North Dakota UAS Leadership Committee

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Tommy Kenville
 Isight Drone Service
​Co-Chair

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Michael Fridolfs
​Northrop Grumman Corp.
Co-Chair

Purpose - Convene UAS Sector leaders from across ND to discuss and act on key issues and opportunities for UAS in ND.


​Goals:


  • Convene quarterly meeting of the group. Meetings will include: roundtable discussions featuring updates from each member, various relevant UAS program presentations and discussion of issues and opportunities for UAS industry in ND.
  • Monitor and act on various threats and opportunities in preparation for and during the legislative session.
  • Identify and recruit members to the committee.
  • ​Convene Five Task Forces to Develop action items for the committee: Large Drones, Small Drones, Beyond visual Lineof Sight, UAS Workforce and ND UAS brand and National Marketing Strategy.


***Members of the committee will be charged a $125 administrative fee to support the activities of the committee. Members must be members of their respective local chamber to be a member of this GF Chamber Committee that will represent the ND UAS Industry.

Entrepreneur & Small Business Resources:

​The Chamber of Commerce GF/EGF

  • Shark Tank: business 2 years or younger as well as individuals pitch their ideas for cash prizes
  • Brown Bag: monthly seminars that focus on continued professional development
  • Business After Hours: opportunity to connect with other business owners & entrepreneurs
  • Membership provides: credibility, exposure to a large network, marketing opportunities & more


Grand Forks Region Economic Development

  • Properties: explore properties available throughout the region through the website’s interactive map
  • Tax Incentives & Exemptions
  • Workforce Training: secure funding for hiring interns and training new hires
  • Start Up Grand Forks: seed funding for entrepreneurs who are not quite at the stage for conventional financing
  • Red River Corridor Fund: provide business capital by working with lenders.


Evolve Grand Forks

  • The 701 Co-working Space: provides space for freelancers, remote employees, and independent professionals
  • Main Street Challenge: provides UND and high school students the chance to explore their entrepreneurial ideas with funding and mentorship
  • 1 Million Cups: provides a platform for entrepreneurs to tell their story and connect with key players in the community


SCORE

  • Free Mentoring: provide free, confidential business advice
  • Local Workshops: provide informative sessions that cover all aspects of a business
  • Free Resources: provides a business library to find resources that apply to entrepreneurs & small business owners at any stage 


UND Center of Innovation
 Office Space:

  • Furnished, flexible leases, 24/7 access, utilities included, tech support

 Coaching & Funding Programs

  • Innovate ND: a 3-phase assistance program to turn innovative ideas into profitable businesses
  • SBIR/STTR: a funding program that encourages domestic small business to engage in Federal Research/Research & Development that has the potential for commercialization

 701 Angel Fund

  • Angel funding for high-growth investment opportunities
  • Writing Assistance: 
  • Assist with grants and applications required for associated programs

 

North Dakota Small Business Development Centers
Business Advising: no cost, confidential, personalized advising for for-profit businesses in North Dakota

  • Pre-venture & Start-Up: provide Feasibility Analysis, Start-up Logistics, Business Plan Development, Financial Projections & Access to Capital, Market Research & Marketing Advice
  • Existing Businesses: Access to Capital, Market Research, Business Valuation, Business Transition Planning, Government Contracting, Exporting, Workforce Issues, Growth-Stagnation-and ‘Turn-Around Work’


 Training

  • Online: Free Cyber Security Assessment, Free Human Resource Training options, Training on Exports & International Trade, Government Contracting Webinars
  • In-person: provide a variety of events throughout the year in Grand Forks, Fargo, & Bismarck


U.S. Small Business Administration

  • Business Guide: provide an on-line step-by-step guide to planning, launching, managing, and growing a business
  • Funding Programs: provide a variety of loan, investment capital, disaster assistance, surety bonds, and grant programs
  • Learning Center: provide a variety of free on-line courses covering how to start, run, and grow a business


A pamphlet titled entrepreneur & small business resources
A piece of paper sitting on top of a wooden table.