Digi-Key announces history-making expansion in Thief River Falls

THIEF RIVER FALLS,

Minn.

-- One thousand new jobs over 10 years. A $200 million to $300 million expansion. New annual economic output of $500 million, a sum that, when coupled with the company’s existing output, will bring the the total impact to $2 billion a year.

Those numbers would be impressive in New York City, Chicago or Los Angeles.

They’re out of this world in Thief River Falls, Minn., pop. 8,656.

But that’s the future in Thief River Falls, thanks to Digi-Key Electronics and its historic expansion, which was announced June 1.

“It’s official: Digi-Key Electronics will build a millionsquare-foot facility in Thief River Falls after a nailbiter of a legislative session in Minnesota,” the Grand Forks Herald reported.

The electronic components distributor also confirmed the location of the expansion. It’ll be built just across the street from the Digi-Key headquarters in Thief River Falls.

The announcement came “just days after Gov. Mark Dayton signed a bill giving Digi-Key tax incentives to expand,” the Herald reported.

“The Thief River Falls City Council also approved its own set of incentives, including the sale of city property to Digi-Key for the expansion.

“‘It’s huge for the community as well as for the region, all the way down to the state that they selected for this location,’ Thief River Falls Mayor Brian Holmer said.”

Gov. Dayton agreed, saying, “I am extremely grateful to Digi-Key for its commitment to Minnesota and the Thief River

Falls community. ... Digi-Key is truly a fantastic success story.”

The bipartisan bill that Dayton signed will let Digi-Key borrow $4 million from the Minnesota Investment Fund over the next two years. The bill also includes a $1.6 million grant to help Thief River Falls to build roads, utilities and other infrastructure for the expansion.

Said state Sen. Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks: “Through this public-private partnership, we’ll not only be able to keep a great Minnesota company local, but also bring in many new high paying jobs in the process.”

Dave Doherty, president and COO of Digi-Key Electronics, called the announcement “a big win for Digi-Key and for the local and state economies.”

In a letter to the editor of the Grand Forks Herald, Doherty thanked lawmakers, Thief

River Falls officials, Pennington County, Minn., officials -- and Digi-Key employees.

“Each Digi-Key employee has created our company’s success story,” Doherty wrote.

“As we continue to write our future chapters, our employees will continue to make the difference as their commitment to relentless customer service and teamwork is what continues to fuel Digi-Key’s growth.

“Again, thank you to all who had a hand in making this expansion in Thief River Falls a reality. This is a great win for our company and communities throughout the Red River Valley.” PB