Access to transportation networks attracts businesses

BY KLAUS THIESSEN

In today’s fast-paced, on-demand environment, communities must make proactive and strategic investments in infrastructure in order to be responsive to development opportunities.

Strategic location and diverse transportation networks have reemerged as two of the most important business considerations for companies expanding in our region.

At the heart of infrastructure needs is access to transportation networks. Grand Forks, N.D., and East Grand Forks, Minn., grew around the intersection of two rivers at a time when barges transported goods.

Today, much of the Grand Forks region’s growth is due to its location at the intersection of two primary highway corridors. We are a primary link to the U.S. from Canada via the north/south Interstate 29. And running right through the region, Highway 2 connects us to the Duluth, Minn., port to the east and the Bakken to the west.

While growth related to North Dakota’s oil activity garners the majority of media headlines and is undoubtedly an underlying factor in many expansions in our region, agribusiness and logistics operations are rapidly expanding in our region as well.

Companies locate and expand here because Grand Forks is a Midwest distribution hub for their national and international markets and provides efficient access to air service, rail, and highways.

The City of Grand Forks and the Economic Development Corp. are planning prudent infrastructure investments to position the region for even greater industry growth, building on our inherent logistics infrastructure strengths.

• A 125-acre business park on the frontage of I29 was developed with primary infrastructure and within six months two lots were taken.

• Our Metropolitan Planning Organization just completed a rail access study to identify potential areas of growth we can pursue to enhance rail access for regional companies.

• We are in the midst of an infrastructure planning initiative, identifying six strategic areas for growth that will allow us to be flexible in our response to industry development.

• Our location under uncongested skies is driving new commercial development in the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) sector.

• The Grand Forks International Airport is proactively planning for its growth.

The days of communities waiting for an economic development project before making investments are over.

Mayor Michael Brown reinforced this in his 2014 State of the City address saying, “The city has a new role to play in promoting growth and development, not just responding to it. We are focusing on the right resources, right place to make Grand Forks a sweet investment for both expansion and new development.” PB

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

Port of Raymond

Port-to-Plains Alliance Corridor

Saskatoon

Regina

Torrington

Culbertson

Theodore Roosevelt Expressway

Williston

Rapid City

Plentywood Spearfish

Scottsbluff

Denver Limon

Raton

Amarillo

Lubbock

Williston

Watford City

Grassy Butte

Dickinson

Belfield

Amidon

Bowman

Buffalo

Belle Fourche

Sturgis

Rapid City

Custer

Hot Springs

Midland

San Angelo

Del Rio

Laredo

Monterrey www.trexpressway.com

The Theodore Roosevelt Express-

Ports-to-Plains Alliance, a proposed four-lane divided highway system that promotes trade and transportation nationally and internationally throughout the Rural Heartland of America. The Corridor begins in Laredo, TX and transverses through the rural heartland of America into Canada via the Port of Raymond in Montana. The Ports-to-Plains Alliance is federally designated as a High Priority Corridor where this designation qualifies the Alliance for special federal funding above and beyond each states standard alloment of Federal Highway funds

TRE is a nonprofit, tax exempt organization that works with Departments of Transportation in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Saskatchewan to promote infrastructure improvments to enhance safty, improve trade efficiency and freight movement, and create economic growth opportunities along the corridore. The TRE is commited to benefitting the region by working with partner organizations, local political subdivions, state and federal agencies and private sector business.

connect the DOT’s!

TRE is the collector corridor for six major east-west highway systems that service major oil and gas development areas.

TRE is also the transportation corridor for oil supplies from Edmonton, Calgory, and Regina in thenorth to Houston, Dallas and Denver inthe south.

Economic Development www.willistondevelopment.com

Showplace Wood Products to expand

Harrisburg, S.D.-based Showplace Wood Products, a maker of high-end cabinetry, has been approved for a Revolving Economic Development and Initiative Fund loan to purchase new equipment, leading to the creation of more than 100 jobs within the company over the next three years, according to the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development. The employee-owned company has utilized the state’s REDI Fund several times since its launch in 1999. Scott Korsten, Showplace director of marketing, says it is “exciting and rewarding to again find it necessary to expand production capacity and add employees.”

