AGRICULTURAL VALUE ADDED: PROSPECTS FOR NORTH DAKOTA

Introduction: This report provides an overview of the important factors affecting investments in agricultural value-added ventures. The introductory section outlines current research on factors important in the location of economic activity. Research applied to specific agricultural value-added ventures, such as food manufacturing and livestock feeding and finishing operations, are discussed. A listing of resources available to entrepreneurs considering value-added investments concludes the introductory section. Following the introductory section are short overviews of industries that already have, or may have, potential for increasing economic activity in the state. All are based on the important foundation of agriculture in the state's economy or upon the natural resource base giving the state a comparative advantage in investments in alternative energy or resource-based recreation.Agribusiness,

Shopping Patterns and Preferences of Underwood, ND, Area Residents

This study was undertaken at the request of the city of Underwood (a community of about 760 located in central North Dakota). The community is engaged in a planning process seeking to revitalize the local retail sector, and a survey was administered to obtain information about residents’ shopping patterns and preferences. A questionnaire was developed and distributed door-to-door to local residents, while a second questionnaire was distributed at the Underwood high school. The responses represented a majority of both target populations. Underwood residents most often reported purchasing groceries, convenience items, and personal services in Underwood. On the other hand, nongrocery personal items, major purchases (e.g., appliances), and nongrocery household items were most often purchased in Bismarck (a small metro about 60 miles away). Youth respondents most often reported purchasing gasoline and auto supplies in Underwood, while all other categories were most often purchased in Bismarck. The most frequent reasons for purchasing items other than in Underwood were that the item was not available in Underwood and other locations had a better selection of merchandise. The types of businesses that residents would most like to see in Underwood were a family restaurant, a hardware store, and a supper club. When asked if they would be willing to pay more to have a good or service available locally, more than 40 percent of households would pay more for eating out, convenience items, nongrocery retail shopping, and entertainment

COMMUNITY TRADE ANALYSIS HANDBOOK

This handbook provides information to help individuals, businesses, and community leaders make decisions on a variety of business and retail trade issues. The handbook is not intended to provide specific answers to the many problems facing rural businesses and communities. Rather, it provides tools and information on retail trade patterns and economic trends that can assist people in making informed decisions regarding their future business activities. The handbook can also enable community leaders to assess their current situation and plan for the future. Specific information contained in the handbook includes trade area maps, city and trade area population, retail sales trends, pull factors, trends in employment and per capita income, and threshold population levels for various business types

COMMUNITY TRADE ANALYSIS HANDBOOK

This handbook provides information to help individuals, businesses, and community leaders make decisions on a variety of business and retail trade issues. The handbook is not intended to provide specific answers to the many problems facing rural businesses and communities. Rather, it provides tools and information on retail trade patterns and economic trends that can assist people in making informed decisions regarding their future business activities. The handbook can also enable community leaders to assess their current situation and plan for the future. Specific information contained in the handbook includes trade area maps, city and trade area population, retail sales trends, pull factors, trends in employment and per capita income, and threshold population levels for various business types.retail trade, rural development, threshold population, Community/Rural/Urban Development,

AGRICULTURAL VALUE ADDED: PROSPECTS FOR NORTH DAKOTA

Introduction : This report provides an overview of the important factors affecting investments in agricultural value-added ventures. The introductory section outlines current research on factors important in the location of economic activity. Research applied to specific agricultural value-added ventures, such as food manufacturing and livestock feeding and finishing operations, are discussed. A listing of resources available to entrepreneurs considering value-added investments concludes the introductory section. Following the introductory section are short overviews of industries that already have, or may have, potential for increasing economic activity in the state. All are based on the important foundation of agriculture in the state's economy or upon the natural resource base giving the state a comparative advantage in investments in alternative energy or resource-based recreation

Wastewater and surface monitoring to detect COVID-19 in elementary school settings: The Safer at School Early Alert project.

UNLABELLED: Schools are high-risk settings for SARS-CoV-2 transmission, but necessary for children’s educational and social-emotional wellbeing. While wastewater monitoring has been implemented to mitigate outbreak risk in universities and residential settings, its effectiveness in community K-12 sites is unknown. We implemented a wastewater and surface monitoring system to detect SARS-CoV-2 in nine elementary schools in San Diego County. Ninety-three percent of identified cases were associated with either a positive wastewater or surface sample; 67% were associated with a positive wastewater sample, and 40% were associated with a positive surface sample. The techniques we utilized allowed for near-complete genomic sequencing of wastewater and surface samples. Passive environmental surveillance can complement approaches that require individual consent, particularly in communities with limited access and/or high rates of testing hesitancy. ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY: Passive wastewater and surface environmental surveillance can identify up to 93% of on-campus COVID-19 cases in public elementary schools; positive samples can be sequenced to monitor for variants of concerns with neighborhood level resolution

Safer at school early alert: an observational study of wastewater and surface monitoring to detect COVID-19 in elementary schools

BackgroundSchools are high-risk settings for SARS-CoV-2 transmission, but necessary for children's educational and social-emotional wellbeing. Previous research suggests that wastewater monitoring can detect SARS-CoV-2 infections in controlled residential settings with high levels of accuracy. However, its effective accuracy, cost, and feasibility in non-residential community settings is unknown.MethodsThe objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness and accuracy of community-based passive wastewater and surface (environmental) surveillance to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection in neighborhood schools compared to weekly diagnostic (PCR) testing. We implemented an environmental surveillance system in nine elementary schools with 1700 regularly present staff and students in southern California. The system was validated from November 2020 to March 2021.FindingsIn 447 data collection days across the nine sites 89 individuals tested positive for COVID-19, and SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 374 surface samples and 133 wastewater samples. Ninety-three percent of identified cases were associated with an environmental sample (95% CI: 88%-98%); 67% were associated with a positive wastewater sample (95% CI: 57%-77%), and 40% were associated with a positive surface sample (95% CI: 29%-52%). The techniques we utilized allowed for near-complete genomic sequencing of wastewater and surface samples.InterpretationPassive environmental surveillance can detect the presence of COVID-19 cases in non-residential community school settings with a high degree of accuracy.FundingCounty of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Centers for Disease Control