Today, community leaders gathered with officials from the City of West Fargo and Governor Doug Burgum to discuss the city’s ongoing economic development program and Gov. Burgum’s Main Street ND initiative.

Since 2016, the City of West Fargo has embarked on an ambitious multiyear effort to revitalize downtown West Fargo through four new mixed-use buildings, a new civic plaza and an urban road project to increase the walkability of Sheyenne Street from Main Avenue W. to Seventh Avenue W. Developers are also adding a second mixed-use development at the intersection of Sheyenne Street and 32^nd Avenue W., which will include four mixed-use buildings, a large civic plaza and West Fargo’s first parking garage. A pedestrian underpass will also be installed at the intersection of Sheyenne Street and 32^nd Avenue W. as part of the city’s Sheyenne Street reconstruction project to increase pedestrian access to the new development and plaza.

A number of in-fill projects are also planned or currently underway throughout the city. These include the Gateway West development, which will be the site of the city’s first Hornbachers grocery store in an empty field north of I-94 along Sheyenne Street and Harper’s Heights, which is a new affordable, senior living development at the former site of a trailer court near downtown West Fargo.

According to Governor Doug Burgum, the Main Street Initiative is intended to assist engaged communities become even stronger, increasing the quality of life for all North Dakotans. The initiative is based on three key pillars – healthy, vibrant communities, 21^st century workforce and smart, efficient infrastructure. Taskforces across state agencies and partners are working to identify key services in community building. The key pillars within the Main Street Initiative will help empower communities to remain competitive in a rapidly changing world of emerging industries and technologies.

During the summit, Commission President Dardis also issued an official proclamation declaring the City of West Fargo a Main Street ND community and joining the initiative. The proclamation recognizes the city’s efforts to create a vibrant, engaged community while identifying innovative strategies to deliver these amenities in a fiscally responsible manner. The city will continue planning and strategizing using the pillars of the initiative and input received during the roundtable discussion.