BISMARCK – The North Dakota Department of Commerce has launched the Relocation Opportunity for Outstanding Talent Grant Program (ROOT) to help businesses attract and retain skilled workers by offering relocation incentives.

Through the program, employers must provide a one-to-one match in relocation incentives, such as hiring bonuses, licensing fees or moving expenses, according to a Commerce Department news release. Funding is available until all allocated funds are distributed, and funds will be disbursed after the employee has relocated and completed the first pay period. Businesses must retain employees for at least one year, and if an employee leaves voluntarily before that period, the employer may be responsible for a prorated reimbursement.

Applications will be reviewed in the order received, with priority given to businesses demonstrating critical vacancies, relocation feasibility, and the ability to provide matching funds.

“North Dakota employers are facing critical workforce shortages, and the ROOT program is designed to bridge that gap,” Commerce Workforce Director Katie Ralston Howe said in the release. “By supporting relocation efforts, we’re ensuring businesses can grow while strengthening our communities.”