Economy Grand Forks, North Dakota

employees @ lm glasfiber work on blade wind turbine.


largest employers

according city s 2013 comprehensive annual financial report, largest employers in city are:

major manufacturers in grand forks include wind turbine manufacturer lm glasfiber , small aircraft manufacturer cirrus design. major food producers include potato processor j. r. simplot company , state-owned north dakota mill , elevator largest flour mill in united states. amazon.com , sei information technologies both operate call centers in grand forks. other large private employers in city include locally owned alerus financial branch of banks, home of economy, , locally owned hugo s chain of supermarkets.

the retail , service sector important part of economy. historic center of shopping in grand forks downtown area. today, downtown home small shops , restaurants , south grand forks has become major retail district in city. grand forks has 3 large shopping centers. oldest, grand cities mall, on south washington street , contains small, locally owned stores kmart. 80 stores, area s largest indoor mall columbia mall anchored scheels, sears, j.c. penney, , small food court. newest major shopping center in city grand forks marketplace power center mall features supertarget, best buy, lowe s, gordmans, , several smaller stores. depending on relative strength of canadian dollar versus american dollar, greater grand forks area attracts large numbers of tourist shoppers manitoba , winnipeg.

economic development

the city government involved in economic development process, helping firms grow , attracting new firms. portion of sales tax revenues set aside this, going grand forks growth fund. companies can request low-interest loans or grants fund provided meet criteria, such paying relatively high wage , doing of business outside city s trade region. city contributes grand forks region economic development corporation (edc), public-private organization receives funding banks , other major businesses. edc plays consulting role businesses, such identifying suitable sites expansion or assembling public funding packages. other key role vet businesses see if suitable funding growth fund.

community leaders have long seen und economic engine city. besides regular faculty, has business-like components such energy , environmental research center. und hosts technology incubator called center innovation. more recently, university has been working commercialize research. major thrust in direction construction of research park on western fringes of campus. potential economic opportunity city addition of unmanned aerial vehicle (uav) mission grand forks air force base.