Fargo INC! February 2016 | Page 16

EMERGING PRAIRIE & 1 MILLION THANKS CELEBRATE ANOTHER YEAR OF GROWTH O N JANUARY 21, EMERGING PRAIRIE HOSTED THEIR SECOND ANNUAL 1 MILLION THANKS EVENT WITH MORE THAN 170 PEOPLE AT ECCE ART + YOGA IN DOWNTOWN FARGO. By Marisa Jackels, lead writer & social media manager of Emerging Prairie Photos courtesy of Emerging Prairie For More Information emergingprairie.com The event, which debuted in 2015, celebrated another year of activity and energy in the Fargo-Moorhead community, and recognition awards were given to community members. Jim Gartin, president of the Greater Fargo-Moorhead Economic Development Corporation, gave a keynote presentation. (Original speaker Marc Nager, builder of Startup Weekend, was unable to attend due to emergency shoulder surgery.) In it, Gartin explained how he moved to Fargo from Ann Arbor, Mich., and was amazed at the growth in the city. “I’d like you to think back to Fargo, four years ago,” he asked the audience. “Think about what Fargo was like. What’s happened in this city … it’s been truly transformational.”