Grand Forks region’s Bakken Initiative said Aug. 8 that it has launched a new website as part of a multi-pronged promotional campaign. The www.accessthebakken.com website promotes opportunities for business expansion into the Grand Forks region to oil industry executives operating in western North Dakota.
The initiative launched in May at the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference. The City of Grand Forks, Grand Forks County, The Chamber-Grand Forks/East Grand Forks, the Grand Forks Region EDC, AE2S, Energy & Environmental Research Center, and eight local businesses have made commitments to date to support the initiative.
“Grand Forks has many attributes we believe can be of mutual benefit to those companies that want to expand, but simply can’t find the space or work force to do so,” said Grand Forks Mayor Michael Brown.
Since January, three companies have announced expansion plans in the region to meet growing demands from the oil industry for their products. One company, Steffes Corp., is expanding its Dickinson, N.D., plant to Grand Forks in part, executives said, because of the challenges they have finding employees.
“We are here to help our fellow North Dakotans,” said Grand Forks Council President Hal Gershman. “This is an example how working together, the entire state can benefit.”
The campaign has adopted the theme “Expand East – Do Business West”, to promote Grand Forks as a place that can supplement the oil boom in the Bakken oil reserve.
