LIFT funding has increasingly spread outside the Fargo and Grand Forks areas
The program, which offers low-interest loans to companies commercializing IP in North Dakota, is intended to help enhance capacity of new technologies that benefit the state. It's administered by the North Dakota Development fund. Bars show share of that year's funding awarded to firms headquartered outside of Fargo, West Fargo or Grand Forks.
Line chart showing Fargo and Grand Forks' declining share of recommended LIFT funding across three completed bienniums. Fargo, including West Fargo, and Grand Forks received 95% of award dollars in 2019–21, 89.1% in 2021–23 and 77.8% in 2023–25. The ongoing 2025–27 period is excluded.
