in the 2025 "Moving the Community Forward" special section of The Jamestown Sun. JAMESTOWN — New academic programs are allowing the University of Jamestown to serve more students, according to Polly Peterson, UJ president. The University of Jamestown's enrollment was 1,372 students during the fall semester, said Paul Olson, executive vice president at UJ. "By the time you get the summer starts in there, we'll serve about 1600 total students this year," he said. Last year, the university served more than 500 students during the summer. Peterson said UJ has added new programs where students can take courses during the summer. She said students can now take courses online, meaning they don't have to reside in the Jamestown area or take them during traditional daytime hours. The university has added the Master of Arts in Leadership that includes four learning tracks, Master of Business Administration with eight micro credentials available, Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, Master of Science in Clinical Counseling that requires a one-week residency, Master of Science in Engineering Leadership, Master of Science in IT Leadership and Direct-Entry Master of Science in Nursing. UJ's Fargo campus is home to all of its graduate and online programs, according to the university's website. The only in-person classes offered at its Fargo campus are for students enrolled in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Olson said those graduate and online programs allow individuals to be enrolled while they stay in the workforce. "When you talk about some of the growth that we've had especially in the nursing arena, it's because those programs, the ASN (Associate of Science in Nursing) program is really creative in the hybrid format of the program, and the DEMSN (Direct-Entry Master of Science in Nursing) is hybrid, but it's also the only one in our region," Olson said. Olson said UJ launched a first-in-the-nation apprenticeship program for behavioral health. At the end of the apprenticeship, students earn a behavioral health technician apprentice certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor. "We did a test run with the program in Arizona, and have since brought it to North Dakota," he said. Olson said credits from the apprenticeship program for behavioral health count toward a Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Health. "It allows somebody that wants to work in a behavioral health setting to go from zero college credit hours to a bachelor's degree in two and a half years," he said, adding that the behavioral health technician would be promoted again. He said individuals could then obtain a Master of Science in Clinical Counseling in another two years, which allows for a promotion to a counselor. "They can go from no college education to being a master's trained counselor in four and a half years instead of having to leave the workforce for six years like they typically would have had to 20 years ago in order to get that credential," Olson said. UJ's physical therapy program will graduate its 10th class in May. "We have graduates doing incredible work, working in hospital settings, working as entrepreneurs, working have gone on to additional education, teaching back in the profession," Peterson said. She said the success of the physical therapy program has allowed UJ to explore new opportunities and programs outside of its Jamestown campus. Peterson said construction on the Reuben and Clarice Liechty Center for Faith and Life is coming long in a timely manner. The Reuben and Clarice Center for Faith and Life will house the Unruh School of Character in Leadership. "We're looking forward to an August opening when the students return," she said. The Voorhees Chapel is also being renovated. UJ also added a Doctorate of Leadership, which complements its minor in character in leadership and Master of Arts in Leadership, said Lisa Jackson, vice president of marketing and external relations at UJ. She said the first class for the Doctorate of Leadership started this past fall. "We don't expect them to be large cohorts, probably 10 (students) a year so it'll be a smaller program," Peterson said. She said the university is talking with businesses to find out what kind of leadership opportunities UJ can provide to their employees. "What kind of leadership opportunities can we help support," she said. "That can sometimes be ... noncredit bearing because that's us being out on their site for a day, them coming up here for a day in the summer, some of those kinds of things. So there's a lot outside of just building a PhD program that is going on in the development of this school." Jackson said Sept. 25 will be the official launch date of the Center for Faith and Life. That day will also include a one-day conference where the community is invited for additional learning opportunities. "There'll be some pretty exciting speakers throughout the day," Peterson said. "We'll reveal the names strategically, but there are some pretty significant opportunities for learning." A dedication ceremony for the Center for Faith and Life is set for Sept. 26. UJ Athletic Director Austin Hieb said the university is excited for its student-athletes and fans to be playing in NCAA Division II as part of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. "Going back to the North Star (Athletic Association) for this season, our fans were able to be more engaged," he said. Hieb said the Jimmies will play more regional teams from North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota who fans are familiar with. He said UJ had an NCAA application visit and a site visit recently. "From everything we've been told, the feedback has been positive, which is good," he said. Hieb said another NCAA visit is scheduled for this fall. "As long as we stay on track, we'll be in the NSIC next year competing, but if we check the boxes we're supposed to check, we'll be full members in the fall of '26," he said. The university recently added women's tennis and an American College Hockey Association Division 2 women's hockey team for the 2025-26 season. Hieb said women's tennis was added because it was one of the only NSIC sports that UJ didn't sponsor. Cameron Jackson was hired recently as the women's tennis head coach and players have already committed to UJ's program. The Division 2 women's hockey was added because the university thought there was a market for another club-like team for women who want to continue playing the sport. He said it gives student-athletes a chance to play at a slightly less competitive level, meaning less practices per week and less games on the schedule.
