Emerging Prairie Partner Spotlight: Kilbourne Group
Not long ago, downtown Fargo looked and felt very different.
Today, it’s a place where startups launch, events fill rooms, and new ideas are constantly in motion.
Kilbourne Group has been a key part of that story, helping shape downtown through thoughtful development and a focus on creating spaces where people and ideas can connect. As a partner in the Emerging Prairie ecosystem, their work contributes to the environment where innovation can take root.
We sat down with Kilbourne Group's Director of Marketing, Sami Harwood, to talk about community, innovation, and the role of place in building a thriving region.
Q. For readers who may not know Kilbourne Group, can you share a bit about the organization and the role it plays in shaping downtown Fargo?
A. Kilbourne Group is a real estate development firm that specializes in infill development that transforms spaces into vibrant mixed-use developments.
Q. Kilbourne Group has been part of many projects across the region. What drives your team to invest in community-focused work?
A. Each new project is brought to the community through thoughtful design, collaboration, and the original vision a community has for their future. Creating these spaces and meaningful experiences that not only strengthens a community, but provides residents and visitors with compelling reasons to call Fargo home keeps our team driven to invest in Fargo.
Q. What originally drew Kilbourne Group to partner with Emerging Prairie and support its work?
A. Emerging Prairie does a great job of connecting people, projects, and places to each other that fosters an incubator for folks who have an entrepreneurial spirit and are looking for a community to support their startup, a new technology, and other innovative ideas.
Q. Why are entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems important for a city like Fargo?
A. Entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems are important for a city like Fargo because they support new business creation, attract talent, and encourage collaboration between startups, investors, universities, and local organizations. This helps diversify the local economy, create jobs, and drive long-term growth in the region.
Q. Kilbourne Group focuses on place and community. How do you see physical spaces influencing innovation?
A. Physical spaces play a big role in fostering innovation because they bring people together in a shared environment. When entrepreneurs, creatives, and community members can meet face-to-face, it becomes easier to collaborate, exchange ideas, and build meaningful connections. Well-designed spaces also help create a sense of community that encourages creativity and can lead to new opportunities and innovative solutions.
Q. So much can happen when the right people are in the right rooms. Are there any events or stories where you’ve seen the impact of this ecosystem firsthand?
A. We’ve seen the impact of the ecosystem firsthand through events like StartupBREW and TEDx. These gatherings bring people together to share ideas, inspire creativity, and spark new ventures. It’s exciting to watch someone start with just an idea at one of these events and, over time, grow it into a business. Being able to help those entrepreneurs find the perfect space for their business later on makes the process especially rewarding.
Q. There has been quite the bit of growth in the area in the last few years. Over the past decade, how have you seen Fargo-Moorhead’s innovation and startup community evolve?
A. Over the past decade, Fargo–Moorhead’s innovation and startup community has grown significantly and challenged many of the misconceptions people once had about the region. What some viewed as a quiet, small metro has proven to be a place where big ideas can thrive. We’ve seen major investments and innovative companies choosing downtown as their home—from RDO establishing its headquarters on Broadway to companies like Bobcat and Bushel operating out of the iconic Black Building. These examples show how entrepreneurs with strong ideas and a willingness to take risks are growing into established companies that support the workforce and strengthen the local economy
Q. Finally, what advice would you give to organizations considering getting involved in supporting innovation in their community?
A. Organizations that can provide mentorship, funding, resources, and spaces can make a big difference. By staying engaged and committed to long-term support you can help build a stronger, more sustainable innovation ecosystem for our region.
At the center of it all is a simple idea. Place matters.
As the community continues to grow, it will take people, partners, and shared effort to keep building what’s next. Kilbourne Group’s work is part of that ongoing story, helping shape a downtown where ideas, businesses, and connections continue to evolve.
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Kilbourne Group
A Fargo-based developer focused on creating vibrant, community-centered spaces through thoughtful infill development.
Learn more about their work: Kilbourne Group | Urban & Historic Development | ND