About the DDA.

The Downtown Development Association was founded by a group of downtown enthusiasts who saw the opportunity to enhance the downtown area. The founding members were Jonathan Holth, Sarah Horak, Jill Proctor, Matt Winjum, Anne Zimmer, Nicole Johnson, Matt Norby, Emily Montgomery, Sadie Gardner, Matt Jacobson, David Thompson, Tim Knight, and Jason Schaefer. Since its inception in 2013, the GFDDA has grown to a full-time staff of three, a board of fourteen, and is supported by over 175 partners, sponsors, and Downtowners from Greater Grand Forks and East Grand Forks.

Through DDA’s numerous events and activities that attract visitors to the area and their advocacy for good urbanist principles to grow the downtown area, there have been major investments in the community that provide many opportunities. The DDA has been at the forefront of innovation in the heart of the Grand Forks/East Grand Forks bringing ideas from paper to our streets and activating the underutilized spaces.

Whether you are dancing at concerts, shopping at your favorite stores, having dinner at one of our family-owned restaurants, or biking on the greenway, you are contributing to the vibrancy of our amazing downtown area.

The mission of the Downtown Development Association is to advocate for, promote, grow, and improve THE downtown COMMUNITY.

Learn more about the work the dda does

Staff

Our office is located in the heart of downtown, at 23 N 3rd St, Suite 2, Grand Forks, ND 58203

Our regular business hours are:
Monday - Friday: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Office Phone: 701-757-4051

Jill Proctor
President/CEO
jill@gfdda.com

Jill is passionate about creating a safe, vibrant community where home ownership is attainable, our downtown is thriving, and our spaces are safe. As a licensed Realtor with a strong background in non-profit development work, Jill has a love for connecting people whether it be providing guidance on planting roots in our community or sharing how generosity can impact generations. She also served on the Board of Directors with the Downtown Development Association.

Svea Benefield
Vice President of Marketing
svea@gfdda.com

Svea thrives on creative marketing in the non-profit and economic development sectors. Her experiences at the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation, the Downtown Development Association, and through serving on the board of Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals have created a love for bettering the community she lives in. Svea was born and raised in Grand Forks and she enjoys walks with her dog and watching crime TV shows.

Sierra Jenson
Vice President of Events & Activation
sierra@gfdda.com

Sierra loves bringing people together for fun, new, and unique experiences! She is a North Dakota Native who's a graduate from Minnesota State University Moorhead, majored in Communications with an emphasis in event planning, has played collegiate volleyball, and is proud of her humanitarian projects and abroad studies. Her background in parks and recreation as well as marketing at the Grand Forks Air Force Base has helped her develop a deep appreciation for fostering a happy, healthy, and inclusive community. Sierra can be found enjoying live music, traveling, and out meeting new people!