Cross-posted from Dakota Lifestyle:  Beyond the Weather.

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According to a fact sheet at NDSU Research Park’s web site, research activities at North Dakota State University have been covered by publications/media like The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, New York Times, CNN, Washington Post online, Discover, Nature, BBC and Wired Magazine in the past few years.

Other comments on the fact sheet indicate that as the university continues to grow, the Fargo/Moorhead downtown area is being revitalized.  Trendy new stores make the downtown Fargo area a fun place to be.  (My experience is that this is happening on a smaller scale across the entire state.)

But my favorite quote from the fact sheet is as follows:

North Dakota was among four states cited by the 2007 State New Economy Index as making the greatest strides toward transformation toward a new economy over the past five years. (March 2007)

Certainly we’re seeing a period of high economic activity.  The energy corridor in the western half of the state, and more particularly in the Bakken oil formation in the northwestern corner of North Dakota, is booming to the point of creating millionaires from farmers.  Wind energy development an biofuels are big issues, too.

But it’s not all about energy.  It may be more about synergy.  The state was also recently recognized for having the highest growths for exports in the country–even though much of the state, in which agriculture has traditionally been the top industry, is experiencing drought.

Tourism is doing well, too.  Outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, camping, birding, boating, hunting and bicycling are the perfect fit for health-minded travelers.  (North Dakotans themselves are encouraged to utilize these resources.) History buffs find plenty of brain food in places like Medora or Fort Lincoln State Park.  For folks journeying to Canada can see the International Peace Gardens.

While much of the nation struggles with a housing slump, North Dakota has remained relatively strong.  Some areas of the state are growing so fast that there’s a shortage of housing.  Real Estate is reasonably priced, even though housing in the metropolitan areas is more expensive than in small rural towns.

The research corridor on the eastern side of North Dakota has brought in its share of successes.  NDSU and its research park and business incubator, and University of North Dakota and its business incubators in Grand Forks have three-fold successes:  they educate our students (very well), they work on large research contracts with both the government and private industries, and they develop the entrepreneurial spirit so abundant on the high plains.

When all’s said and done, it may be that entrepreneurial spirit that makes the difference.  From everything I know about the hardy North Dakota people, they find creative ways to use what they have for improving life.  They export food.  They export energy.  They offer intelligence through vehicles like the research corridor.  They even offer fun new experiences.

In short, North Dakotans are helping to meet market demands in a globalized world.