Metro-Wide Open House Helps Welcome Newcomers to the Area

Fargo–Moorhead is welcoming new community members to the area.

It’s part of the Welcome Party Celebration at the Sanctuary Events Center in Fargo.

The Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation has hosted these welcome parties semi-annually for the last few years.

“We hear a lot from people who have moved here that it has a small town feel but it’s like a big city in what there is to do,” said Lisa Gulland-Nelson, who is the Vice President of Marketing at F-M EDC. “And so we’re just trying to make sure that everybody who moves here knows that there really is a lot going on in Fargo–Moorhead.”

So far, the response has been pretty positive.

“This event seemed like a really good way to meet some people and a lot of people I had met already suggested that I come,” said Callie Klinkmueler, who moved to Fargo only a month ago. “So I figured it would be a good place to make a little community for myself.”

There are performances from a number of local art groups at the event.

Something Klinkmueler is already well aware of.

“I auditioned for the Fargo–Moorhead Choral Artists so I actually have to run from this event in a couple minutes to head over to rehearsal there,” she confessed.

It’s not just people who are new to the community that can benefit from coming to this event.

People who’ve lived here for many years can make new friends, business contacts and maybe even learn something new about the community.

“Some locals come out and just kind of point the way and introduce some of the features of the community as well as to just trade some business cards and make some contacts for services, or friendship or whatever,” said local event host Dave Anderson.

“That’s exactly what we want to happen,” said Gulland-Nelson. “You know, if you’re here and you don’t have a way to connect with someone else, if we can connect them to somebody and build those relationships, that’s the goal of the event.”

By giving new community members a warm welcome, more people may decide to call the F–M area their permanent home.

Greater Fargo–Moorhead EDC says it will likely hold the next Welcome Party in March of next year.