Top 10 | March 2026 | Grand Forks EDC

1. Simplot Receives 2026 Klaus Thiessen Impact Award

Congratulations to Simplot, the recipient of the 2026 Klaus Thiessen Impact Award! The honor was presented at the EDC’s Annual Meeting on Thursday, March 26, 2026, recognizing the company’s nearly four decades of investment in the Grand Forks region and enduring role in anchoring agribusiness growth across the Red River Valley.

Unit Director David Valdez accepted the award on behalf of the company. In advance of the event, EDC Board Chair Shawn Gaddie and President & CEO Keith Lund also presented the award recognition to Simplot’s Global Food President, Graham Dugdale, in a virtual gathering. Rather than a traditional plaque, Simplot received a commissioned painting by Grand Forks artist Madeline Smestad. The artwork depicts the Simplot facility rising above the Sorlie Memorial Bridge, which is a visual tribute to the company’s deep roots in the community.

2. EDC Hosts Annual Meeting, Releases Annual Report

The 2026 Annual Meeting took place on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at the Alerus Center. Themed Groundbreaking Impact, the event brought together regional business leaders, elected officials, and community partners to celebrate transformative investments, highlight the companies and programs driving economic momentum, and release the 2025 Annual Report.

This year’s event introduced a new format designed to shift the spotlight from the stage to the floor. Rather than a presentation-focused program, clients and ecosystem program partners hosted tables throughout the event’s pre- and post-program social hours, providing attendees the opportunity to hear directly from the businesses and programs that drive the region’s economic activity. Companies featured included Agristo, Cirrus Aircraft, Ideal Aerosmith, Johnstown Bean Company, Northern Plains Rail, Northern Tier Seed Company, Vertical Malt, and Vorbeck Materials. Partners of the workforce pipeline programs, including the Career Impact Academy, Northern Valley Career Expo, InternGF, and the InternGF Summer Internship Cohort Experience, were also represented.

The 2025 Annual Report, released at the event, documents a year of economic progress for the Grand Forks region. EDC client companies employed 9,152 people in 2025 at an average salary of $73,236, generating $669 million in total payroll. Combined with $71.4 million in regional expenditures by those same clients, the total economic impact reached $740.4 million. Over the past five years, EDC clients have grown jobs by 4.9%, raised average salaries by 16%, and increased total payroll by 21%. A copy of the report is available to view digitally at GrandForks.org/annual-meeting

Attendees are encouraged to share event feedback through the recap survey.

Photos from the event are available at the GF is Cooler Flickr. A recording of the program is available on the GFREDC YouTube.

3. MUSKOX Unlocks LIFT Funds for ND Expansion

Congratulations to EDC client, MUSKOX, for unlocking $1 million LIFT funds for marketing and working capital, and snowblower manufacturing, including opening a facility in Grand Forks! MUSKOX is a family-owned manufacturing company with offices in Mentor and Grand Forks that manufactures and assembles a unique line of snowblower attachments for skid steer operators. Their innovative engineering and design of their snowblowers differentiates them from other attachments in the market, with the unique feature of approaching an obstacle, then back-dragging and blowing the snow away. Additionally, the company recently launched a new product line called the MAX Attach. This new attachment for skid steers is a shock absorber, with an estimated 80% reduction in abuse and corrosion on the equipment, along with an improved cab environment for the operator when working through heavy terrain.

4. Twin State Environmental Receives City & County Support

Congratulations to EDC client Twin State Environmental for officially receiving approval for a PACE Loan through the City Council and Jobs Development Authority, and approval of a five-year declining property tax exemption through the County! The company is expanding its railcar cleaning operations through the development of its Raptor Cleaning System. The cleaning system uses automation to clean railcar tanks, recover residual commodities, and reintroduce them to the market.

5. Anthony Hodny Appointed to County Commission

Anthony Hodny was selected to fill the open Grand Forks County Commission seat at a special commission meeting. Hodny will serve as an interim commissioner until November 30th, after the seat is decided by the county’s voters.

6. GFAFB Receiving $64 million Runway Pavement Repairs

US Senator Kevin Cramer announced that the US Department of War awarded a $64 million contract to United Crane and Excavation Inc. for the repair, maintenance, and design of paving projects at the Grand Forks Air Force Base. This is in addition to $20 million previously awarded to repair cracking and weathering on the runway pavement. The GFAFB stands at the forefront of modern defense, and high-quality infrastructure ensures success.

7. City Council Hears Agristo Updates

Agristo continues to make progress toward the construction of the $450 million potato processing facility and provided project updates to the Grand Forks City Council. They are currently in the first phase of construction, which should be finalized by summer 2026. The focus has shifted to pilings, with 444 piles 285 feet deep in the ground. They will be filled with concrete in April. Cold store high bay – 600 piles and will be filled with concrete. 2027 will mark the construction of a building and the installation of equipment. The building is planned to be 650,000 sq ft. and will have 43,000 pallet spaces, up to 145 feet high. There are many other parts of the project in the works, including utilities, waste handling, entrances, rail design, and more.

8. InternGF Awards Final Summer Semester Funding

Congratulations to the final companies approved for the summer 2026 semester InternGF funding! Priority awardees were featured in early March, with a total of 10 companies. The final six applicants were awarded funding for the specified internship:

ICON Architectural Group – Multimedia Specialist Intern
Northern Plains UAS Test Site – Ops Specialist Intern
Northrop Grumman – Technical Intern
ICS Grand Forks – Project Manager Intern
Keepwith – Project Management & Operations Intern
Grand Forks Herald/Agweek – Reporter Intern

Applications for the fall 2026 semester will open on June 1st at GrandForks.org/interngf

9. InternGF Summer Cohort Series Applications Open

Applications for the 2026 InternGF Summer Cohort Series opened on March 15th, 2026. This summer event series allows students to network, explore the ‘cooler culture’ of the Grand Forks region, connect with fellow young professionals, and imagine a future for themselves in greater Grand Forks. The program is open to all interns and University of North Dakota (UND) teaching/research assistants. Businesses and employers are encouraged to share the opportunity with their summer interns and have them apply by May 31st at GrandForks.org/interngf-summer.

10. Hatcher Showcases UAS Ecosystem in South Korea

Business Development Manager Kevin Hatcher represented the Grand Forks UAS ecosystem on a partnership trip with the North Dakota Trade Office, University of North Dakota, and Delta Advisory Group to South Korea. The delegation was hosted by the Korea Research Association for Unmanned Vehicles (KRAUV), where they learned about technologies being developed and showcased the abundant opportunities available in the Grand Forks region. North Dakota signed a memorandum of understanding with KRAUV to establish a partnership and promote collaboration in 2024.

11. Cruger showcases gf to site selectors at annual conference

Director of Economic Development Becca Cruger attended the Site Selector’s Guild Annual Conference in Atlanta, GA. Cruger re-engaged with site selector consultants who attended the Grand Forks familiarization tour in 2024 and connected with several new consultants showcasing the region and assets. The Site Selectors Guild also selected Cruger for one-on-one dialogue sessions with site selectors working in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, defense, and agribusiness. With the EDC’s strategic planning focus on engaging site selector networks, Cruger continues to build relationships with site selector consultants and promote a strong business case to attract companies in Grand Forks.