Grand Forks Economy

[forksandspoons]

The continual downsizing of the GF Air Force Base has not helped Grand Forks. Less jobs out there means less people living in Forks and working on the base. Impact goes beyond those that work on the base as well. 
 

[forksandspoons]

Agristo should be online by 2028, creating around 300 permanent jobs. In the past I had read that for every job, the population base grows by something like 2.5 people. So Agristo alone should hopefully have an impact of around +750 people. That's a win!

[jdub27]

1 hour ago, Brim006 said:

And other than the good ole boys club actively suppressing new development opportunities to protect their own pockets, I just don't understand how or why it has happened. And the future outlook appears to be even worse.  

Trying to build back after the decimation of the flood followed by a decade plus of not aggressively pushing to get new (especially large) employers in town? I think the latter has changed a bit the last few years, hopefully it pays off.

 

12 minutes ago, forksandspoons said:

The continual downsizing of the GF Air Force Base has not helped Grand Forks. Less jobs out there means less people living in Forks and working on the base. Impact goes beyond those that work on the base as well. 

This was a large detriment as well.

[forksandspoons]

According to this March 2025 article, "...the region’s unmanned and autonomous systems sector expects to see another 500 to 1,000 jobs in the next five years, a field well-suited for airmen of the unmanned aircraft-operating 319th."

https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/economic-development-officials-hoping-to-draw-more-airmen-to-grand-forks

On the low end, 500 jobs could theoretically grow the population by 1,250

[Brim006]

47 minutes ago, forksandspoons said:

The continual downsizing of the GF Air Force Base has not helped Grand Forks. Less jobs out there means less people living in Forks and working on the base. Impact goes beyond those that work on the base as well. 
 

Wow I didnt realize it used to be over 10k. Less than 1/4 of what it used to be even in the 90s, sheesh. That is substantial. 

[Brim006]

38 minutes ago, forksandspoons said:

Agristo should be online by 2028, creating around 300 permanent jobs. In the past I had read that for every job, the population base grows by something like 2.5 people. So Agristo alone should hopefully have an impact of around +750 people. That's a win!

That's great news. Is that the new potato processor coming to town or something else?

[forksandspoons]

16 minutes ago, Brim006 said:

That's great news. Is that the new potato processor coming to town or something else?

Yes, the new potato processor 

[Cratter]

3 hours ago, Brim006 said:

Read through their extensive forecasting study and tell me Grand Forks is doing well compared to any of its peers. 

Oh so that's what you really wanted to talk about. Not that Grand Forks does indeed need a few apartments and a bunch of other housing every year to keep up with real data historical growth....

Insteaf you want to just compare GF to others....If that's the case. Yeah everyone knows GF isn't growing as fast as it's peers. That drum has been beat repeatedly for 20+ years and no one will argue you about it. Lol

[nodak651]

6 hours ago, forksandspoons said:

According to this March 2025 article, "...the region’s unmanned and autonomous systems sector expects to see another 500 to 1,000 jobs in the next five years, a field well-suited for airmen of the unmanned aircraft-operating 319th."

https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/economic-development-officials-hoping-to-draw-more-airmen-to-grand-forks

On the low end, 500 jobs could theoretically grow the population by 1,250

Would be nice if there was a golf facility that allowed people to hit balls outside in the winter.  Might help to attract workers who like golf.

[fightingsioux4life]

7 hours ago, Brim006 said:

I don't think anyone has said Grand Forks was going to crumble to the ground. I think most unbiased outsiders are just noticing the obvious stagnant growth it's had despite all of it's peer cities growing and prospering. I love Grand Forks and want to see it prosper, and maybe that means quality over quantity which would be fine too, but the truth is it hasn't really been either.

To be honest, after the 1997 flood, it is amazing Grand Forks is in as good of shape as it is. Some people had Grand Forks emptying out after the flood. Thankfully that didn't happen.