Communities are an amazing thing. They give us a place to call home, they inspire us to support our neighbors – they bring people together. That’s why we donated $300,000 to Fueling Our Future, an economic development initiative driven largely by the Chamber of Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo.
We’ve spent 100 years looking to the future. So, naturally, Fueling Our Future aligns perfectly with our mission, which is to provide a welcoming atmosphere and commitment to making the lives of our customers and team members better by investing in them and their communities, For a Better Way of Life.®
In addition to the local Chamber of Commerce, Fueling Our Future is also driven by the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation. And at Gate City Bank, our annual increments of $50,000 and logistical support continue to improve quality of life in the area.
“At Gate City Bank, we truly understand that teamwork fuels the economic prosperity of our local communities,” says Kevin Hanson, President & CEO. “Business and community leaders involved with Fueling Our Future are in a unique position to support progress and create a better way of life together.”
Ultimately, the goals of Fueling Our Future are to establish the region as an attractive business location, alleviate long-term workforce shortages and support career education and awareness. Programming falls into three key areas:
Strengthening the workforce through retention, recruitment and talent development.
Enhancing quality of life and place-based assets of the region to benefit businesses, citizens and visitors.
Attracting new businesses to the area while retaining and supporting existing ones.
Emerging Digital Academy is merely one of many examples of how Fueling Our Future is already supporting the region. It’s North Dakota’s only immersive coding bootcamp, presented as a 20-week course. Fueling Our Future is a proud financial supporter of the course, and aims to meet the growing workforce demand for these critical skills.
Fueling Our Future has also helped create a certified shovel-ready-sites program to aid in the attraction and expansion of businesses in our region. The initial work phase has already begun. It has also invested in a workforce initiative, Ignite FMWF, which is designed to be a comprehensive, streamlined and systematic approach to addressing our regional workforce and talent needs.
Did you know the West Fargo Fire Department was the first in ND to utilize jet pilot-style helmets? We helped make it happen! Learn how we’re helping keep local firefighters protected on the job.
Learn more about how we donated $10,000 so that an annual nonprofit fashion show (which has become incredibly popular in the local community) could continue virtually amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
At Gate City Bank, we believe no one should have to suffer from hunger. Learn more about how we surprised Great Plains Food Bank with a brand-new delivery truck in 2016, made possible with a $250,000 pledge over 10 years.
Learn how we’re partnering with the Cass Clay Community Land Trust to establish more affordable housing in the FM community and surrounding area.