Annual meeting guest speaker pledges $100,000 to develop plan

William C. Marcil, chairman of Forum Communications Co., told an overflowing crowd at the Grand Forks Region EDC annual meeting May 10 he is committing $100,000 to spur the development of a economic strategic plan for the Red River Valley.

Marcil’s commitment followed remarks by EDC Chairman Steve Burian and EDC President Klaus Thiessen, who both stressed the growing collaborations that are the impetus behind positive economic development results in the region.

Thiessen said in 2011, the EDC clients created more than 480 new jobs and made captial investments in the region of $43.3 million.

He also said membership investments have increased by nearly 55 percent since 2004. The Grand Forks Region EDC receives annual support from the City of Grand Forks, Grand Forks County and private business. The city and county have each increased investments by nearly 30 percent. Private support of the EDC has more than doubled.

In 2012, Thiessen said, the EDC will continue to

• work to support growth in the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) industry
• focus on workforce initiatives, including the first Northern Valley Career Expo
• recruit data center development
• promote the city’s new, 125-acre business park
• explore opportunities to attract oil-industry service businesses that are supporting activity in Western North Dakota

Marcil said the development of an economic strategic plan for the Valley will compliment the state of North Dakota’s 2020 and Beyond planning currently underway. It will be an opportunity for economic development leaders, universities, and the private sector to develop a long-term plan for diversifying the Valley’s economic base.

Steffes Corporation grows into Grand Forks to meet demands in the Bakken

The Grand Forks Growth Fund Committee recommended approval of a funding request at its meeting today to support an expansion that will create up to 50 new skilled jobs in the Grand Forks region. The Jobs Development Authority is expected to take final action on the request at its May 7 meeting.

Dickinson, N.D. – based Steffes Corporation is expanding its manufacturing operation to Grand Forks to meet increased demand for its products in the Western North Dakota oil patch.

The Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has been working with Steffes Corporation in recent months to assist with their expansion needs. The EDC board endorsed the project and the funding request to the Growth Fund Committee.

Steffes manufactures barrel oil tanks used in the Bakken and offers its oil industry customers additional metal products for oil sites including steel berms, walkways and stairs, engineered flares, and heater treaters. It also manufactures and sells residential and commercial electric thermal storage smart-grid heating systems.

This is the second company in recent weeks to receive support to expand into the region to meet growing demands in the Bakken for its products and services. Diverse Energy Systems in Grafton, N.D. received loan support earlier this month.

“The expansion allows Steffes to meet its growth plans,” said Steffes Corporation CEO Paul Steffes. “We have been growing rapidly in the last two years and have been challenged with finding enough employees. The Grand Forks community has a larger employment market than western North Dakota and we look forward to being part of their community. We were happy to find an existing steel fabrication facility, ready to start production in North Dakota.”

Steffes purchased the former Pribbs Steel building on Highway 2 to locate its expanded operation. Through the Grand Forks Growth Fund, Steffes will receive a $74,854 loan, which will leverage a $139,014 PACE grant from the Bank of North Dakota to assist with financing the expansion.

“Grand Forks is an excellent community for to expand to,” said President Joe Rothschiller. “We are a manufacturing company that uses a lot of engineering talent and having a plant closer to our engineering schools in the eastern part of North Dakota is a plus.”

EDC President & CEO Klaus Thiessen said, “The Bakken boom isn’t that far removed from Grand Forks. Expansions like this illustrate the benefits of being a small, cohesive state. Our region has many positive attributes to offer companies needing to expand in order to meet growing demand. Border to border, anytime a business expands in the state, we all win.

“Steffes’s expansion is an exciting opportunity for Grand Forks and the Grand Forks Region EDC as we continue to work to ensure we have a diversified economic base and ample opportunities for our skilled and talented workforce.”

Division Manager Rodger Pearson will manage the Steffes Grand Forks plant. They will hire 15 welders, machine operators, painters and other support staff by year-end with plans to expand to more than 50 within three years.

