Bismarck-Mandan Business Highlights

BMDA Highlights - 3/5/10


Schuff Steel wind tower project - As most of you saw from the Schuff Steel press statement we sent out late last Friday, this important project continues to move forward. As the press statement outlined, there are still a long list of details to be dealt with, but good progress is being made on all fronts. Mr. Dennis Randall, the EVP and General Manager of the Schuff Steel Midwest Division, was in Bismarck Wednesday and Thursday of this week to work on some of those details. During this visit he met with a wide variety of public and private officials. It is hoped that construction on the project which will be located on approximately 70 acres of the Northern Plains Commerce Centre, will be initiated late this summer. In addition to the construction team, the project will represent a capital investment of approximately $35 million and employ some 300 persons on a double shift process that will be capable of producing 300 towers per year out of steel plates up to 3 inches thick. Schuff will be utilizing 1,600 tons of steel a week which will be delivered in two weekly train shipments. Schuff will employ new technology which will allow them to build the new regime of towers (as well as the standard towers in the market now) that will be higher and capable of supporting the larger turbines which are beginning to be put in place. The construction of the production facility is expected to take 12 months and Schuff will start hiring permanent employees about mid-point in the construction process.



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Bobcat selects national realtor - Bobcat announced this past week that they have selected the national/international real estate firm of CB Richard Ellis to market the Bismarck Manufacturing Facility. CBRE will retain the services of the Daniel Companies in Bismarck as their local support agent. Kyle Holwagner will be the lead. Having a local contact realtor was a BMDA request to facilitate our efforts to work with possible buyers we come in contact with.



There are three properties being sold:

- The main manufacturing facility,

- A small outlying manufacturing building, and

- 2 acres of land northeast of the main facility.



Interested buyers are encouraged to contact Kyle Holwagner at 701-400-5373 or kyle@danielcompanies.com. You may also contact the BMDA for information at 701-222-5530 or info@bmda.org. You can also go to the BMDA website www.bmda.org for details about the property.



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BMDA presents semi-annual progress report to the Burleigh County Commission - On the March 1, 2010 regular meeting of the Burleigh County Commission, Russ Staiger presented a semi-annual progress report. Included in the presentation the 2009 Annual Report, copies of our regular news letter and the monthly statistical sheet “Economy At A Glance”. Russ also outlined some of the events of 2009 and anticipated activities for 2010.



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Memorial Highway Study - The next chance for the public to have input into the redesign process for the Memorial Highway study will be March 11, 2010. Engineers developing improvements for the 2.3-mile “Strip” will take public comments from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Prairie West Golf Course shop in Mandan. A public meeting will follow from 5 to 8 p.m. with a presentation beginning at 6 p.m.

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Retail and Service Sector Business Retention & Expansion - BMDA and the City of Mandan have begun meeting with retail and service sector companies in Mandan as a part of BMDA’s 2010 Mandan Work Plan. Year to date, Richard and Mandan’s Business Development Director Ellen Huber have completed 8 visits out of the goal of visiting 50 different retail and service businesses in Mandan. The purpose of the visits is to identify retention and expansion opportunities.



Contact Richard at the BMDA office if you are a Mandan business interested in participating in this 2010 effort.



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AWEA Wind Transmission Workshop - This week, Brian attended the American Wind Energy Association's (AWEA) Wind Transmission Workshop in Denver. The event brought together experts from across the country to discuss the critical issue of transmitting the energy generated by wind farms in places like North Dakota to the population centers across the United States. As the BMDA continues to work to attract wind energy component manufacturers, it is important that we fully understand all the issues surrounding the entire wind energy industry.



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SBA workshop – BMDA staff attended a workshop presented by the SBA on Thursday regarding financing and government contracting through the SBA under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA). If your business is interested in learning more about opportunities that may be available, contact the SBA at 701-239-5131 or north.dakota@sba.gov. The SBA’s website is at www.sba.gov/nd.



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Moments of staff recognition - Periodically BMDA staff members have moments in the “spotlight.” This particular moment in the spotlight is focused on Eileen Hamann, our Office Manager, Enforcer, Pretty Tough Bouncer, and Carrier of the Big Stick! Since she will not acknowledge birthdays, we had to select a day for her birthday and today, March 5, is that day. HAPPY BIRTHDAY EILEEN, FROM ALL OF US. At the same time we have to provide a belated “HBD” for Richard Mower, whose birthday got lost in the shuffle of activity and travel which took place at the turn of the year. If you need a lab puppy, call Richard, he has 11 of them ---- and they are growing fast. Just ask Richard. Happy Birthday, Richard, and good luck with the puppies, and “NO” for the umpteenth time, none of us on the staff want another dog.



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Jobs available in the oil patch - If you are interested in the jobs in the oil patch, whether just out of curiosity or because you might know someone who might be looking for a job, this week’s list of openings can be viewed HERE. For these and other employment opportunities in Bismarck-Mandan and throughout the state, go to www.jobsnd.com.



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