Peace Garden News

Senator John Hoeven attended the opening of the North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) Career Innovation Center (CIC) in Fargo. The new facility, which cost nearly $35 million, is designed to offer training and technical education for both high school and college students in the region.

The CIC received over $12 million in federal funding, a portion of which Hoeven helped secure. His involvement included working with U.S. Treasury Department officials to advance North Dakota’s application to the Capital Projects Fund, which provided certainty for Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center projects across the state. In 2023, Hoeven secured Treasury approval for $68 million in CTE funding for North Dakota, including $10 million allocated specifically for NDSCS’s project. Additionally, more than $700,000 from a broadband-focused fund supported the center.

The Economic Development Administration also contributed $1.5 million under the bipartisan CARES Act to support the CTE initiative in Fargo.

Hoeven highlighted that these funds were essential for making the CIC possible as well as supporting other CTE Centers throughout North Dakota. He emphasized how the center will help address workforce needs by giving students access to affordable education and training that prepares them for careers without significant debt.

“The Career and Innovation Center is a hub of opportunity, teaching the skills we need for the jobs we have open and getting students into great careers, all while providing an affordable education. That’s why we worked persistently with the Treasury Department to secure the $68 million CTE award for North Dakota, which was a key piece in making this project at NDSCS a reality to the benefit of both students and employers,” said Hoeven. “By combining hands-on, career-focused education with cutting-edge technology, it will help bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world skills. From robotics and AI to agriculture, health care, skilled trades and general education, the CIC will meet high demand workforce needs, ensuring students graduate job-ready while providing a steady talent pipeline for employers in the region.”