Dollar General's rapid push into North Dakota creates worry in small towns

HANKINSON, N.D. — A change is coming to small-town North Dakota and it began here.

Last February, Dollar General, the giant Tennessee-based discount retailer, opened its first store in North Dakota on state Highway 11 in Hankinson. The move sent fear through the business community of this farming town, population 899. Similar concerns are being felt elsewhere.

The retailer has mounted an aggressive push into North Dakota. Already this year it has opened 11 stores in the state, and at least 8 other stores are under construction or in development. Almost all of them are in towns with fewer than 2,000 people.

Critics of Dollar General say the retailer hurts local businesses, pays employees poorly, drains money from local economies because profits leave town, and contributes little to the communities where it does business.

Read more: http://www.inforum.com/news/4372090-dollar-generals-rapid-push-north-dakota-creates-worry-small-towns