 The economy of Grand Forks is not dominated by any one industry or sector . While agriculture continues to play a role in the area 's economy , the city of Grand Forks now has a relatively diverse economy that includes public and private employers in sectors such as education , defense , health care , manufacturing , and food processing . The state and federal governments are two of the largest employers in the Grand Forks area . The University of North Dakota , located in the heart of the city , is the largest employer in the metropolitan area . Grand Forks Air Force Base , just west of the city , employs a large number of civilian workers in addition to its military personnel . Altru Health System is the largest private employer in Grand Forks . 
