North Dakota Micro-Business Marketing Alliance Records, 1989-1994
Collection Overview
Title: North Dakota Micro-Business Marketing Alliance Records, 1989-1994
ID: OGLMC1280
Extent: 0.5 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 01/24/1994
Subjects: Business and Industry, Organizational Records
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The North Dakota Micro-Business Marketing Alliance Records have been divided into seven series:
Series 1: Introductory
Series 2: Membership
Series 3: Meetings and Correspondence
Series 4: Financial
Series 5: Products
Series 6: Publications
Series 7: Miscellaneous
Collection Historical Note
The North Dakota Micro-Business Marketing Alliance was a three-year program set up in 1990 following a $140,000 grant from the Northwest Area Foundation to promote economic development. The Alliance's first press release states its four main goals: "1) to create a marketing network to bring North Dakota products to the urban marketplace, 2) to provide technical and product development assistance to create products designed to sell in the urban marketplace, 3) to use existing skills and resources at home-based or small town worksites to create new products, and 4) to develop a revolving loan pool for small rural enterprises."
The main headquarters were in Mandan, North Dakota with 17 production sites located throughout the state. The Alliance by-laws state that membership included, "any resident, corporation, partnership, or association in the state of North Dakota that engages in economic development, manufacturing, or other business." Most of the group's members were communities or counties hoping to stimulate economic growth. Annual membership dues were $1,000.
The Alliance was run primarily by a nine-person board of directors who were elected every year. These board members were required to be residents of the state of North Dakota. The Alliance held an annual meeting usually in the fall, at which the board members selected a four-person executive committee. The executive committee consisted of a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.
The Alliance has marketed more than 100 different products such as food, quilts, cookbooks, North Dakota souvenirs, woodcarving, jewelry, clothing, and crafts, in hopes of bringing more economic growth to the state.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Source: Suezette Bieri, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Acquisition Method: Donation; 94-1934 and 95-2041
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). North Dakota Micro-Business Marketing Alliance Records. OGLMC 1280. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in September 2014.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Introductory],
[Series 2: Membership],
[Series 3: Meetings and Correspondence],
[Series 4: Financial],
[Series 5: Products],
[Series 6: Publications],
[Series 7: Miscellaneous],
[All]
- Series 1: Introductory
- This series contains by-laws, a business plan, and newspaper clippings about the Alliance.
- Series 2: Membership
- The second series contains a list of board members and the Alliance member communities. Also included are documents about workshops provided by the members. The Alliance had counselors which assisted individuals, small businesses, and home-based businesses. This was conducted by telephone, correspondence, and workshops.
- Box 1
- Folder 6: Board members
- Folder 7: Survey for board members, 1992
- Folder 8: Marketing Alliance member communities, 1990
- Folder 9: Local development councils contracted with Alliance, January 9, 1990
- Folder 10: The Alliance community action plan information
- Folder 11: Workshops provided by members, 1990-1994
- Folder 12: Counseling hours & numbers provided by Alliance, 1989-1990
- Folder 6: Board members
- Box 1
- Series 3: Meetings and Correspondence
- The third series contains meeting agendas, minutes, and teleconferences, along with correspondence.
- Series 4: Financial
- The financial materials include a grant application to the Northwest Area Foundation and a contract with Meyer Broadcasting. Meyer Broadcasting was the exclusive marketing agent and sole distributor for the Alliance for three years.
- Box 1
- Folder 15: Finances, 1990-1991
- Folder 16: Finances, 1992-1993
- Folder 17: Finances, 1994-1996
- Folder 18: Grant application to Northwest Area Foundation (part 1)–Intro & Sections A-E, October 29, 1989
- Folder 19: Grant application to Northwest Area Foundation (part 2)–Intro & Sections F-I, October 29, 1989
- Folder 20: Meyer Broadcasting contract, 1991-1992
- Folder 15: Finances, 1990-1991
- Box 1
- Series 5: Products
- Product documents include Pride of Dakota brochures that were used to sell products and for advertisements, and a Dakotah Earth catalog. Dakotah Earth announcements and invitations are also included along with a survey to citizens about North Dakota products. Pride of Dakota and Dakotah Earth were the names put on materials that the Alliance sold during the time of operation and in advertisements about the products.
- Series 6: Publications
- This series includes reports and publications by the Alliance.
- Series 7: Miscellaneous
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Introductory],
[Series 2: Membership],
[Series 3: Meetings and Correspondence],
[Series 4: Financial],
[Series 5: Products],
[Series 6: Publications],
[Series 7: Miscellaneous],
[All]