A May survey of community attitudes of the greater Grand Forks-East Grand Forks region found that respondents see room for improvement.
The goal of the study, conducted by the University of North Dakota's Social Science Research Institute, was to determine residents' attitudes regarding economic growth, community leadership and regional pride.
On the negative end, the assessment found that more than half of the 805 residents in a 40-mile-radius of Grand Forks think they will do worse financially in the next year; 36 percent expect to do better and 10 percent said no change.
On the rosier side, 64 percent think the area is attracting more retail business, and slim majorities believe economic and commercial development has improved over the past three years.
One-third of respondents feel the region is doing better attracting new jobs, one-third feel it is doing worse and 37 percent see no change.
About half the respondents believe the region will prosper only with outside investors; 30 percent are neutral and 30 percent disagree.
The survey also found that 40 percent of residents feel it is important to recruit agriculture-based industries, while 30 percent favor other industry sectors and 30 percent prefer agriculture-based industries solely.
—Rosie Cataldo
