Valley City-Barnes County Development Corporation

What Valley City-Barnes County Development Corporation does

Valley City-Barnes County Development Corporation (VCBCDC) is a 501(c)-style nonprofit local economic development corporation founded in 1986 and headquartered at the Rosebud Visitor Center, 250 West Main Street, Valley City, North Dakota. The organization serves businesses, job seekers, prospective residents, and community members across Valley City and Barnes County, delivering business recruitment, retention, and expansion support; workforce development and recruiting assistance; community quality-of-life programming; and housing initiatives including the Single-Family Home Buyer Assistance Program (up to $40,000 for city-limits new homes and $15,000 in rural Barnes County, jointly funded by the City of Valley City and Barnes County). It operates a membership program, publishes board meeting agendas, minutes, and newsletters on a fiscal year running October 1 to September 30, and maintains the "What's the Buzz, Valley City?" community blog across Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

VCBCDC's service portfolio spans core economic development functions: business development services, workforce development, community development, and grant/loan program administration including the Valley City Image Enhancement Grant (up to 50% of project costs, capped at $7,500 general or $30,000 historical) and promotion of the Legacy Investment Technology Loan Fund (LIFT) covering advanced computing, agriculture technology, autonomous vehicles, energy, and healthcare. The organization is led by Director of Development Jennifer Feist, Resource Development Specialist Trinity Nelson, and Retention & Recruiting Coordinator Hanna Wieland, with a board of directors that includes ex officio city and county commissioners and local business leaders from John Deere Seeding Group, Dacotah Bank, Malach USA, Six D Construction, Alliance Pipeline, and other regional employers.

The corporation has no commercial product or software platform; it operates as a service-based nonprofit with no pricing model. Revenue is generated through a hybrid of membership dues, City and County government appropriations, and competitive grants, with services delivered at no direct cost to businesses, residents, or job seekers. The go-to-market motion combines direct field engagement with enterprises (e.g., John Deere expansion partnership), digital channels via developvcbc.com and active social media, and community events including an annual banquet that doubles as a board governance and stakeholder engagement mechanism. No venture capital, private equity, or external institutional investment is associated with the organization, which remains privately governed by its local board.

Name

Valley City-Barnes County Development Corporation

Legal name

Valley City - Barnes County Development Corporation

Website

https://developvcbc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Valley City-Barnes County Development Corporation is a 1986-founded nonprofit local economic development corporation serving Valley City and Barnes County, North Dakota. It delivers business recruitment and retention, workforce development, housing assistance (up to $40K), and community quality-of-life programming funded by membership dues, City/County appropriations, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business retention expansion
• Workforce recruitment support
• Community development programs
• Housing assistance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

West Valley City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The corporation operates a membership program with fees contributing to operational funding.
2. Grant Funding: Secures grant funding from various sources to support local organizations and community development projects.
3. Government Appropriations: Collaborates with City of Valley City and Barnes County Commissions for funding of programs such as the Single-Family Home Buyer Assistance Program.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VCBCDC is a nonprofit economic development corporation that supports business growth, workforce development, and community advancement in Valley City and Barnes County, North Dakota. Its core offerings include Business Development Services for industry recruitment, retention, and expansion; Workforce Development programs connecting job seekers with employers; Community Development initiatives covering housing, recreation, education, and childcare; and targeted financial programs such as the Single-Family Home Buyer Assistance Program and the Valley City Image Enhancement Grant. Services are funded through membership fees, grants, and government appropriations and delivered at no direct cost to clients.

