Economic Developers Announce DOC Partnership
Posted on March 7, 2002

MAYVILLE, ND � Eight local economic development corporations (EDCs) and the North Dakota Department of Commerce today announced a partnership to market the region for business expansion or relocation.

Led by the Traill County Economic Development Commission, the Griggs-Steele Empowerment Zone, and the Traill County Technology Center, the other local partners include Cooperstown/Griggs Development Corp., Finley EDC, Hope EDC, Binford EDC, Hannaford EDC, Hatton EDC, Hillsboro EDC and Mayville-Portland EDC. Local partners in the campaign include Cooperstown/Griggs Development Corp., Finley EDC, Hope EDC, Binford EDC, Hannaford EDC, Hatton EDC, Hillsboro EDC and Mayville-Portland EDC.

�This partnership will help move technology and our state forward,� said Gov. Hoeven. �Technology is the heartbeat of our economy, linking our state to the world. The advances we are making in technology give the state and our business developers a competitive advantage in the global marketplace.� Gov. Hoeven sent a letter of congratulations to each of the local economic developers.

Rick Forsgren, Executive Director, Traill County Economic Development Commission agrees with the governor. �Our ultimate goal is to bring higher-paying jobs to the region and become the place where people want to live, raise families and operate successful businesses.�

Linda Butts, director of the Economic Development and Finance Division of the Department of Commerce (DOC), made a formal announcement of the $5,000 grant which the DOC approved for the local EDCs. The grant is part of the state�s Partners In Marketing program which has $175,000 allocated to support local economic development efforts to market communities and regions across the state for business expansion or relocation.

�The regional approach these eight organizations are taking is exactly what we hope to see statewide,� Butts said. �We are pleased to support this partnership as it increases the awareness of the business opportunities that exist here.�

As part of the campaign, the local EDCs identified measures for their success, including 200 out-of-state business inquiries and at least two site visits by businesses interested in the region for expansion or relocation.

As part of the marketing effort, four area representatives joined the DOC at its exhibit booth and hospitality event during the Outsourcing World Summit in Lake Buena Vista, Fl, last month. The three-day event targets Fortune 100 and 500 companies interested in outsourcing functions to another group or region of the country.

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Contacts:

Rick Forsgren, Traill County EDC, 701-786-4746, [email protected]

Linda Butts, Department of Commerce, 701-328-5342, [email protected]