(Minot, ND) -- A proposal out of Washington, DC to increase the threshold to be considered a metropolitan area is concerning some North Dakota leaders. The proposal would raise the threshold to be considered a Metropolitan Statistical Area from 50-thousand people to 100-thousand people. Minot Mayor Shaun Sipma says many businesses and industries look at statistics related to metro areas to decide where to build or place headquarters and manufacturing plants. The North Dakota League of Cities Executive Director Blake Crosby says changes in the rules would affect federal funding in several cities. Meeting the MSA threshold also opens up funding from the Community Development Block Grant Program. MSAs are determined following each census. Under proposed rules, only Fargo would keep their metropolitan designation.
