WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) - City officials have approved up to $50,000 to start trying to lure a french fry plant.

Economic director Tom Rolfstad said it could be at least a three-year project and he would not specify a site. A plant could mean about 240 direct jobs, he said.

Williston Mayor Ward Koeser said officials cannot reveal details of the project yet.

"We want the community to know what we are working on, but at the same time we have been told by the industry that maintaining their confidentiality is critical if we are to see any such projects develop," Koeser said.

"While the oil industry is good today, we need to continue to diversify our economy for the future by encouraging projects like this that can create jobs, a tax base and diversify agriculture through irrigation development," Koeser said.

City finance commissioner Brad Bekkedahl said test plots of commercial french fry potatoes started in the area about 10 years ago.

"While local production is presently less than 2,000 acres, this represents some of the best quality potatoes being delivered to the JR Simplot plant in Grand Forks, and the Cavendish Farms plant in Jamestown," Bekkedahl said.

Potatoes are a high-value crop, and the plant would help expand irrigation in the area, he said.

"Water is a huge advantage for the Mon-Dak Region, and our dry, growing climate allows us to manage the water to the potato to ensure that we are always producing the highest quality crop possible," Rolfstad said. "This is perhaps the strongest selling point in attracting processors to the region."