Grand Forks Economy

[Brim006]

1 minute ago, forksandspoons said:

Great post! Downtown and campus are crazy nice these days for sure.

 

The new Altru Sports Complex (indoor turf, pool, pickleball, etc) and Children’s Museum will both be along interstate, helping spruce up that area a little and adding more amenities to the city.

Holy smokes that is great, I hadn't heard about those yet, but GF is hitting the nail on the head with those additions, and a bonus of the location!  

[Kab]

You really don’t see a lot of the development in GF since it’s mostly on old highway 81, South Washington

seems to be a lot of apartment buildings but single family homes need to be built.

is home ownership important to the young families?

west of town on south 32nd a few miles out are many new homes 

 

[Brim006]

4 minutes ago, Kab said:

You really don’t see a lot of the development in GF since it’s mostly on old highway 81, South Washington

seems to be a lot of apartment buildings but single family homes need to be built.

is home ownership important to the young families?

west of town on south 32nd a few miles out are many new homes 

 

Yeah, I was wondering how much those developments outside of town had grown since the south side alone wasn't much. And I would say yes, home ownership is still very important to young familes. Most young families who are a few years into their career and have young kids 1000% want to live in a single family home over an apartment. But it's typically a supply and demand topic, so judging off all the new apartments, and so few new single family homes, that's where my thought of most new residents being lower income most likely but maybe I'm wrong since I didnt get to see all the new building out of town in those other neighborhoods. 

[forksandspoons]

$100 million to Grand Sky! Great for Grand Forks 
 

 

[KEH]

On 7/7/2025 at 6:40 PM, Cratter said:

1) Minot is 30 more miles away than GFK and Hector. 

2) Minot is more remote and historically has a more transient population (Minot AFB personnel, oil workers.)

3) Bismarck doesn't have nearly as high as airline service as Hector, making it easier to add flights to that area.

4) "The west" has a higher flying culture because of distance and terrain? No easy drive to MSP like the east does for more flight and leisure options...GFK and Hector still have to compete with MSP for passengers which "the west" does not. Less lake cabin (culture) to go to like everyone seems to have in GFK and Fargo area for vacations? Grand Forks even has a city of about a million people a little over two hours to its north competing for its flights and entertainment dollars.

https://www.kfyrtv.com/2025/07/19/williston-airport-adding-third-daily-flight-minneapolis/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=organicclicks&tbref=hp
 

Williston will now have as many flights on Delta as GFK. GFK is 5th in regards to commercial daily flights, how is this acceptable for the county and city to keep the status quo?

[SIOUXFAN97]

26 minutes ago, KEH said:

https://www.kfyrtv.com/2025/07/19/williston-airport-adding-third-daily-flight-minneapolis/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=organicclicks&tbref=hp
 

Williston will now have as many flights on Delta as GFK. GFK is 5th in regards to commercial daily flights, how is this acceptable for the county and city to keep the status quo?

where's bo?

[Cratter]

20 hours ago, KEH said:

https://www.kfyrtv.com/2025/07/19/williston-airport-adding-third-daily-flight-minneapolis/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=organicclicks&tbref=hp
 

Williston will now have as many flights on Delta as GFK. GFK is 5th in regards to commercial daily flights, how is this acceptable for the county and city to keep the status quo?

Normally I would tell you about supply and demand.

But in this case, the city of Williston is paying airlines to fly to their city.

[KEH]

1 hour ago, Cratter said:

Normally I would tell you about supply and demand.

But in this case, the city of Williston is paying airlines to fly to their city.

Since I have business degree from UND...I'll pass on your supply and demand lesson. Fargo is also paying airlines to fly to their city the authority minutes reflect that dating back 5 years or more. It is also kind of interesting that Mead & Hunt represents both Fargo and Grand Forks on consultation services. The pool for these consultants is small but isn't there a conflict of interest here? Fargo keeps getting the "wins", yeah there is more demand but at what point does the airport authority say "what we are doing isn't working"?

From the outside it seems they are content with a pat ourselves on the back, "we are a Top 25 busiest tower" and "look at our new east/west crosswind runway." They got the small community air service grant which is great but SkyWest and United have yet to say, "we are coming" and time kills deals.

 

[SIOUXFAN97]

who is a1 in charge at the airport?

how long he/she been there and what have they gotten accompished?

would said person be let go if bo brings the airport back "into the city"?

asking for a friend that doesn't like driving to fargo or minny to fly anywhere for a decent price

[Und Princess]

1 minute ago, SIOUXFAN97 said:

who is a1 in charge at the airport?

how long he/she been there and what have they gotten accompished?

would said person be let go if bo brings the airport back "into the city"?

asking for a friend that doesn't like driving to fargo or minny to fly anywhere for a decent price

That is what a good friend does!!! Helps their friend out when they need. I wouldn't want to drive to Bisonville to fly either.

[Cratter]

Minot airport really making the rounds on the national news....not the best ATC.

No Radar + Private contractors = Might just be a recipe for disaster.

[Brim006]

Any confirmation to how close they actually came to colliding? 

[Kab]

4 hours ago, Cratter said:

Minot airport really making the rounds on the national news....not the best ATC.

No Radar + Private contractors = Might just be a recipe for disaster.

Does grand forks have radar and faa?

[Cratter]

1 hour ago, Kab said:

Does grand forks have radar and faa?

Yes

[SIOUXFAN97]

and people wonder where their tax dollars go...local or fed....

just say the mural is staying bo and move on to something else...

wowser

[Und Princess]

1 minute ago, SIOUXFAN97 said:

and people wonder where their tax dollars go...local or fed....

just say the mural is staying bo and move on to something else...

wowser

I agree @SIOUXFAN97

There's other economic issues that need to be addressed.

[Blackheart]

3 hours ago, Und Princess said:

I agree @SIOUXFAN97

There's other economic issues that need to be addressed.

You mean like the millions they’re giving to private developers to build luxury apartments?  

[brianvf]

On 7/15/2025 at 7:09 AM, Brim006 said:

1 - The UND campus updates are absolutely fantastic...we could not believe how much the main campus has changed and grown but still kept the classic traditional look. What an amazing school and campus it has become. The new athletic facilities on and around memorial are FAR bigger and more impressive than I realized they would be. I can see how UND football is winning more of these recruiting battles. Props to anyone/everyone involved because it really came together phenomenally.

This part gets me too each year when I visit GF after moving away.
The campus has really grown into a beautiful area.  It was always a nice campus (from when I went to school in the late 90's), but it looks so much nicer now.