Jobs Development Authority secretary Steve Andrist said there have been discussions in recent years of altering the focus of its economic development director position more toward overall community development. He said discussion turned to action after Economic Development director Ralph Hoversten decided to step down at the end of last year.
“It was kind of acknowledged that it should be our focus. Since we don’t have an economic development director right now it was an opportunity to do it,” said Andrist.
Andrist said in the past, the focus was more on attracting business. Now, more emphasis is to be placed on infrastructure to accompany those businesses.
“Instead of focusing strictly on jobs, we want to build a strong, progressive community with events, active people and so on,” said Andrist. Andrist said the job, which it posted Jan. 15 on the North Dakota Department of Commerce Web site, still involves overseeing some of their major economic development programs. Andrist said it also involves more community oriented tasks such as being the “contact person to deal with community events.”
Andrist said an example of such projects the new director is to be involved in would includes a proposed community center that a local group wants to build. Andrist said the proposed facility is to feature facilities such as a hockey rink, all of which would greatly enhance the city of Crosby and Divide County.
Other responsibilities of the new director include managing existing programs such as the county’s revolving door fund and the Crosby Spirit Fund, a fund similar to Williston‘s STAR Fund.
Andrist said the work of attracting business is still important and isn’t going to be ignored, but there are two things that community development can do in enhancing the city and county.
“You put your community in a position to accept these jobs if they come and you can make it a reasonable place for people to live who are already here,” said Andrist.
Andrist said applications for the position are taken until Feb. 15. He said the Jobs Development Authority board is to then review the applications
Finalists are to be brought in for interviews during late February and early March and the group hopes to have the position filled by the end of March. Andrist thinks it can attract a strong candidate whether or not the individual is from the area.
“Over the last 15 years we’ve had three economic development directors. None were local, but all three stayed,” said Andrist.
Andrist said this speaks to the quality of community they already enjoy in Crosby and Divide County, something he feels should appeal to the new hire as well.
Having a new director by spring allows the person selected to get up to speed and work to have the city and county benefit from a likely increase in oil activity in western North Dakota. Andrist said Crosby is more on the fringe of activity right now compared to places such as Williston, Tioga and Stanley, but there should be opportunities for it to grow as well.
“We anticipate a lot of activity for a few years at least. It’s time now to commit fully for at least the next couple of years to take advantage of the opportunities coming,” said Andrist.
To apply for the position, mail a letter of application and resume to the Divide County Jobs Development Authority, P.O. Box E, Crosby, N.D., 58730 or by e-mailing Steve Andrist at stevea@crosbynd.com.
For more information on the job listing, visit the city of Crosby Web site at www.crosbynd.com/?id=1 or visit the Economic Development Association of North Dakota at www.ednd.org/default.aspx?tabid=62.
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