FAQ
Who is the EDC?
The Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is a non-profit organization that provides comprehensive services to support local business start-up and expansion, as well as the attraction of new companies and industries to Grand Forks and the surrounding region. The EDC is funded by regional businesses and individuals, the city of Grand Forks and Grand Forks County.
What types of companies does the EDC work with?
The EDC supports the growth of primary sector businesses, which export the majority of their products or services outside the region and generate additional business revenues and household incomes within the local economy. A large portion of the EDC's efforts are focused on supporting the growth of existing local primary sector operations, through facility expansions, employment training and growth and productivity enhancements. These regional expansions are extremely important to the EDC's mission, as well as to the local economy. National studies indicate that between 70 and 90 percent of sustainable long-term regional growth is generated from existing business and institutional economic base.
What does the EDC do?
- We are the point-of-contact for economic development activities in the Grand Forks region.
- We collaborate with local, state and federal governments to build a competitive environment in which businesses can locate and thrive.
- We work with community-wide resources by accessing board members, city public service, educational institutions and private networks to further business retention and expansion activities in the region.
- We work to strengthen relationships with regional, state, national and international economic development organizations in order to maintain a current perspective of business trends and issues.
- We identify and actively market the region to targeted industry sectors.
- We respond to economic development inquiries, maintain up-to-date information, develop marketing materials, research target industries, write proposals for perspective clients, host site visits and establish relationships with national and international site-selection firms.
- For a brief overview of the EDC, view the Economic Development 101 presentation.
