Northern Valley Poised for Economic Boom - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

Northern Valley Poised for Economic Boom

  It's just the beginning of a new year and Grand Forks is already off to a great economic start. City sales tax collections continue to roll in at a record rate.

  City officials say large numbers of Canadian shoppers continue to help  fuel record setting sales tax collections.

Kevin Dean, City of Grand Forks: "Last year we collected 17.5 million. This year it's 19.3. So, we're up almost two-million dollars, comparing the past 12-months."

  And now, the western North Dakota oil boom is also beginning to have a major economic effect in the northern Valley.

    Officials say more than 110 Greater Grand Forks companies now have ties to the oil industry.

  Companies like the Steffes Corporation. It just setup shop in Grand Forks during the past year and manufactures all kinds of metal parts for the oil industry. They plan to grow from 28 employees today, to 150 within the next year and a half.

Roger Pearson, Steffes Corporation: "Labor is difficult to keep out in the western part of the State. There's a lot of people coming, good people. But, they also tend to go back home after while. So, Grand Forks provides us with great skilled labor and professional people also."

Kevin Dean, City of Grand Forks: "Whether it's a stock pile or storage or transportation facilities or something like that. It's difficult to find a lot those things in the western part of the State. We want to try to be a part of that if we can."

  It's all adding up to what could make for another stellar, economic year in Grand Forks.

  All kinds of Grand Forks companies…  from dry cleaners to truck repair shops are now providing services to western North Dakota.

  For instance: truck repair companies can move vehicles all the way to Grand Forks and fix them cheaper and faster, than over loaded companies in western North Dakota.