The Nice Center at NDSU and Microsoft TechSpark have teamed up to launch an online resource guide called Nice.Help. The new website pulls together more than 150 federal, state and local resources that help individuals and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Visitors can search by categories such as “Lost my income,” “Needs food,” “Can’t make payroll” or “Needs money to keep [a business] going.”

The Nice Center, an entrepreneurship center at NDSU, offered to partner with Microsoft to populate the website with programs ranging from small grants for indigenous artists to loan forgiveness programs from the Bank of North Dakota.

Ozbun Executive Director of Entrepreneurship Scott Meyer said, “Nice.Help helps our community and our students. Our student entrepreneurs are running the site and learning to provide value in a time of need. Our area businesses and individuals can connect with the resources they need to get through the crisis.”

Nice.Help was conceived of by Microsoft TechSpark.

“One goal of Microsoft TechSpark is to share and implement successful concepts across our regions,” said TechSpark manager Taya Spelhaugh. “We’re delighted to be doing that today through the Nice.Help project, a model that originated in Miami then adopted by Washington State and Detroit, and has found its way to our community in Fargo. We work diligently and passionately to foster economic growth and opportunities by partnering with nonprofits. I’m thrilled that the Nice Center is taking on this project, as it will greatly benefit so many in our community.”

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