1. Epitome Energy Announces in Grand Forks
Epitome Energy has chosen Grand Forks as the site of a $400 million soybean crushing plant. The plant will expand and diversify the economic opportunity, and further expand the agribusiness industry for the region. The plant will create 50-60 new jobs and indirectly support more than 800 jobs in and around Grand Forks. Research by the University of Minnesota Extension Center indicates that the project could create upwards of $300 million in new economic activity. Dennis Egan, the CEO and founder of Epitome Energy, publicly announced the intent to build and open a soybean processing facility at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Grand Forks City Council on Monday, December 5.
2. Fufeng CFIUS
On December 13, Fufeng USA announced that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) concluded an extensive two-phase review lasting more than three months under section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950. CFIUS will not be taking any further action with the respect to the transaction. The Grand Forks City Council Members received an overview from a Washington D.C.-based attorney who specializes in the workings of the federal Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States. Council members will continue to discuss the proposed Fufeng project at future council meetings.
3. EDC President Travels To Bismarck for NPN Pipeline Advocacy
On Monday, December 5, EDC President & CEO Keith Lund traveled with Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski and City Administrator Todd Feland to Bismarck to meet with North Dakota legislators and representatives from the Departments of Agriculture and Commerce for a presentation and discussion about the Northern Plains Nitrogen (NPN) pipeline. The main presenters included NPN CEO Clark Bailey and COO Larry Mackie, North Dakota Pipeline Authority Executive Director Justin Kringstad, and WBI Energy Director of Marketing and Business Development Mark Anderson. The meeting showcased the importance of NPN’s project and associated natural gas demand to the need of the State of North Dakota to capture and transport natural gas to consumers, especially those in the eastern part of the state.
4. UND Awarded $650,000 NASA Research Grant
The University of North Dakota has received a $650,000 grant to develop high-bandwidth communications networks to be used in space. NASA awarded the grant through its Space Technology Research Grants Program. The research will take a multi-disciplinary approach involving the College of Engineering & Mines and the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. The funds will be used to research communications networks that can be used for general space applications, and to develop a system that could be used by astronauts who are on lunar missions.
5. Career Impact Academy
The Governor’s executive budget proposed that the Bank of North Dakota advance funding for all approved career and technical education centers. Additionally, he has proposed $40 million to address inflationary impacts. EDC staff joined Grand Forks Public School District staff in two meetings with financial institutions who are helping plot out a potential path for New Market Tax Credits, which could see the Career Impact Academy benefiting between $2 – $4 million of additional revenue.
6. Director of Workforce Development Graduates Chamber Leadership
EDC Director of Workforce Development, Becca Cruger graduated from The Chamber Leadership Class on December 7. Becca attended three months of leadership classes and spent time volunteering at local organizations, learning more about our community, and leadership skills. She was nominated by her class to be one of the speakers at their graduation ceremony. Congratulations, Becca!
7. Workforce on Display: Staff Featured in Prairie Public News Interview
Listen to EDC Director of Workforce Development, Becca Cruger, as she was featured on a story from Prairie Public Broadcasting called, “Where is everyone working?” Becca spoke as an expert about the workforce and the impact it has on our region and economy. Some examples included the impacts of COVID-19 on employment, childcare and restaurant workforce, and Governor Burgum’s Executive Budget that includes funding for workforce development.
8. InternGF 2023 Awards
InternGF applications were reviewed for Spring semester 2023 internships. In total $23,752 of funding will be awarded to fund 12 internships.
Awardees include:
- S&S, Inc – For a marketing internship
- Vertipads, Inc – For a software engineering internship
- Mobile Recon Systems – For an engineering internship
- Alerus Center – For a sales and graphic design internship
- Northern Plains Rail Companies – For an accounting internship
- Real Good Cookies – For a marketing internship
- TruWeather Solutions – For a meteorology internship
- StratoSolutions, Inc – For an environmental sciences internship
- Tau Drones – For a research operations internship
- Opp Construction – For a job cost field estimation internship
- Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals – For a marketing internship
- Grand Forks Herald – For a journalism internship
9. UAS Flight Showcases Vantis
ISight Drone Services recently completed a flight on Vantis flying more than 36 hours, pushing the capabilities of the beyond visual line of site flights on the system. The flight path that was followed spell out the word, ‘VANTIS’.
10. County Inaugurates New Commissioners
On Tuesday, December 6, recently elected Grand Forks County commissioners took oath and began a four-year term. Kimberly Hagen and Mark Rustad began their first terms and Bob Rost started his second. Rost was nominated to serve as chairman and Commissioner Dave Engen to serve as vice-chairman.
The EDC is preparing a monthly report on key regional economic indicators. See November’s Economy at a Glance.
See an archive of the previous Economy at a Glance.