Top 10 | February 2025 | Grand Forks EDC

1. ND House Advances HB 1332, Supporting Agristo Project with $30 million

On Tuesday, February 25th, the North Dakota House of Representatives voted in support of HB 1332. The bill allocates incentive funding for large, value-added ag facilities through the ADD fund. The proposed structure would allow Agristo to apply for up to $30 million in grant funding to support the announced potato processing facility in Grand Forks. This grant support, along with negotiated BNSF rail rates, are important parts of Agristo’s decision to finalize Grand Forks as the destination. The bill will now move to the senate for consideration.

2. UND Receives highest research classification

On Thursday, February 13th, the Carnegie Foundation named the University of North Dakota an R1 institution. The R1 is a classification of very high research activity given to institutions with research expenditures of $50 million and awarding at least 70 doctorates per year. In 2023, UND surpassed these requirements with $182 million in spending and 105 doctorate students. Congratulations to UND for this great achievement!

3.Altru receives $4.2 million for state-of-the-art ultrasound technology and training

On Thursday, February 20th, Altru Health System was awarded a grant alongside sixty-nine North Dakota hospitals and health centers to pay for new state-of-the-art ultrasound technology and training. The amount awarded to Altru was $4.2 million. This money is going toward sixty-six pieces of ultrasound equipment and onsite training for the sonographers to use the equipment. The equipment will aid in a faster image resolution, and assist in better determining diagnoses. Congratulations Altru!

4. thread awarded $2 million from nd development fund

The North Dakota Department of Commerce announced that $3 million was awarded to four companies by the North Dakota Development Fund. Thread received $2 million of investment for working capital that will fuel the company’s continued growth. Congratulations Thread!

5. 50+ attend interngf launch breakfast

On Friday, February 21st, the EDC and Center for Innovation hosted the InternGF 2025 Launch Breakfast! Attendees had the opportunity to network, learn more about the program and its effectiveness, and hear from past participants, employers, and UND’s Experiential Learning Center! InternGF program applications for fall 2025 will open on June 1st. Photos from the event are available on the GF is Cooler Flickr.

6. amazon distribution center cuts ribbon

On Thursday, February 20th, EDC Board Chair Shawn Gaddie, Director of Workforce Development Becca Cruger, and Business Development Manager Kevin Hatcher attended the Amazon Distribution Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the former Herald Printing Press facility. The new Amazon Distribution Center opened in November 2024 and will be the last mile destination for regional Amazon packages, increasing efficiency and delivery time. The project was an estimated $15M in capital investment with 40 new full-time positions.

7. grand forks business, three farm daughters, featured in 30-second ad during superbowl

On Super Bowl Sunday, February 9th, Grand Forks-based Three Farm Daughters Pasta was featured in Google’s “50 for 50” ad campaign. The campaign spotlighted one small business from each state with a 30-second ad during the Super Bowl. Google sent a nine-member production team to spend the day with the owners of Three Farm Daughters: Mollie Ficocello, Grace Lunski, and Annie Gorder. Since the ad aired, the company has experienced increased social media engagement and spikes in website traffic.

8. interngf awards $24,000 for 10 internships

The first round of Summer 2025 InternGF applications were reviewed. A total of ten internships were awarded to nine companies with a total dollar amount of $24,328. InternGF program applications for fall 2025 will open on June 1st.

Awardees include:

Opp Construction – Spanish Speaking HR Intern
RJ Energy Solutions – Field Engineer Intern
Ideal Aerosmith – Operations Intern
Ideal Aerosmith – Supply Chain Intern
Integrated Steel Solutions – Finance Intern
Northern Plains UAS Test Site – Marketing & Communications Intern
University Park Neighborhoods, Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, and Region – Engagement & Policy Intern
Meadowlark Aircraft – Accounting Intern
Vorbeck Materials – Production Strategy & Engineering Intern

9. edc holds first advisory board meeting of 2025

On Thursday, February 13th, the EDC Advisory Board gathered for the first meeting of 2025! Northland Potato Growers Association and local farmer agronomists presented about the Agristo potato processing facility and the project’s significance for the region. The meeting concluded with business and industry updates from advisory board members.

10. hatcher attends crop expo

Business Development Manager Kevin Hatcher the 2025 International Crop Expo from February 19th to the 20th at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. The expo is a two-day agricultural conference focused on industry insights, research, and market trends for key crops, including potatoes, small grains, and soybeans. The event featured expert-led sessions covering topics such as market outlooks, weather forecasts, disease management, and best farming practices. Hatcher connected with local industry leaders and shared additional information about the economic development programs available.