As the city of East Grand Forks notices one local retailer closing after the other, its Economic Development Housing Authority has agreed to participate in a study with the local chamber of commerce, data from which could help the community attract and retain business.
The EDHA will spend $10,000 over the next two years on the study. Other study participants will include the city of Grand Forks, the Greater Grand Forks Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Grand Forks Regional Economic Development Corporation, according to the city's economic development director Paul Gorte.
No spot in the region has been spared in the loss of retail - in the last year alone, the city of Grand Forks has lost or will soon be losing Kmart, Sears, Pier One Imports and Hornbacher's Grocery.
"We've seen part of it with what happened at Shopko and what happened at the Dollar General store," said Gorte of East Grand Forks. "There are things that can be done to help us fill spaces. We have a couple of empty stores right now that we have to deal with, we have a couple of parcels that are potential retail parcels."
Data from this study also could help the city's existing retailers learn what needs they can fill in the community.
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The study also will address entertainment opportunities.
"East Grand Forks is 15 years ahead of most communities," said Chamber CEO Barry Wilfahrt on Tuesday. "If you take a look at the movie theater we have here, that generates 400,000 plus ticket sales a year. That is the envy of many, many communities this size."
Council member Marc DeMers said the city should also consider using some of the study's input on parks and recreation opportunities, which would fit into the exploration of entertainment. All data from the study will be available to the general public afterward, except anything that could put the city at a competitive disadvantage.
