economy Archives - KVRR Local News

Small Business Expo Kicks off Summer of Shopping

The event was hosted by Love Your Local FM Area, who said the outdoor venue was a nice change of pace.

June 1, 2025

Gabriel Ostler,

The Korean Corndog food truck, also owned by Indira Kovaci.WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – Smoky skies and gusty winds didn’t stop people from swinging by the sixth-ever Small Business Expo, hosted by Love Your Local FM Area. Over 70 vendors set up along the rustic streets, delighting Love Your Local’s Indira Kovaci. She’s been organizing these events for about four…

National Independent Bookstore Day Celebrated in Roberts Alley

Ferguson Books pulled out all the stops to encourage people to support local businesses.

April 27, 2025

Gabriel Ostler,

Shoppers check out the offerings on Independent Bookstore Day.FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – Book lovers turned out for a special occasion aimed at keeping their money in the local economy. Saturday was Independent Bookstore Day in the U.S., and Ferguson Books located in Roberts Alley celebrated the occasion accordingly. There were prize giveaways, like gift certificates to KingPinz, and author Lisa…

DFL Leadership Holds Town Hall at Concordia

The event was part of a statewide tour aiming to spark conversations regarding the impacts the Trump administration's cutbacks will have on the lives of Minnesotans.

April 16, 2025

Gabriel Ostler,

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR – Governor Tim Walz didn’t just stop by Dilworth during his visit to Clay County – he also spoke at a town hall meeting on the Concordia College campus. It was hosted by Sen. Rob Kupec and Majority Leader Sen. Erin Murphy. It’s part of a string of events put on by the DFL to discuss how…

Von Maur Celebrates Grand Opening at West Acres

Crowds turned out in force to see the transformation of the space that had sat vacant since Herberger's went out of business mid-2018.

April 6, 2025

Gabriel Ostler,

Heirs to the von Maur lineage work together to cut the ribbon unveiling the Fargo store to the public.FARGO, N.D. – “Honestly, it’s the best turnout I’ve seen in maybe my whole career,” said the CEO of Von Maur, Jim von Maur. That’s saying a lot for a department store chain that was founded in 1872 and boasted 38 locations…

Sen. Kevin Cramer Reacts to President Trump’s Tariffs

The Senator acknowledged that some of his Republican colleagues raised interesting points when it came to checks and balances at the federal level, but still supports the tariffs overall.

April 3, 2025

Gabriel Ostler,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – The markets took quite the tumble March 3rd, as the three major composite indexes posted their worst single-day losses since 2020. This came on the heels of “Liberation Day,” or what Trump named his two-part tariff rollout. Which was made up in part of a reciprocal tariff program. Some economists take issue with the way these…

Rise in Gas Prices Normal for Now, but Issues Could Deepen

Experts say that the current bump in cost is normal for this time of year, but it is possible that economic policies could make it more difficult for the U.S. to acquire gas.

March 6, 2025

Gabriel Ostler,

FARGO, N.D. – People seeing a jump in gas prices shouldn’t be terribly concerned – at least, not yet. The average gas price in North Dakota has risen to over $3 a gallon – when it was just under that threshold last month. Experts from AAA say that this is normal for the beginning of March. As weather warms, demand…

Gov. Armstrong Talks North Dakota Economy, Possible Efficiency Moves

The governor believes the state has the ability to adjust to America's shifting needs, and also feels he can cut back on some committees at the state level.

February 12, 2025

Gabriel Ostler,

BISMARCK, N.D. – The second and final day of the Chamber at the Capitol event featured a meeting with Governor Kelly Armstrong, who discussed why it’s so important to have face-to-face meetings with business leaders. “Because government doesn’t create a single job. Government doesn’t create economic growth,” he explained. “These guys do.” He also addressed the repeated elephant in the…

Prospective Growers, Industry Experts Meet for Hemp Summit

There are many potential uses for industrial hemp, such as in the creation of building materials.

January 29, 2025

Gabriel Ostler,

WAHPETON, N.D. – At the brand-new Väderstad building in Wahpeton, members of all parts of the industrial hemp industry met to discuss its viability as a potential crop for the region. Harold Stanislawski of the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute says that this year’s Northland Industrial Hemp Summit is all about building relationships. “We’re willing to cooperate and collaborate with one…

Small Business Saturday Brings Excitement to Fargo Economy

The holiday began in 2010 and has steadily picked up traction every year since.

December 1, 2024

Gabriel Ostler,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – In the excitement of Black Friday, it seems many think of the deals they can score from large retailers, and don’t pay as much attention to the locally owned businesses in their backyard. Small Business Saturday seeks to rectify that situation – and it’s especially important to do so in economies such as this one. “We…

Gov. Burgum Releases Housing Recommendations

The governor addressed a crowd in Bismarck, outlining proposals that would be added to his upcoming budget.

November 12, 2024

Gabriel Ostler,

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — Governor Doug Burgum is aware that housing is becoming an issue within the state of North Dakota. At a news conference in Bismarck on November 12th, he unveiled a set of recommendations, gathered into 6 separate categories, that he believes will tackle the issue head-on. These recommendations were compiled by the North Dakota Housing Initiative Advisory…