Mission and History

The Regional Small Business Center is a non-profit business incubator operated by the Lake Agassiz Regional Development Corporation, Fargo, North Dakota. Its purpose is to assist new and existing smaller businesses in critical areas such as management, marketing, manufacturing and finance. The Center also provides attractive, cost-effective space and administrative support services to its tenants.

The Regional Small Business Center is located in the former Interstate Seed building located in Fargo’s downtown historic district. The building was constructed in 1897 after the great Fargo fire destroyed most of the city’s downtown business district. The building and subsequent additions housed a variety of businesses, including a wholesale fruit market and a car dealership, before becoming the home of Interstate Seed Company.

Interstate Seed Company donated the building to Lake Agassiz in 1987 to house the Regional Small Business Center. Financial contributors to the renovation and development were Lake Agassiz Regional Council, City of Fargo, U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, State of North Dakota, Northwestern Bell (now Qwest), The Alex Stern Family Foundation and Northern States Power Company (now Xcel Energy). The Center opened in the fall of 1989 after nearly 18 months of renovation.