Top 10 | October 2023 | Grand Forks EDC

1. Career Impact Academy Breaks Ground

After many months of hard work, collaboration, and investment, we were able to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Career Impact Academy on Monday, October 2nd! The groundbreaking signals a major investment in education and workforce development, providing technical education in high-demand fields, benefitting high school students, education professionals, and industry in the region.

The project’s collaborative nature, involving the school district, city, county, and local businesses, showcases a unique level of cooperation. The support from the North Dakota Legislature reflects their commitment to advancing career and technical education statewide. This initiative aims to retain young talent in the area by offering education and job opportunities, contributing to the region’s economic development. The Career Impact Academy is set to open in 2025, promising long-lasting effects on the local community and state by providing essential training and bridging the gap between education and employment. Thank you to the Grand Forks Public School District, City of Grand Forks, Grand Forks County, The Chamber of Commerce of GF/EGF, 78 businesses, and many more that all invested to make this vision a reality.

2. Grand Forks Hosts the Largest Attended UAS Summit & Expo

The 17th UAS Summit and Expo was a resounding success, drawing 760 visitors, a significant increase from the previous year, and featuring 40 booths with 33 exhibitors from 35 states and 5 countries. The event included a UAS Pitch Session for select presenters and investors, a tour of the UAS incubator/accelerator known as the HIVE led by Mayor Brandon Bochenski, and appearances from Senator John Hoeven hosting General B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations and Senator Kevin Cramer hosting General David Allvin, Acting Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

The Summit highlighted the need for continued growth and an extended duration to showcase not only the UAS business environment but also the quality of life in Grand Forks and North Dakota. The UAS Summit and Expo marked a substantial success, reinforcing the region’s commitment and enthusiasm for the UAS and related tech industries.

3. 2,100 Tenth Grade Students Gain Knowledge of Regional Careers at 11th NVCE

The 11th Northern Valley Career Expo featured over 80 exhibitors highlighting careers from our region to 2,100 10th-grade students, from 59 different schools! 88% of student survey respondents strongly agreed and agreed that the expo increased their interest in considering a job/career within the region. The expo continues to make an impact on getting students connected to the region and the opportunities available to them. This year’s expo featured the largest number of student and exhibitor attendees, with lots of positive feedback from students, schools, and exhibitors. Thank you to all involved in making the expo a success!

4. EERC Awarded Record Breaking $925 Million

In a major win for Grand Forks, the UND Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) and its partners have secured a remarkable $925 million through the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program. This funding reinforces North Dakota’s leadership in the field of energy innovation. The Heartland Hydrogen Hub, which extends across Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, is poised to produce over three million metric tons of clean hydrogen annually, significantly reducing carbon emissions. Congratulations to the EERC and its partners on this historic achievement! This achievement marks a significant step forward in clean energy and environmental sustainability.

5. Bifrost Manufacturing Receives Funding Approval

Congratulations to EDC client, Bifrost Manufacturing, who was approved for an EDA Revolving Loan Fund and PACE loan! The funding will be used to purchase industrial 3D printing equipment and scanners. Bifrost Manufacturing offers a wide variety of services from engineering, 3D scanning and printing, welding and machining, laser cutting and engraving, CNC machining and plasma cutting, and more.

6. Epitome Energy Project Update

Epitome Energy is making progress on plans to build a new soybean crush plant in Grand Forks, with construction expected to commence in the coming spring. Public infrastructure planning, including water and sewer lines and roadway improvements, is underway, with preliminary approval granted for surveying easements. The next major step will be entering into a development agreement between the City of Grand Forks and Epitome Energy, which is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year. Once completed, the facility will employ around 55-65 full-time employees and process 42 million bushels of soybeans into soybean oil, meal, and hulls annually.

7. Mayor Hosts Inaugural Air Service Expansion Committee

The first meeting of the City of Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski’s Air Service Expansion Committee discussed strategies to improve flight services to Grand Forks International Airport (GFK). The airport has experienced a nearly 40% drop in passenger numbers since 2014. While the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted air travel, Grand Forks lags behind Bismarck and Fargo in bringing back passenger enplanements.

For domestic and international flights, only 47% of passengers from the Grand Forks catchment area fly through GFK, with 53% utilizing other airports like Fargo and Minneapolis. The committee aims to gather feedback and insights from various sectors, including the business, air, and aeronautics community, on how to address this issue. The committee is considering options such as establishing a western route and applying for air services grants to attract new carriers. Providing and expanding strong airport services is a priority to boost the local economy and workforce.

8. Dr. Brenner Highlights the School District at Report to the Community Breakfast

Grand Forks Public Schools Superintendent Terry Brenner delivered the “School District Report to the Community,” hosted by The Chamber of Commerce of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, highlighting the Grand Forks school system’s successes and future developments. Of significant development relevance is the pending construction of three new schools, including the Career Impact Academy, a

new Twining Elementary and Middle School at the Grand Forks Air Force Base, and a new Valley Middle School. These projects stem from a $79 million referendum approved by voters and will enhance educational opportunities and community development. Additionally, the report mentioned the potential establishment of a “virtual school” for grades 9-12, providing more educational options in the region. The event underscored the community’s commitment to education and development in Grand Forks.

9. EDC Advisory Board Receives Updates on Upcoming Sales Tax Vote

The EDC Advisory Board Meeting was held on October 12th at The HIVE and included two presentations. City of Grand Forks City Administrator Todd Feland provided an update on the proposed extension of the 0.75% sales tax increase, which voters will consider in November. This portion of sales tax is currently contributed to the Alerus Center and will sunset in 2029. If approved by voters, the extension will be used to support the development of indoor turf and aquatic centers. After Feland, UND Center for Business Engagement & Development Director Tiffany Ford presented on UND’s endeavor to connect with the local Grand Forks business community. The meeting concluded with roundtable updates from advisory board members.

10. EDC Host's Grand Sky for Growth Presentation

On Monday, October 9th, the EDC team hosted GrandSKY President and Founder, Tom Swoyer, to share about the upcoming growth and opportunities at GrandSKY. In August, it was announced that the Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) would invest $500 million at GrandSKY to build a 600,000-square-foot facility that will employ over 600 people once complete. This coupled with the expansion of the Space Development Agency at the Grand Forks Air Force Base, has an increased demand for services located closer to the installation. Thanks to all the business and community leaders who attended!