News Releases for May 2007
May 14, 2007
For further information, please Contact the Governor's Office
Hoeven Announces Task Force To Assist Imation Workers And Help Wahpeton Region Replace Jobs
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today announced that he is setting up a task force comprised of local, state and federal officials to help the Wahpeton region replace jobs lost due to Imation's decision to leave in 2009 by working with existing companies to expand and attracting new companies and jobs to the region.
The task force includes:
- Shane Goettle - North Dakota Commerce Commissioner
- Maren Daley - Job Service North Dakota Executive Director
- Jim Sturdevant - Wahpeton Mayor
- Clare Carlson - North Dakota Director, USDA Rural Development
- John Richman - North Dakota State College of Science President
- Dan McElroy - Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
- Paul Lucy - Dept. of Commerce Economic Development and Finance Director
- Merlin Beto - Job Service North Dakota Manager, Wahpeton
- Jane Priebe - Wahpeton Economic Development Director
- Brad Pauly - Wahpeton Community Development Corporation
- Shawn Kessel - Wahpeton City Administrator
Hoeven has also invited the North Dakota congressional delegation to designate a member of their staff to take part in the task force.
On Wednesday Hoeven will lead a delegation of local and state officials on a trip to Imation headquarters in Oakdale, Minnesota. The group includes Shane Goettle, Maren Daley, Jim Sturdevant, Jane Priebe, Brad Pauly and Ron Cizek from the Imation plant in Wahpeton.
Governor Hoeven and members of the task force will be at city hall in Wahpeton on Thursday, May 17, at 10:00 a.m. to report to the community on the Imation meeting in Oakdale and initial plans for the task force.
“We are concerned about the impact on the community and the workers,” Hoeven said. “We are going to do everything that we can to assist these workers as they transition into new jobs and to help keep them and their families in the Wahpeton area.”
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