Top 10 | April 2026 | Grand Forks EDC

1. $250 Million Facility & Expanded Mission Proposed at GFAFB

The White House’s fiscal 2027 defense budget includes a proposed $250 million for a new satellite operations center at Grand Forks Air Force Base, expanding the base’s role in U.S. Space Force missions. The 180,000-square-foot, three-story facility would house more than 100 personnel across two to three squadrons and support National Reconnaissance Office and Space Force operations focused on space-domain intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Construction is slated to begin in November 2028, with completion targeted for November 2032. The project builds on prior milestones, including the 2021 designation of GFAFB as operator of the Space Development Agency’s satellite mission and the 2024 activation of the SDA Operations Center North.

This is the largest forward-looking federal investment signal of the cycle. A facility of this scale anchors GFAFB’s trajectory as a national hub for space-domain ISR and reinforces the regional defense and high-tech ecosystem. The project creates a long runway of construction activity and follow-on contracting opportunities. The project still must move through the annual appropriations process before design and construction funds are released, meaning further FY27 defense appropriations milestones can be expected in the months ahead.

2. $28.5 Million USDA Agricultural Research Expansion Coming to North Dakota

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is relocating $24.7 million in agricultural research and 28 new permanent Agricultural Research Service positions from its Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland to the University of North Dakota, part of a USDA reorganization that moves federal research closer to the regions where the work is already happening. The eight new research projects will focus on nutrition and medicinal research, building on UND’s existing strengths in those areas. Senator John Hoeven worked with USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Under Secretary Scott Hutchins on the move. The funding strengthens UND’s research profile at the same time the university is being recognized for its economic engagement, and the 28 new permanent federal positions in Grand Forks add directly to regional employment, family relocation, and demand for housing and services.

3. UND Named an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) has designated the University of North Dakota as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity (IEP) University, a national recognition of UND’s work with public and private sector partners on economic development, entrepreneurship, workforce, and community impact. UND joins just over 90 institutions nationally to hold the designation, which followed a two-year self-assessment and independent review through APLU’s Commission on Economic and Community Engagement. The designation is anchored by measurable economic activity: in the 2022–2023 academic year, UND contributed $1.93 billion in industry activity, supported nearly 17,000 jobs, and generated $284.9 million in statewide tax revenue.

4. Lower Cost of Living in ND Attracts Young Talent

North Dakota ranks lower than most western states in cost of living, according to data from the Economic Policy Institute. Of the state’s 53 counties, all but two have monthly cost-of-living rates below $9,000. Grand Forks County comes in ninth-lowest in the state at $8,074, and compares favorably against counties in Minnesota, South Dakota, and other western states. Emma Singleton moved to Grand Forks from Nashville in January after using the internet to identify areas with a low cost of living that met her other needs. She was connected with EDC Director of Economic Development Becca Cruger through the state’s “Find the Good Life” portal, and after research and conversations with Becca, decided to make the move. Singleton noted that the same apartment in Tennessee would cost roughly $400 more per month, and that she earns nearly $10 more per hour doing the same job here.

5. Point Defense Battle Lab Cuts Ribbon, Opens Facility at GFAFB

Grand Forks Air Force Base held a ribbon-cutting on April 9th for the permanent home of the Air Force Air Combat Command’s Point Defense Battle Lab, the 319th Reconnaissance Wing’s fourth mission. The base’s former North Spark Defense Lab will house the operation, with GFAFB serving as lead and the 184th Wing of the Kansas Air National Guard supporting. Over the next six months, the lab will evaluate existing counter-small-UAS technology to develop tactics, systems, and capabilities for the broader Air Force. Senators Hoeven and Cramer were among those present, with EDC Director of Economic Development Becca Cruger also in attendance, and the event included an operational demonstration of counter-UAS technology under evaluation.

6. EDC Leads Regional Workforce Impact Grant Applications for Talent Attraction and Website Projects

The Grand Forks Region EDC has accepted two Regional Workforce Impact Program (RWIP) grants from the State of North Dakota: $114,560 for website enhancements to GrandForksisCooler.com and RealGoodND.com, and $130,098 for external talent marketing targeting manufacturing and UAS workers. The two awards were part of a five-application package submitted as a coordinated effort by Region 4 partners across Walsh, Nelson, Pembina, and Grand Forks counties, drawing on Region 4’s $620,767 RWIP allocation, with every local match dollar leveraged four-to-one against state workforce funds. The funded work is grounded in the SRI International strategy recommendations from last year’s UAS and Manufacturing Action planning process.

