In the pulsating heart of Grand Forks, the Downtown Development Association champions a mission as dynamic as the streets it seeks to transform. To advocate, promote, grow, and improve the downtown space. With three incredible members, Svea Benefield marketing extraordinaire and newcomer, Sierra Jenson with a knack for creative engagement, and the visionary CEO Jill Proctor who I had the chance to interview Thursday, October 12th at Archives early morning.
Proctor is a Grand Forks Native and loves her community. It was not until after her college days that she felt the need to involve herself in the community. Since then, she has cemented herself as an important part in the development of the downtown area in Grand Forks. But how did she find herself in her role as the head of the DDA?
Ten years ago, former Mayor Brown identified a void, Grand Forks was the only city in North Dakota without a DDA. After developing a plan to incorporate one into the city, Proctor answered the call to service and served as a founding board member and has been a guiding light ever since. For eight dedicated years, she volunteered her time and expertise. Serving two terms as President steering the organization through some of its most tumultuous challenges, including the Demers construction and the global Covid-19 pandemic.
But Proctor’s role is not merely weathering storms; it is charting a course for community betterment. After Blue Weber’s departure, former CEO of the DDA, Proctor, along with the board members, went back to hone its mission. The consensus being that Downtown needed “activation” to truly become the heartbeat of Grand Forks.
The term “activation” can sound like a buzzword, but put simply, it is identical to breathing life into the downtown area. What does “activation” mean for you, as a student? Think of it as planting seeds in a community garden; each addition, from events to urban developments, helps cultivate a rich, diversified environment.
A pivotal focus for Procter and her team has been “placemaking” shaping public spaces that resonate with the community.
Afterall, “it takes a village,” and in the DDA’s case, it is a village set on proactive collaboration. With support spanning from the University to the City of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks to the local businesses in and out of the downtown area. And it is not just a one-way street; the benefits trickle down to each citizen through improved amenities and public services, funded in part by taxes from development in the downtown space and to create a community worth living in.
The paradigm has shifted; people are no longer solely motivated by job prospects when choosing a community and students are aware of what other cities and communities have to offer. In part Proctor sees that people desire for a greater sense of belonging, a variable the DDA recognizes and strives to provide. With enhanced safety measures like thoughtful lighting in the downtown area and well-designed walking spaces, downtown Grand Forks aims to be a model for other areas within the city, offering not just jobs, but an environment where people can enjoy the community to its fullest.
While the vision is grand, Proctor admits that it will take time. With plans to enrich future events like the homecoming parade and more community events during the winter, the DDA continuously seeks community feedback.
Proctor is eager to include the student body in this community renaissance. So, how can you contribute? She has one simple piece of advice: “Just show up.” Whether it is volunteering, joining a committee meeting, or reaching out and submitting an idea on their website. Your ideas are not just welcome, they are actively sought after. If you have ever felt that something was lacking in the local community, now is your chance to vocalize it and be part of the solution. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain.
At its core, the DDA aims to reinvigorate downtown Grand Forks to better the quality of life for everyone, from the seasoned local to the fresh-faced college student. So, the question is not why you should get involved, it is why haven’t you already? Head to the DDA website to find out how you can be part of this transformation.
Davíd Moreno is a Dakota Student General Reporter. He can be reached at daví[email protected].