Williston Area Rec Center opens

The Williston Area Recreation Center, North Dakota’s largest indoor rec center and the largest park district-owned recreation center in the country, recently opened for business in Williston, N.D. Designed by JLG Architects and built by JE Dunn Construction Co., the 254,000square-foot facility includes a 50-meter, eightlane swimming pool, four basketball courts, four indoor tennis courts, an indoor gymnasium with running track, a 54,000-square-foot fitness area and meeting rooms, among other amenities. An indoor water park features a wave simulator, whirlpool and a lazy river slide, installed by JE Dunn’s construction team.

Essentia adds advanced radiation machine at Fargo Cancer Center

Essentia Health has invested $5.4 million to purchase a Versa HD linear accelerator, which is being installed at the organization’s cancer center in Fargo, N.D. The machine is the first of its kind to be used in North Dakota and will allow Essentia to treat its cancer patients more quickly and precisely by delivering high doses of radiation through an intense laser, according to Brie Corfman, director of the Essentia Health Cancer Center. The installation of the machine required special room modifications including increasing the thickness of the floor to support the weight of the machine and the installation of threefoot-thick concrete walls and a special locking door to retain radiation within the room. The cancer center expects to treat its first patients in late June.

The facility was completed on time and under budget, according to JE Dunn. Sustainable elements were used in the facility’s construction and it is seeking LEED certification.

SBA temporarily suspends loan fees

The U.S. Small Business Administration has suspended its 2 percent loan-guarantee fee for loans of $150,000 or less through Sept. 30. The reduction is expected to increase funding available for small businesses, spur the economy and create more jobs, according to the agency.

In addition, the SBA is waiving the guaranty fee on loans of up to $350,000 made to veterans through the SBA Express program. That program reduction is also in effect through Sept. 30.

Growing demand, big projects prompt widespread hiring at Daktronics

A $170 million backlog of orders going into its fourth quarter, including large orders from several National Football League teams, has prompted Brookings, S.D.-based Daktronics to launch a widespread employee recruitment campaign to fill positions at its locations in Brookings and Sioux Falls, S.D., and Redwood Falls, Minn.

Among its orders is a commitment to manufacture and install the two largest HD LED video displays in the world — each one measuring 60 feet high by 362 feet wide — at the Jacksonville Jaguars' field in Jacksonville, Fla.

Matt Kurtenbach, Daktronics' vice president of manufacturing, says as NFL stadiums continue to upgrade facilities and increase the size of their scoreboards, Daktronics must increase its production to keep up with demand.

Wall Clinic joins Regional Health

Wall Clinic in Wall, S.D., has joined Rapid City, S.D.-based Regional Health and is now known as Wall Regional Medical Clinic. Regional Health has managed the clinic for 18 years. Regional Health is an integrated health care sys- tem of more than 40 entities and is the largest health care provider in western South Dakota.

SD-based auto glass supplier expands regional presence

Dakotaland Autoglass, a wholesale supplier of auto glass and PPG automotive aftermarket and commercial coatings, made acquisitions in

North Dakota and Colorado in 2013 and now has 18 locations in six states.

In North Dakota, the company acquired the PPG automotive aftermarket coatings distributorship in Minot, Williston and Dickinson from Praxair and expanded into a larger facility in Minot. Dakotaland also joined with CR Autoglass to expand the company’s presence in the auto glass market in Dickinson.

In Colorado, the company acquired a wholesale aftermarket auto glass distribution business in Denver.

The company now operates six locations in South Dakota, two locations in Iowa, two locations in Minnesota, two locations in Colorado, one location in Wyoming and five locations in North Dakota.

NDGT unifies location names

North Dakota Guaranty & Title Co. is transitioning all of its eight North Dakota offices to one corporate name. Offices in Bismarck, Dickinson, Killdeer, Mandan, Watford City, Minot, Mohall and Williston will operate under the North Dakota Guaranty & Title Co. name. Nick Hacker, company president, says unifying the location names provides increased continuity of services and brand recognition for customers.

