Minot prepares to become hub of Bakken UAS operations

By Lisa Gibson

MINOT — Minot is poised to become the headquarters for UAS activity in the Bakken, and has $375,100 approved by Minot City Council to do it. The money will go toward purchases of UAS and associated gear requirements for the city, as part of Minot Area Development Corp.’s Magic Sky initiative.

The initiative also helped attract SkySkopes, a Grand Forks-based UAS service provider that is opening a Minot location.

Establishing Minot, known as the “Magic City,” as the Bakken’s UAS headquarters will generate more than $2.3 million in capital investments and create 15 new full-time jobs, according to MADC. “As a part of MADC’s Magic Sky initiative, MADC is pursuing the whole UAS industry, from drone manufacturers to cyber security and data analysis companies, to end-users,” says Stephanie Hoffart, president and CEO of MADC. “Securing SkySkopes was the first initiative of MADC’s Magic

Sky initiative and we hope it’s only the beginning of UAS businesses expanding to Minot.”

Minot is an ideal location to headquarter Bakken UAS operations because it’s nearby and has uncongested and diverse skies, among other reasons, according to MADC.

When asked if Minot could eventually host a UAS park similar to Grand Sky near Grand Forks, Hoffart says, “Having one facility that houses UAS businesses is definitely something to consider, especially because of the synergies and advantages it would provide for the different businesses within the UAS value-chain. I could certainly see a UAS facility being a long-term goal for this initiative.” PB

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