- The Grand Forks Jobs Development Authority approved loans for two businesses for expansion, one existing and one new:
Thompson-based Northern Tier Seed Company received a loan of $61,000 to support plant expansion. This is a $1.45 million investment in Grand Forks County.
A second loan of $6,100 was approved to support the startup of a Grand Forks-based brewery, Oxford Brewing Company.
- EDC member True North Equipment purchased the former Wells Concrete Building. The building will serve as a home for receiving, assembling, and reconditioning farm equipment and will initially house 16 to 20 technicians.
- Northrop Grumman at Grand Sky touted their success in using the pool of talented students at University of North Dakota to build a workforce pipeline. The company onboarded a swath of new summer interns and hired additional staff to meet expanding workloads.
- The United States Air Force released its Arctic Strategy. Given its strategic location and current assets, Grand Forks Air Force Base could play a big role in this next frontier of national defense. Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer continue to engage with U.S. Air Force and Congressional leadership on our region’s behalf.
- LM Wind Power continues their investment in Grand Forks by extending a lease agreement at their plant through 2024. The company is investing in additional building occupancy, adding a new cantina to promote worksite wellness.
- The Chamber of Commerce released the results of the Regional Market Capture Committee and unveiled interactive data tools analyzing the local market, visitors, retail trends, and growth opportunities.
- Evolve GF presented to the EDC Advisory Board, showcasing 4 years of work to grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem, success of the 701 Coworking Space, and strong collaborations with multiple stakeholders in the region including UND’s Center for Innovation and the City of Grand Forks.
- The State of North Dakota’s Department of Commerce announced two new programs in response to COVID-19:
The Economic Resiliency Grant provides up to $50,000 for North Dakota Businesses with a single location and up to $100,000 per eligible business with multiple locations. Funds can be used to make improvements to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
ND Smart Restart Technical Skills Training Grant program offers up to $100,000 in matching funds to support workforce re-training, expand capacity, or adapt to virtual needs.
- A July 2020 report released by New American Economy shows the immigrant populations in the Grand Forks Region increased by 22.7% between 2015 and 2018, accounting for a majority of our region’s population growth. The report highlights the strong role immigrants play in supporting the Grand Forks manufacturing, healthcare, education, and retail sector labor force.
- President and CEO Keith Lund and EDC Vice Chair Jonathan Holth served as panelists on the Economic Development Association of North Dakota’s Summer Conference Speaker Series, sharing their experience with board governance and relations.