Economic Development in North Dakota In General, Grand Forks In This Story: Bed Covers for Pick-Up Trucks

Link here to Prairie Business.

Grand Forks-firm Applied Products has been growing by adding market share, creating new distribution networks and raising the profile of its Retrax brand of bed covers. This year, the company’s sales are up 25 percent to 30 percent over last year, Fargo said. It has added more than 20 employees over the last two years and is looking for four or five more.

The company fits into a pattern among companies economic development officials say is more typical of the region than is often recognized.

According to the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corp., 43 companies in the area reported a net gain since 2005 of 971 jobs and an increase of $16,186 in average annual wages, or $11,093 after adjusting for inflation.