Area Economic Developers Announce DOC Partnership
Posted on April 17, 2002

DICKINSON, 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.

Called the Southwest Region Economic Developers, the EDCs include Mike Taylor, Prairie West Development, Beach; Cal Klewin, Bowman County Development, Bowman; Gaylon Baker, Stark Development Corporation, Dickinson; Bob Kudrna, Adams County Development, Hettinger; John Bacon, Dunn County Job Development Authority, Killdeer; Patty Perry, Slope County EDC, Marmath; Glenn Giese, Slope Electric Coop, New England; and Gene Veeder, McKenzie County Job Development Authority, Watford City.

�This partnership will help move three targeted industries and our state forward,� said Gov. John Hoeven. �Technology, advanced manufacturing and energy form the pulse of our economy. The advances we are making in these industries give North Dakota 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.

Gaylon Baker, spokesperson for the Southwest Region Economic Developers, 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 a $20,000 grant which the DOC approved for the Southwest Region Economic Developers. 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 a direct mailing to 7,500 pre-selected business executives, 250 follow-up phone calls and two site visits by potential clients to southwestern North Dakota.

As part of the marketing effort, Baker, Kudrna and Klewin attended the Power Gen International trade show for energy-related industries with the DOC in Las Vegas, NV, last December. Baker also attended National Manufacturing Week in Chicago in March and participated in the Department of Commerce exhibit booth.

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Contact: Gaylon Baker, Southwest Region Economic Developers, 701-225-5997 or Linda Butts, Department of Commerce, 701-328-5342