Top 10 | May 2025 | Grand Forks EDC

1. Mayor Holds State of the City

Mayor Bochenski hosted the Grand Forks State of the City address at the Alerus Center on Thursday, May 8th. The Mayor highlighted several exciting projects, including the Career Impact Academy, Altru Sports Complex, and Grand Forks Children’s Museum. Other highlights included infrastructure investments like the water treatment plant, air service expansion at GFK, agribusiness projects Agristo and Epitome Energy, Altru Hospital, and more. It’s an exciting time to be in Grand Forks! Thank you to the Mayor for his leadership.

2. UND and space development agency partnership bolsters uas and space ecosystem in grand forks

The University of North Dakota and the Space Development Agency (SDA) have formally signed an Educational Partnership Agreement that reinforces the Grand Forks region’s position as a national hub for space and UAS innovation. This agreement opens doors for UND students and faculty to engage directly with SDA through internships, sabbaticals, and collaborative research, while also bringing SDA experts into UND classrooms. With the SDA’s new Operations Center-North at Grand Forks Air Force Base supporting upcoming satellite launches, Grand Forks is becoming a key player in the Department of Defense’s space strategy, including the Golden Dome national security initiative.

This collaboration elevates the local UAS ecosystem, creates high-tech job opportunities, and reinforces the region’s capacity to contribute to global security through cutting-edge aerospace development. It’s a powerful example of how strategic partnerships can translate into long-term economic growth and innovation for the Grand Forks region.

3. Altru sports complex receives approval from city council

On Monday, May 5th, the Grand Forks City Council voted to approve the first bid package for the Altru Sports Complex. The vote allows the project to progress forward, leading to a likely June groundbreaking. In late April, 89 bids across 19 bid packages were received, with the total base cost to construct the facility coming in $19 million less than anticipated.

4. InternGF summer cohort kicks off

The 2025 InternGF Summer Cohort Experience kicked off on Thursday, May 29th! The first day started with an overview of the program, a downtown walking tour, and a leadership panel where participants heard from July Rygg: Visit Greater Grand Forks, Kimberly Hagen: Grand Forks County Commissioner, Reid Huttonen: City Administrator for East Grand Forks, and Brandon Bochenski: Mayor for the City of Grand Forks. Pictures from day 1 are available on the GF is Cooler Flickr.

5. steffes receives approval for pace through jda

Congratulations to Steffes, which received approval through the Jobs Development Authority for its PACE interest rate buy-down loan! Steffes continues to grow and is successful in the Grand Forks region. Part of their growth includes purchasing and installing new laser-cutting equipment and machinery.

6. Cirrus Expansion progresses

Cirrus Aircraft continues to grow and thrive in the Grand Forks region! To maintain order demands, the company is expanding Grand Forks operations and is pursuing a PACE loan and payment in lieu of tax (PILOT). The PILOT proposal was approved by the Grand Forks Public School Board on Monday, May 12th, followed by a Grand Forks County approval on Tuesday, May 20th. Both PACE and PILOT requests will be considered and approved by the Jobs Development Authority and City Council on Monday, June 2nd.

7. UND breaks ground on flight operations building

UND held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Flight Operations Center at the Grand Forks International Airport on Wednesday, May 28th. The new building will be 28,000 square feet and cost around $36 million. The construction will officially begin in June and is expected to last 18 months.

“The event speakers highlighted how the school started from humble beginnings with two planes in 1968, and now it is the premier collegiate flight training institution, graduating more than 15,000 pilots who are fulfilling various roles in commercial aviation worldwide,” said Keith Lund, EDC President & CEO. “We are truly fortunate that Grand Forks is home to the University of North Dakota.”

8. Adams name dean of und cem

Congratulations to Ryan Adams, who has been named the Dean of the UND College of Engineering & Mines! Adams has served as the Associate Dean for National Security in the college since 2022. EDC President & CEO Keith Lund assisted with the search and served on the search committee for the position.

9. Grand forks public schools earns top marks in accreditation process

Grand Forks Public Schools has received the highest possible classification in its latest accreditation review by Cognia, a nationwide accrediting body—earning not just full accreditation, but also recognition for a “noteworthy practice.” This distinction highlights the district’s flexible, data-driven, multi-tiered student support model, which helps tailor instruction to individual needs through interventions like small-group and one-on-one instruction. The process reflects a year of collaborative effort by district and school leaders and affirms the district’s strong culture of learning, leadership, engagement, and student outcomes.

The accreditation also outlines actionable next steps for improvement, including aligning goal-setting processes, enhancing student voice, and expanding digital learning—efforts already underway. This milestone demonstrates the district’s commitment to continuous improvement and reinforces Grand Forks as a community that invests in student success, innovation, and educational excellence. It’s another win for the region’s workforce pipeline and overall livability.

10. Hatcher attends maedc and auvsi

Business Development Manager Kevin Hatcher spent time representing the Grand Forks region at two different conferences during May. From May 13th to 15th, he attended the Mid-America Economic Development Council’s Best Practices Conference in Stillwater, Minnesota. The conference’s focus was primarily on the growth of healthcare, biotechnology, sustainable aviation fuels, and grid modernization strategies resulting from increasing demand for power. Hatcher reengaged with site selectors at the conference.

From May 19th to 22nd, Hatcher traveled to Houston, TX, and attended AUVSI’s Commercial Xponential conference. The conference is internationally recognized within the UAS industry. Hatcher was able to engage with multiple national and international companies considering relocation or expansion opportunities in the Grand Forks region.

InternGF fall applications are open! InternGF is a program that connects businesses with talented UND students to provide internships. Receive up to $3,500 to offset the cost of an intern’s wages. The priority deadline is July 1st.