The Griggs-Steele Empowerment Zone is located in the eastern part of North Dakota. The Empowerment Zone includes all of Steele County and one census tract in Griggs County. The communities of Cooperstown, Hannaford, and Binford are included in the Griggs County census tract. The Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community program is designed to afford communities real opportunities for growth and revitalization.

The framework of the program is embodied in four key principles found in our Mission Statement:
1. To increase population while maintaining rural values and lifestyles
2. To enhance community facilities and services to support revitalization
3. To end out-migration
4. To invigorate and diversify the economy

Our staff is eager to assist you with financing and strategic business support as well as infrastructure and workforce needs—everything from site selection, accessing utilities, and tapping into the labor pool and complying with regulations.
Many of our efforts in the Griggs-Steele Empowerment Zone are focused on supporting the growth of primary sector businesses that export most of their products or services outside the region, creating new wealth in the local economy. We’re home to enterprises in industrial manufacturing, value-added agriculture, and technology. Whatever your business development needs, we’re ready to help.