Central ND News

The North Dakota Department of Commerce has introduced two new tools designed to enhance the economic growth of the state. The department announced a statewide subscription to LOIS, a property marketing software, which will be available at no extra cost to regional, county, local, and tribal economic development organizations. This software aims to market North Dakota's sites and buildings globally.

Additionally, the department has acquired Lasso, a data collection software used in corporate location decision-making processes. Lasso is intended to help organizations prepare for site selection projects and maintain an updated database on the LOIS marketing map.

Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken stated that these tools would strengthen North Dakota’s position in attracting businesses by providing comprehensive property marketing data. "By providing comprehensive and up-to-date property marketing data, we can better showcase the opportunities available in our state and entice businesses to consider North Dakota as their next location,” he said.

Amber Metz from Lake Agassiz Development Group emphasized the collaboration benefits brought by these tools: "These tools have significantly enhanced our ability to market properties and attract new businesses—but what’s been even more impactful is how they’ve strengthened collaboration between the regional council and our local EDC partners."

The introduction of these tools is seen as a step forward in enhancing economic development efforts across North Dakota. The software provides valuable data insights and fosters collaboration among various community organizations.

Dawn Mandt from Red River Regional Council highlighted the importance of this rollout for rural communities: "Rural communities and regions, which can struggle to afford such tools, now have the same opportunity to promote their spaces as major cities."

Training sessions for using LOIS and Lasso are scheduled for July 9-10 for LOIS training and July 22-29 for Lasso training.

For further details about these tools, interested parties can visit https://www.commerce.nd.gov/lois.