Associated Press

North Dakota's Commerce Department is advertising a toll-free telephone number for business people to call with questions about state regulations, taxes, economic development programs and other subjects.

The "business hotline" was an idea brought up during meetings of business people and economic development officials, said Rep. Rick Berg, R-Fargo, the House majority leader.

"The questions that I hope come in on this hotline are, 'I want to grow my business. I want to expand my business. I want to relocate to North Dakota. Who do I talk to?'" Berg said. "Or, 'I'm having a problem. How do I fix it?'"

The number is 866-4DAKOTA (866-432-5682). Shane Goettle, the Commerce Department's director, said four agency employees have been specially trained to take calls and refer questions to the proper department.

All calls will be tracked to ensure the person's questions are answered, Goettle said Wednesday at a news conference announcing the hotline.

He said it should be especially useful for business people who are calling from outside the state, who may not be familiar with North Dakota government.

"Having a single focal point of entry … I think can really facilitate their entry into the services that our state government can provide them," Goettle said.