The Driving Access to Wealth & Networks (DAWN) program has launched a fully updated site for the NORTHFORCE webtool at northforce.org to help employers and job candidates connect in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. DAWN is powered by the Northspan Group, a Duluth-based economic and community development nonprofit consulting firm.

“Many volunteer hours and generously donated expertise went into making the new website and getting it up and running,” shared Northspan President & CEO Elissa Hansen. “NORTHFORCE has always been a community-led project geared toward helping people who want to live and work in the Northland. We are very pleased with this new iteration of NORTHFORCE and excited to see how it will be able to serve our region better than ever!”
The earliest version of NORTHFORCE evolved in 2013 when area partners, led by Northspan and the Area Partnership for Economic Expansion (APEX), saw the need to find tech-savvy solutions in response to the workforce crunch. Local employers were struggling to hire, and the intensifying workforce shortages showed no signs of abating. The first iteration of NORTHFORCE won a national economic development award for innovation, as well as the Finance & Commerce Progress Minnesota award for Economic Development Initiative of the Year.
In 2017, NORTHFORCE launched an updated website, built in collaboration with Duluth digital marketing agency Aimclear. The relaunch featured advanced matching capabilities to help registered candidates and employers connect based on industry, experience level, skills, and more criteria. In tandem, a sustained marketing effort educated an audience of job seekers within and beyond the Northland about the high quality of life available in the region.
“In addition to cutting-edge algorithms, NORTHFORCE has maintained a staff of knowledgeable locals who give a human touch to the NORTHFORCE experience, offering tailored assistance to employers and job seekers,” shared Northspan Consultant Ali Bilden Camps, who became program manager for NORTHFORCE in 2020. “We plan to continue to provide the signature NORTHFORCE combination of personalized support for candidates, employers, and entrepreneurs through DAWN.”
Still hosted at northforce.org, it re-introduces NORTHFORCE’s job matching capabilities, resources, and service options within the context of Northspan’s new DAWN program. DAWN provides business owners and entrepreneurs with a wide range of support for building thriving businesses in the Northland, like technical assistance for funding options like the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI).
Under the DAWN program, NORTHFORCE will serve as a key resource and webtool for candidates and businesses. NORTHFORCE will also continue to lead regional hiring and retention efforts such as career fairs. The Discover Healthcare career exploration series for college students and the Workforce Solutions Series for employers are two examples.
Visit the new NORTHFORCE website at northforce.org. Candidates can log in or create a free account to search job listings and receive customized job matches based on their interests. Local employers can sign up to post jobs for free.
You can view this press release and other news updates on the NORTHFORCE blog.
For more information, please contact Northspan Consultant Ali Bilden Camps at acamps@northspan.org.
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Driving Access to Wealth & Networks (DAWN) is a program powered by Northspan providing partner-funded regional economic development navigation resources to form connections, build capacity, and access capital. Learn more at dawnmn.org.
Northspan is a nonprofit consulting firm based in Duluth. With a vision to engage and elevate, Northspan’s mission is to be expert navigators, transforming ideas into accomplishments. Learn more at northspan.org.