Top 10 | January 2024 | Grand Forks EDC

1. Kevin O'Leary Visits GF - Signs HIVE Partnership

On January 26th, ABC Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary and representatives from O’Leary Ventures visited Grand Forks! During the visit, Mr. O’Leary spoke at the Chamber’s annual dinner, visited GrandSky, participated in a public fireside chat with UND President Armacost, toured and met with tenants of The HIVE, signed a partnership deal for a conference room in The HIVE and attended the UND hockey game where he dropped the hockey puck to start the game. EDC President/CEO Keith Lund was able to attend the session at The HIVE, Grand Forks with other tenants where they shared about the work they do in the region. O’Leary Ventures believes that North Dakota is a ‘winning state,’ and the next best place to invest.

2. ND Named Best State to Start a Business in 2024

Forbes Advisor named North Dakota the top state to start a business in 2024, maintaining the top position from 2023! The ranking takes multiple factors into account, from formation fee ($135), business survival rate (77%), cost of living index (0.94), and population within the working age (64%). The Grand Forks region is a great place to start a business. The EDC is here to provide support!

3. Epitome Energy Signs Development Agreement

January 10th marked another milestone as Epitome Energy’s CEO Dennis Egan signed the development agreement as structured and previously approved by the Grand Forks City Council! The project continues to move forward, aiming toward a spring 2024 groundbreaking. In January, a public joint meeting with Falconer and Rye township representatives, the City of Grand Forks, and Epitome Energy was held to provide updates on the project.

4. EDC Welcomes New Board of Directors & Advisory Board

In January, the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation welcomed three new members to its board of directors! Mylo Einarson, President & CEO of Nodak Electric Cooperative; Sally Miskavige, Vice President of Opp Construction; and Cory Melland, President of PS Industries, Inc. have been elected by the EDC member companies to their first three-year term.

The EDC advisory board has four new appointees: Richard Glynn of the Bioscience Association of North Dakota, Mike Gowan of Gowan Construction, Brock Sherva of Northwood Deaconess Health Center, and Tricia Weber of LM Wind Power. The EDC advisory board members meet with the board of directors, providing input into the organization’s strategies and local and state economic development initiatives.

5. UND Program Receives $7.6 Million

UND has secured a $7.6 million contract from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center to develop a Contamination and Sanitation Inspection (CSI) system. Led by Kouhyar Tavakolian, the project aims to create handheld scanners that detect invisible contaminants using UVC radiation. The technology in collaboration with SafetySpect and ComDel Innovation, promises versatile applications in sanitization scenarios. Capable of detecting pathogens like influenza and SARS-CoV-2, the CSI system represents a significant advancement in military operational safety and sanitation practices across industries. The grant, obtained with the assistance of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and the help of the Bioscience Association of North Dakota, underscores a major step forward in ensuring food and environmental safety.

6. ND Ag Commissioner Goehring Visits Grand Forks

North Dakota Ag Commissioner Doug Goehring visited Grand Forks on January 12th. During the visit, EDC Business Development Manager Kevin Hatcher accompanied Commissioner Goehring on the tour of Grand Forks along with several other community partners. With bio innovation within the department’s portfolio, Commissioner Goehring met with start-up companies and biomedical support entities such as SafetySpect, Aspire, SHIC, and ThinAir Inc. Other stops included the UND Center For Innovation, College of Engineering and Mines BioInnovation Zone, Edgewood Healthcare, and the new Altru Hospital.

7. Chamber Hosts UAS Subcommittee Meetings

The Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce’s North Dakota UAS Leadership Committee hosted subcommittee meetings to support the group’s goals: large UAS, small UAS, workforce, beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS), and brand/marketing. EDC staff attended and represented at the meetings as each group engaged in a strategic planning session the week of January 8th aimed at gathering input and providing direction for the committee. The committee was formed in August 2022 to convene UAS sector leaders from across North Dakota to discuss and act on key issues and opportunities for UAS in North Dakota.

8. EDC Provides County Overview Presentation

EDC President & CEO Keith Lund, Director of Workforce Development Becca Cruger, and Business Development Manager Kevin Hatcher had the opportunity to provide an overview of the EDC to the Grand Forks County Commission at their meeting on January 16th. The presentation outlined the EDC’s history, mission, governance, funding, strategic business development sectors, workforce programming, and overall regional impact.

9. Cruger Completes Basic Economic Development Course Certification

Congratulations to EDC Director of Workforce Development Becca Cruger for receiving a Basic Economic Development Certification through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC)! Cruger spent several days on a long intensive course and case study presentation. The course certification is the second of six courses that are required for Cruger to complete IEDC’s Certified Economic Developer Certificate (CEcD), an advanced credential for economic development practitioners. Both Cruger and Business Development Manager Kevin Hatcher are actively pursuing this credential and are expected to be complete by the end of 2026.

10. Hatcher Promoted to Business Development Manager

Congratulations to EDC Kevin Hatcher as he assumes elevated responsibilities and a new title as Business Development Manager, leading efforts around business attraction, retention, and expansion. Hatcher has been with the EDC for one and a half years and has done a fantastic job in his business development role. Congrats, Kevin!

Other Economic Development Headlines

North Dakota Soybean Council: New Grand Forks soybean crush plant to have dramatic effects

Grand Forks’ Downtown Development Association continues to flourish

Save the Date: EDND Conference

For the first time in 10 years, the Grand Forks region is hosting the state-wide Economic Development Association of North Dakota (EDND) Conference! If you don’t want to miss the opportunity to connect with economic developers from across North Dakota, sponsorship opportunities are available.

Save the Date: EDC Annual Meeting

OUR TIME IS NOW

The Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors cordially invites you to our 2024 Annual Meeting. The theme is ‘Our Time Is Now!’ Our region’s leaders have adopted a forward-thinking approach to growth, leading to several regional successes. Reflect on the region’s wins, learn more about the unique things happening, and the exciting opportunities in our future. The EDC board of directors will present its 2024 Klaus Thiessen Impact Award which honors businesses or individuals who have made a positive and significant impact on economic growth and prosperity in the Grand Forks region.