HUB FOR UAS GROWTH

BY KLAUS THIESSEN

All around greater Grand Forks companies are growing and the region is growing along with them.

Most notably is Grand Sky. The nation’s first aviation and business park has cemented our region’s stake as the premier hub for unmanned systems business growth. Drive west of the Grand Forks Air Force Base and you can’t miss the rise of the anchor buildings Northrop Grumman and General Atomics are constructing. That’s just the beginning of what will quickly begin occupying this 217-acre park.

With nearly 1 million square feet expected to be constructed once the park is complete, the highly skilled technical jobs directly created at Grand Sky alone are projected to exceed 1,000, which will create more spin-off opportunities for entrepreneurial startups. Approximately $11.5 million has already been invested in infrastructure at Grand Sky, and employment to support that construction is approaching 300 people.

Minnkota Power Cooperative’s impressive $60 million, 250,000-square-foot corporate headquarters in south Grand Forks will open in 2017. It’s a retention project that ensures one of our region’s major employers continues growing here.

Infrastructure enhancements might not have the sizzle of new buildings, but it’s those investments to build out roads, water and sewer that attract greater private investment. In recent years, the city, county and state have invested in planning and infrastructure to prepare areas identified for future development. We have visionary leaders at all levels who recognize the importance of creating areas for development as a means to business attraction. Grand Sky is just one example of the impact that investment has and will have on our region’s growth.

Another example of the impact of visionary investment is the city’s 125-acre business park. About $15 million in new construction is complete in the park, which opened three years ago. Within six months of the opening, Acme Tools’ distribution center broke ground, followed by FedEx Ground’s center.

Despite the downturn in commodity prices, agribusiness continues to be a strong driver in the Grand Forks region’s economy. The availability of development-ready land has been instrumental in attracting projects that are preparing to build in north Grand Forks, including Northern Plains Nitrogen, the widely publicized $2.1 billion fertilizer plant.

Near there, North American Green Pulp expects to break ground next year on a $6 million plant that will convert wheat straw to pulp for paper products. And J.R. Simplot continues to expand and grow with a new $30 million high bay freezer being considered.

To benchmark this activity, last year the Grand Forks Region Economic Development C orp. surveyed its primary sector clients. In 2015, those who responded reported more than $99 million of capital investment and plans in the next three years to invest more than $250 million. That investment is not only new construction, but includes equipment purchases as well. In addition, these companies reported that in 2015 they reinvested more than $68 million locally through purchases of goods and services in the region.

I share this because it’s representative of the impact primary sector employers make on a region’s overall economy. The growth in our region’s primary sector is also supporting the surge of commercial and residential construction and initiatives to explore adding even more housing options as we look toward growth at Grand Sky, our Grand Forks Air Force Base and professional and technical services.

All of this growth is indicative of our region’s diverse and robust economy, which shows no signs of slowdown anytime soon.

Klaus Thiessen President and CEO Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corp. klaust@grandforks.org