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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum was in Jamestown Tuesday to share his Main Street Initiative with the community.

The roundtable discussion was led by Burgum as he asked community leaders, business owners and city members what they see is prohibiting growth the community.

Burgum shared his three pillars of what he would like communities to follow in order to see more growth communities. They include being a healthy, vibrant place to live, 21st Century workforce, and smart, efficient infrastructure. Burgum says it varies from community to community and would ultimately be up to Jamestown to follow through with the initiative.

Several other area leaders spoke including JRMC CEO K.C. DeBoer.

“We need to keep the younger generation here,” DeBoer stated. “There has to be something to keep young professionals in Jamestown. At the JRMC, our struggle is keeping them. The University of Jamestown really keeps our doors open with their internships.”

Jamestown High School Principal Adam Gehlhar stated that the school was looking to provide more in-community internships.

“it’s important that we empower students to see roles in the community,” he stated. “We’ve been providing project based learning and resources to help get students excited in the importance in workforce.”

Jamestown Tourism Board member Matt Woods stated that Jamestown is continually looking at what other communities are doing when they should be focused on what Jamestown itself should be on its own.

Burgum’s initiative has led him to speak in several other communities across the state. He said having all the community members come together and share dialogue was what the initiative is all about.

When asked what his thoughts were when comparing Jamestown to those other communities, he stated that Jamestown was already working in the right direction.

For more on the initiative, you can visit MainStreetND.com or call 701-328-5300.