Implementation is already underway. The EDC has developed campaign assets and creative materials, held sectoral kickoff meetings with UAS and manufacturing partners, set up geofencing, LinkedIn, and Google retargeting infrastructure, and contracted for website redevelopment and video production. The marketing campaign will run from May 2026 through April 2027, with the website rebuild completing alongside it. The external campaign will scale a joint effort between Grand Forks is Cooler and Real. Good. ND, the sister attraction campaign for Walsh, Pembina, and Nelson counties, targeting prospective workers in parts of the country where Region 4 has a measured advantage on cost of living, wages, safety, and schools. The website rebuild will modernize Cooler, expand quality-of-life content, and integrate a job-scraping tool that pulls regional manufacturing, UAS, and other open postings into one searchable place. Cooler currently draws roughly 72,000 unique visitors annually, with about 83% coming from outside Grand Forks.

7. Col. Rosales Hosts State of the Base Address

Colonel Alfred Rosales, Commander of the 319th Reconnaissance Wing, delivered his first State of the Base address on March 31st at the Alerus Center, hosted by The Chamber Grand Forks-East Grand Forks. Under the theme “Accelerating Through Change,” Rosales outlined a four-point focus on mission readiness, airman and family resilience, future capability, and lasting partnerships, and pointed to active missions tied to the RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 40, the E-11 Battlefield Airborne Communication Node, the High Frequency Global Communication System, and the Point Defense Battle Lab. He also detailed quality-of-life investments at GFAFB, including a $14.2 million dormitory renovation, $3.2 million in Welcome Center construction, and the $55.3 million Twining Elementary School, which will double on-base elementary capacity. Senator Kevin Cramer gave special remarks and noted that recent runway upgrades have positioned the base for additional missions.

8. Vantis FAA Radar Data Feed Goes Live, ND First State to Access

Following the February announcement of activation, North Dakota is now officially the first state receiving continuous Federal Aviation Administration radar data for operations through Vantis, the state’s UAS platform administered by the Northern Plains UAS Test Site in Grand Forks. The North Dakota Information Technology Department reported the milestone on April 16th. The data feed supports safer integration of drones with traditional aircraft and underpins applications in emergency response, infrastructure inspection, precision agriculture, and rural service delivery. Reaching this stage required building secure network infrastructure to meet federal data standards. The capability is now operational, not just announced, which strengthens the regional UAS ecosystem’s case to commercial operators, researchers, and investors evaluating where to locate.

9. EDC Client, Investor, Advisory Board Member Awarded SBA's ND Small Business Person of the Year

The U.S. Small Business Administration named Sandi Luck, founder and CEO of Grand Forks-based Bully Brew Coffee and ND Coffee Roastery, as its 2026 North Dakota Small Business Person of the Year. The award, the SBA’s highest honor, recognizes Luck’s leadership, the sustained growth of her enterprise, and her work mentoring other entrepreneurs through the ND Coffee School. Luck launched her first coffee kiosk 18 years ago while teaching marketing and entrepreneurship at UND, and has since scaled the business into a regional operation with multiple retail locations across Grand Forks and Fargo and more than 120 wholesale accounts through the ND Coffee Roastery. Along the way, she drew on UND, SCORE, the North Dakota Women’s Business Center, and the Small Business Development Center network. Luck will be honored alongside other state and territory winners in Washington, D.C. in May.

10. Grand Awards Recognize Outstanding Regional Entrepreneurs

The annual Grand Awards were presented on April 7th at The Opal Event Center in downtown Grand Forks, recognizing entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping the Greater Grand Forks community. Tom Wesley of helseM Architects received the Sky’s the Limit Award. Laura Dahlen and Jessica Ford of Midtown Marketplace received the Trailblazer Award. Brian Leach and Nate Bertram of The Golf Center received the Deep Roots Award. Lacey Tronnes of pretty b. received the True Grit Award. Jeff and Nicki Tellman of the Red Pepper received the Forkin’ Grand Award. Derrick Kuenzel of Deek’s Pizza received the Social Impact Award. Recipients ranged from start-ups to established businesses, with selections drawn from public nominations and reviewed by the Grand Awards committee. For the first time, the trophies were original art pieces, designed by artist and architect Joyce Fries-Brune of Fisher, Minnesota.

11. EDC Presents to GF County Commission

The Grand Forks Region EDC delivered a presentation to the Grand Forks County Commission on April 7. EDC President & CEO Keith Lund, EDC board member John Oncken, and Director of Economic Development Becca Cruger walked commissioners through the EDC’s history, funding structure, and operations, with particular focus on how the County’s investment in the organization is leveraged across the region and contributes to growth in the regional property tax base. The timing aligns with several months of County budget discussions and the start of the formal County budget process in June.