Economic Development - General Information
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North Dakota typically gets high marks from business owners outside our state who do research on moving or expanding their companies here. Communities in the South Central region of North Dakota are poised to do whatever they can to attract new business or help existing businesses expand.

Several cities in South Central North Dakota...both large and small...have economic development professionals on staff or local volunteer boards who are anxious to show business owners what they have to offer in terms of incentives, property, buildings and potential labor force to make that expansion or new start-up in our area a wise move.

Each community in the Central Dakota Tourism Partnership has a local website giving economic development information or at least a local contact person who can answer your economic development questions. We encourage you not to pass by this region of North Dakota simply because we aren't along the Interstate. You'll be pleasantly surprised to find many of the same opportunities, the same interest to assist you, and the same renowned North Dakota work ethic in our people.

In fact, South Central North Dakota is home to a unique federal economic development program called the Griggs-Steele Empowerment Zone. A federal program created in 1997 by Congress to initiate economic development among America's distressed neighborhoods and rural communities, the Griggs-Steele Empowerment Zone (GSEZ) is one of ten rural Empowerment Zones in the United States. What makes the GSEZ unique is that we are one of two zones based on out-migration of its population, unlike the other eight zones that are based on poverty. Because of our designation the GSEZ has the capabilitites to provide low interest rate loans, tax incentives, and business programs to provide assistance for economic development efforts. Based on these facts, the GSEZ has become a vital program that has been designed specifically to help these zone communities obtain real opportunities and revitalization. Also, two areas in the region have been designated Champion Communities by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development office. The Dakota State Line and Dakota Heartland Champion Communities each have earned the prestigious designation which puts them in favor with the federal government when it comes to offering economic development assistance to growing businesses. Add to this an aggressive regional economic development office -- the South Central Dakota Regional Council -- and you may find starting or expanding a business in this region makes good economic sense!