A Case Study of Rural Industrialization in Jamestown, North Dakota. Agricultural Economics Report No. 95.

The study's objectives were to: (1) determine the criteria used by industry in the selection of an area as a plant site; (2) measure the interdependence and economic impact that a manufacturing sector has on an agriculturally dominated rural area; and (3) evaluate employees' attitudes toward their new jobs in manufacturing. Jamestown, North Dakota was chosen as the study area since it typified a rural area which was heavily dependent on agriculture, but which had been successful in attracting industry. Questionnaires were used to gather data from: (1) managers and personnel of four firms recently locating in Jamestown, (2) four other firms who had evaluated the site but did not locate there, and (3) business and civic leaders of Jamestown. Factors designated of greatest influence to site selection were community attitudes toward industry, grants and concessions made available to manufacturing firms, and labor related factors. Positive labor related factors were labor costs, willingness of local workers, a large supply of trainable labor, labor laws (right-to-work law), and labor unions. Although some dissatisfaction was expressed toward the personal time discipline required in manufacturing work, most workers expressed approval of their job role, of the higher standard of living manufacturing employment provided the majority of persons, and of the opportunity for employment afforded 81 percent of the personnel who objected to outmigration from the State. (NQ)