Currently the emphasis is on encouraging technology and biomedical companies to setup shop in the metropolitan area. This is absolutely great and what we should be doing. However, we shouldn't be ignoring all other types of businesses. Remember, there's about 25,000 students in the metropolitan area. Another 15,000 in Grand Forks and MANY of them would like to settle and start a family in the metropolitan area. We should be encouraging all types of business so there's a diverse selection of DECENT paying jobs in the metro area.

We need to fully support our economic development programs and should be working with existing venture capital programs (Arthur Ventures) and working to establish additional programs. We also need more class A office space downtown. A new and starting business shouldn't be limited to starting out in an old and outdated building. We should do everything we can to ensure these businesses succeed, grow and employ thousands of people into the future.

Finally, businesses need the infrastructure to succeed, and that includes high speed internet. CableOne is currently choking the residents of the city dry by offering a sub-par service for premium pricing. We currently have another provider, Midco, on both sides of the city that can't move in due to the cost of setting up a city wide network in a short amount of time. Many folks I know are choosing to live in West Fargo and Moorhead due to Midco and their internet packages. I myself am considering moving to either, but don't want to.

We also had the opportunity to compete for the Google Gigabit Fiber project, but no one from the city put forth ANY effort on that. In my opinion we missed out on something that could've really put the city on the map in terms of livability and economic development. Now Kansas City is reaping the rewards.

We should also try to lure small/midsize/large corporations to move their headquarters here through tax breaks, etc. the benefits out-way the cost.