EDC to review progress at annual meeting May 10

The Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation (EDC) will recap 2011 economic development progress at its annual meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 10 at the Alerus Center.

The event’s featured speaker is William C. Marcil, chairman of Forum Communications Company.

Throughout his distinguished career at the helm of The Forum and Forum Communications Company, Marcil has been a leader in advancing North Dakota’s economic development efforts.

He has been recognized with many awards and honors, including the Greater North Dakotan Award from the Greater North Dakota Association and the North Dakota Roughrider Award. He was the first North Dakotan to be elected chair of the American Newspaper Publishers Association, which is now the Newspaper Association of America. He also served as chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to Marcil’s keynote address, Steve Burian, board chair, and EDC President & CEO Klaus Thiessen, will review 2011 economic development progress and highlight opportunities and initiatives driving growth in the Grand Forks region. EDC members will also elect new directors.

“The Grand Forks region has many assets that support economic growth and increase job opportunities,” said Thiessen. “We look forward to showcasing the area’s economic vitality and our recent successes with the community.”

Complimentary hors d’ouerves and refreshments will follow the meeting.

Registration is requested by calling the EDC office at 701-746-2720. The meeting is free and open to the public.

The Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation is a non-profit organization that leads business recruitment, expansion, and retention initiatives to bring new wealth and jobs to the Grand Forks region.

Region’s job growth attributed to more than oil

Mark Schill, vice president of research at Grand Forks based Praxis Strategy Group, reports that metropolitan areas in the Dakotas, including Grand Forks, have significantly contributed to job growth in the Prairie Business Magazine coverage area.

In an article originally published in the magazine and picked up by newgeography.com and EMSI, Inc.,  Schill says, “The national media has credited the oil boom for the economic growth. The economic benefits of the energy boom have spread across the region, but there’s more to the story. … Now containing 39 percent of the regional jobs, these five metropolitan areas [ Bismarck, Grand Forks, Fargo, Sioux Falls, and Rapid City] beat the nation in job growth over the decade by 10 points, 15.8 to 5.8 percent”

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UND students hope to meet you at upcoming Link events

As part of a continuing emphasis on workforce recruitment and retention, LINK events are pairing higher education students and professionals in a social setting that offers students an opportunity to learn more about experiences, expertise, and employment opportunities in our region.

LINK: Communication is Thursday, March 29 from 5:30-6:30 pm at the Grand Forks Herald Community Room (use east alley entrance), followed by the Hagerty lecture. RSVP online

LINK: Political Science & Public Administration is Wednesday, April 4 from 6:30 – 7:30 in the Vennes Atrium of the School of Medicine & Health Sciences building on the UND campus. Please use the south entrance. A Grand Forks Mayoral Candidates Forum immediately follows. RSVP online

All who work in a related field are encouraged to attend and visit with students about the opportunities Grand Forks can provide to them as they begin their professional careers.

LINK events began as a partnership project between the Grand Forks Region EDC and UND Center for Community Engagement.

City approves funding assistance for company expansion

Applied Products Inc. will be expanding in the Grand Forks Industrial Park with assistance from the EDC, which helped the company successfully apply for financing support.

The Grand Forks City Council and the Jobs Development Authority approved funding at meetings yesterday.

“This is an exciting project,” Lund says. “Applied Products is an example of a home-grown manufacturer that is committed to growing with the Grand Forks region. We’re please to be able to help support them as they continue to expand.”

The RETRAX truck bed cover manufacturer received $480,000 in loans and $96,000 in interest buy-down loans for construction and equipment costs for a new building the company plans to build in order absorb a part of its manufacturing process currently being outsourced.

In addition to the loans and interest buy-down, a five-year declining property tax exemption was also approved.

With the expansion, says EDC Vice President Keith Lund, Applied Products will add up to 15 new jobs bringing their total number employees to nearly 80.