OAKES, N.D. (NewsDakota.com)-“The only way our state can reach it’s full potential, is that our communities reach their full potential.”

That’s the message North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum had for the community of Oakes  Monday evening.

After meeting with students and staff at the Oakes school earlier in the day, Burgum presented his “Main Street Initiative” to business and community leaders as well as a group of students.

The Governor’s program is based on three pillars: workforce development, healthy vibrant communities, and smart infrastructure; the latter applying more to larger metro areas in the state.

Over the course of the meeting, attendees noted the amount of jobs available in various industries in the area, but indicated a tough sell in how to keep younger workers to stay in the community.

Some voiced the state’s decision to close down the area Job Service office, while others noted a struggle to appeal to younger professionals outside of the workplace.

The Governor’s parting message was to come together and formulate a plan for the future, and the state would be willing to help where it could, and where the community would see fit.

Burgum noted that for every community the initiative has visited to this points, dashboards are being created to assist in the further development of ideas between the state and the cities.