Washington, D.C. – More than 40 business and community leaders arrived in the nation’s capital this week for the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting to discuss pressing issues at the national level that are impacting the local region.
The “Fly-In” event, which ran from May 19 to May 21, is a chance for the Chamber to chat with U.S. Congressional delegates from North Dakota and Minnesota, along with federal agencies and others who have a stake in shaping the local area.
“It’s a very influential time for us to be here,” Chamber CEO Shannon Full told The Flag’s Scott Hennen.
Listen: Shannon Full talks about the three-day “Fly-In” event in Washington
Full says the trip began with a briefing at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce about the current trade and tariff climate.
Other topics covered included immigration, agriculture and artificial intelligence.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and North Dakota U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer held a briefing about defending the country, along with immigration and workforce matters.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum also held a session about improving the relationship between farmers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the effort to eliminate roadblocks to pipeline development.
Dustin Mitzel, who runs Happy Harry’s Bottle Shops in Fargo, expressed his concerns about how fewer customers are coming across the northern border to buy his products.
Mitzel says he’s lost as much as 10% of business out of Canada so far this year.
Listen: Dustin Mitzel talks to The Flag’s Scott Hennen
“The tariff thing obviously upset them,” said Mitzel. “But I think it was the tone about the 51st state [talk from Trump] that got them fired up and extra fuel to say we’re frustrated.”
Levi Otis, who operates Ellingson Drainage, is concerned about finding enough workers to run his business and wants to see leaders “tone down some of the rhetoric” on trade and immigration to “get some deals done.”
Listen: Levi Otis talks to The Flag’s Scott Hennen
“Let’s have some real conversations on how we can find employees who want to come work for a short time or want to come move to North Dakota,” said Otis.
On their website, the Chamber writes the event would “focus on building partnerships, advancing critical regional issues and strengthening our public policy efforts.”