Product overview

Valley City-Barnes County Development Corporation is an economic development organization offering a suite of services to support business growth, workforce development, and community quality of life in Valley City, North Dakota. The organization's core offerings include Business Development Services for company recruitment and expansion support, Workforce Development programs, Community Development initiatives covering housing, recreation, and education, and a Membership Program. Key programs include the Single-Family Home Buyer Assistance Program providing housing financial assistance, the Valley City Image Enhancement Grant for property improvements, and the Legacy Investment Technology Loan Fund for technology advancement. The organization also publishes regular newsletters, board meeting agendas and minutes, and maintains the 'What's the Buzz' community blog. Services are delivered through direct consultation, grant writing assistance, and community partnerships rather than through a software product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Development Services Economic development assistance for businesses of all sizes in Valley City and Barnes County, including recruitment of new industries, support for business retention and expansion, and access to financial resources and program information.
• Workforce Development Career opportunity creation through recruitment of new industries and assisting local businesses with workforce needs, including employment opportunity postings, recruiting resources, and job seeker support.
• Community Development Quality-of-life initiatives focused on housing, recreation, education, and childcare to attract and retain residents and families in Valley City and Barnes County.
• Membership Program Membership program for individuals and businesses to support and participate in economic development efforts in Valley City and Barnes County, with membership fees contributing to operational funding.
• Single-Family Home Buyer Assistance Program Housing assistance program providing up to $40,000 for new homes within Valley City city limits (City funding $10,000 plus County funding up to $30,000) and $15,000 for homes in rural Barnes County, plus waived tap fees from the City of Valley City.
• Valley City Image Enhancement Grant Grant program funded through sales tax providing up to 50% of project costs for qualified businesses to enhance the overall image of the community, with maximums of $7,500 for general improvements and $30,000 for historical preservation projects.
• Legacy Investment Technology Loan Fund (LIFT) Loan fund supporting technology advancement and commercialization of intellectual property in North Dakota, covering industries including advanced computing, agriculture technology, autonomous vehicles, energy, and healthcare.
• Recreation Services Partnership with Valley City Parks & Recreation to provide recreational facilities and programs including the Gaukler Family Wellness Center, parks, trails, and community events to support quality of life.
• Education & Childcare Resources Information and resources about local school systems including Valley City Public Schools, Valley City State University, Sheyenne Valley Area Career & Technology Center, and childcare providers in the Valley City and Barnes County area.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to $40,000 for home buyers in city limits and $15,000 in rural Barnes County through Home Buyer Assistance Program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• City of Valley CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on business development, housing programs, and community initiatives. The City partners with VCBCDC on the Single-Family Home Buyer Assistance Program, providing up to $10,000 through the City's homebuyer assistance enterprise fund and waiving tap fees.
• Barnes CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarnes County Commissions collaborate with VCBCDC on economic development initiatives and housing programs. The county provides funding for the Single-Family Home Buyer Assistance Program offering up to $15,000 for homes in rural Barnes County.
• Valley City State University (VCSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVCSU is a key educational partner offering over 65 degree programs and providing workforce talent. The university collaborates with VCBCDC on workforce development and community initiatives, with record-breaking enrollment recognized.
• Sheyenne Valley Area Career & Technology Center (SVACTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVACTC offers skilled trade elective courses for high school students, providing workforce development opportunities. VCBCDC highlights this partnership as part of educational ecosystem serving the community.
• Valley City Parks and RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership focused on quality of life improvements and community development. VCBCDC promotes recreational facilities including the Gaukler Family Wellness Center and community parks as part of attracting and retaining residents.
• John Deere Seeding GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor manufacturing employer in Valley City. VCBCDC supported John Deere's expansion which 'further deepened its roots in Valley City and its commitment to the community.' David Beierle serves as President of VCBCDC board.
• Valley City Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationally recognized school system serving K-12 students. Partnership supports workforce attraction by promoting educational quality as part of community quality of life.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation: Regional EDC serving Grand Forks County, North Dakota. Operates with a similar mandate to VCBCDC—business recruitment, workforce development, and community advancement—and competes for the same state-level talent and capital pools.
• Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Economic Development Corporation: Larger EDC serving the Fargo-Mess-W. Fargo metro. Delivers comparable business attraction, retention, and workforce programs but at greater scale and resourcing than VCBCDC.
• Minot Area Chamber of Commerce EDC: North Dakota-based chamber-affiliated EDC. Performs parallel economic development services including business recruitment and retention for a smaller North Dakota community.
• Bismarck-Mandan Chamber EDC: EDC affiliated with the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber serving central North Dakota. Closest functional analog in terms of business development, workforce, and community programming.
• Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce: Regional EDC for the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area. Provides the same suite of business attraction, retention, and workforce services as VCBCDC but operates with a much larger staff and budget envelope.
• Greater Rochester Economic Development Inc. Nonprofit regional EDC supporting the Rochester, Minnesota area. Comparable structure and mission to VCBCDC, though serving a larger and more medically-anchored economy.
• Rapid City Economic Development Partnership: Nonprofit EDC for the Rapid City, South Dakota region. Provides analogous business recruitment, workforce, and community development programming for a similar-sized market.

Broad incumbents

• North Dakota Department of Commerce: State-level economic development agency that partners with and helps fund regional EDCs like VCBCDC. Sets statewide policy and incentive frameworks within which VCBCDC operates.

Regional players

• Lake Region State College / Dakota College at Bottineau: North Dakota higher-education institutions that supply workforce talent and partner with EDCs. Comparable workforce-development anchor role to VCSU for VCBCDC.

Others

• Economic Development Association of North Dakota: Industry association that supports and convenes North Dakota EDCs including VCBCDC. Provides advocacy, training, and grant-related programming to peer organizations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vcbcdc
• Facebookfacebook.com/VCBCDevCorp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/valley-city-barnes-county-development-corporation
• Instagraminstagram.com/vcbcdc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Valley City-Barnes County Development Corporation