- The EDC board of directors has announced Acme Tools as the 2020 Klaus Thiessen Impact Award recipient. The board annually recognizes an outstanding business or individual making a positive impact on economic growth and prosperity in the Grand Forks region.
- The United States Air Force has awarded four contracts under its Agility Prime initiative to UND and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site. The goal is to develop small, agile, and low-cost unmanned aerial systems— “flying cars” for both military and civilian use.
- Congratulations to Dr. Robert Kraus on being named the new UND Aerospace dean. We look forward to meeting and working with you!
- The Grand Forks City Council expanded the Grand Forks Growth Fund Committee at its December 21 meeting. Amy Whitney, director at the UND Center for Innovation, and Russell Crary, realtor and developer at Crary Real Estate, were unanimously approved as new committee members.
- The Grand Forks region is the Land of Opes & Dreams, and now you can share that message on your clothing! The Greater Grand Forks: Way Cooler Than You Think! initiative launched the Cooler store on December 2.
- Alerus Financial Corporation has entered into an agreement to acquire Retirement Planning Services Inc., a Colorado-based company. This is the first acquisition for Alerus since filing its initial public offering in September 2019. The agreement is expected to be immediately profitable for Alerus, while expanding its footprint into the Rocky Mountain region.
- Congratulations to member company JLG Architects on being chosen to assist in the design and build of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Medora, N.D.
- Northland Community & Technical College hosted a virtual State of the College address on December 17, with President Dennis Bona focusing on the challenges and successes Northland has faced in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. President Bona’s last day is December 31, and we wish him well in his retirement!
- Congratulations to the employees of our member companies who were named in Prairie Business’s 40 Under 40, including SkySkopes, ICON Architectural Group, EERC, and AE2S.
- EDC staff news:
• Brandon Baumbach has been promoted to Director of Business Development. New duties include supervising the operations specialist and UAS sector development specialist positions.
• Workforce Development Manager Becca Cruger was recently elected as the vice president of the Community Foundation board of directors
• Operations Specialist Bridget West was recently named a new board member for Evolve Grand Forks
• Our #GFisCooler intern, Svea Olson, graduated UND and will be starting her new role as a marketing coordinator for the United Way of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, & Area.
• After almost 12 years of being the welcoming face at the front desk of the EDC, Office Coordinator Diane LaValley is leaving her position. We wish you the best, Diane!
The EDC is preparing a monthly report on key regional economic indicators. Click here to see November’s Economy at a Glance.