Basin Electric gets nod for more Bakken power

Basin Electric Power Cooperative received final approval from the North Dakota Public Service Commission on March 26 to construct two 45-megawatt units at its Lonesome Creek natural gas-fired peaking station near Watford City, N.D. The station’s first 45-megawatt unit came online in December. Construction of units 2 and 3 will begin this spring and should be complete later this year, according to the cooperative. Drilling and oil production activity in the Bakken region is largely responsible for the increased demand for electricity.

NWMF seeks outstanding ‘community builders’

The Northwest Minnesota Women’s Fund is accepting nominations for its annual

BHSU goes underground at Sanford Lab

A site has been designated for a Black Hills State University underground campus at the 4850 Level of the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, S.D. The campus will include a cleanroom which will allow students and faculty to conduct a variety of research projects including low-background counting physics experiments. It will also offer opportunities for faculty and staff to collaborate with scientists in groundbreaking research.

BHSU is located less than 20 miles from the Sanford lab, which is the deepest underground lab in the U.S., and has collaborated with the facility since its launch in 2007.

“Community Builders” awards, which recognize women in northwest Minnesota for their leadership, mentorship and professional excellence. Nominations are due by June 2. Receptions will be held in recipients’ hometowns later this year. For more information, visit www.nwmf.org.

SD accepting proposals for Lewis and Clark Lake marina

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks department is encouraging entrepreneurs interested in operating a marina on Lewis and Clark Lake near Yankton to submit their proposals for the business by June 30. The agency has made available a prospectus for the operation of Lewis and Clark Marina as well as details of the business opportunity and investment requirements on its website at http://gfp.sd.gov/stateparks/directory/lewis-and-clark/.

Alerus Financial acquires Twin Cities’ Private Bank Minnesota

Grand Forks, N.D.-based Alerus Financial recently acquired Twin Cities-based Private Bank Minnesota. The acquisition consisted of approximately $142 million in banking assets and increases Alerus’ Twin Cities banking assets to about $398 million.

As of Dec. 31, Alerus had total banking assets of $1.4 billion and total wealth management assets under management and administration of $14.7 billion.

DFC Consultants celebrates 25 years of business

Software sales company DFC Consultants is celebrating its 25th anniversary with open houses at its Fargo and Dickinson, N.D., locations on May 1 and May 13, respectively. Founded by Carol Rogne in Dickinson in 1989, DFC Consultants has since grown to include three locations across North Dakota. The company offers sales and support of business software, and offers accounting services,

Altru Specialty Center opens inpatient rehab unit

Altru Health System in Grand Forks, N.D., recently opened an inpatient rehabilitation unit at its Altru Specialty Center, marking the first hospital opening in Grand Forks since 1976. The approximately 91,000-square-foot specialty center is a 45-private-bed hospital with four operating rooms and is the only hospital of its kind in eastern North Dakota to have single specialty care under one roof, according to the organization.

Moving inpatient rehab patients from Altru Hospital’s campus to the specialty center will also enable the organization to continue plans for private room conversion at the hospital campus, the organization says.

custom programming and DFC Cloud. It also developed a property management software called DFC Property Management.

DCN ramps up transmission speeds

Dakota Carrier Network recently added Google, Netflix and YouTube servers at its facilities in Fargo and Bismarck, N.D., to provide video data and other content from those services at faster transmission speeds than were previously available.

DCN and its owner companies have set a goal of providing fiber-based broadband services to every part of North Dakota and have invested more than $1.2 billion in broadband infrastructure over the last decade. An average of $120 million per year has been committed to complete the fiber initiative.

Starion Financial recognized for small business lending

The North Dakota district office of the U.S. Small Business Administration awarded Starion

Financial with the director’s award for fiscal year 2013 in recognition of its commitment to financing small business using SBA programs.

Starion Financial was one of six top lenders recognized in the state. “We compete for North Dakota business with many other good, experienced SBA lenders,” says Tim Dowling, business banking executive vice president. “But, we think our unique blend of attributes will provide the best possible results for small businesses.”