News Releases for February 2003
February 7, 2003
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Hoeven: State Working To Bring New High-Tech Company To North Dakota
BISMARCK, N.D. - Governor John Hoeven today said the state is working to help bring Alien Technology, a California-based high-tech firm, to the North Dakota. The Governor conferred this afternoon with Sen. Byron Dorgan about laying the groundwork to bring the company to the state. Currently, Alien Technology is considering sites in Asia, as well as North Dakota, according to Hoeven.
“Alien Technology would bring quality jobs to our state, in concert with a Center of Excellence at one of the state’s university campuses,” Hoeven said. “It is just the kind of initiative we envision with our Smart Growth Initiative.”
Alien Technology would initially employ up to 150 employees within about two years, and eventually as many a 1,000. The annual payroll would be more than $50 million. In cooperation with the NDSU Research Park, the company would establish a research facility and plant to manufacture radio frequency identification tags for both the military and the private sector.
“Creating Centers of Excellence at our universities -- where high-tech ideas can be translated into commercial products - is a critical part of our Smart Growth vision,” Hoeven said. “To stimulate the kinds of industries and products we need for good-paying jobs, it is essential that we commit funding this session to the research and training necessary to support new ventures like Alien Technology.”
Both Centers of Excellence and enhanced Workforce Training are part of the Governor’s Smart Growth Initiative. Funding for both now depends on legislative approval.
Centers of Excellence are projects centered on the state’s university campuses that combine excellence in teaching, research and expertise to create new products and services for commercial ventures in North Dakota. Hoeven has budgeted funding for Centers of Excellence in the next biennium. The Governor has also budgeted funding for Workforce Training to help produce a skilled workforce for high-paying jobs in the state.
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