Construction underway on Grand Forks’ new Technology Accelerator in Herald building – Grand Forks Herald

GRAND FORKS – The city's Technology Accelerator project is underway in the Grand Forks Herald building, with big changes made already in the first weeks of the project.

The Jobs Development Authority last year was awarded a $1,079,646 grant for construction costs of the project from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The tech accelerator is part of the local push to attract tech companies to the region, with the overall goal to diversify the economy.

The project was budgeted at $3 million, to include architecture and engineering fees, furnishings, equipment and other various costs. After bids were opened in January, the project came in below the estimated cost, with contract awards totaling $1,464,518.

Of that, $848,800 is set for general construction with Diversified Contractors, Inc., $200,238 for mechanical construction with C.L. Linfoot Co. and $415,480 for electrical construction with Northern Valley Electrical Service, Inc.

While the bids came in below the estimated project cost, Community Development Director Meredith Richards said staff worked with the EDA to determine if there were options for additional work.

During the Feb. 7 JDA meeting, Richards said the EDA can’t expand the original scope of the project, but additional items that may have been eliminated or scaled back for budget purposes are being considered to be added back to the project. These additional items include enhancements to the HVAC system, as well as the possibility of more plumbing work and better fixtures.

Floor plans from JLG Architects, displayed at JDA meetings, show the completed tech accelerator will include conference rooms, a multipurpose use space, a boardroom, several work areas and office and tenant suites.

The Tech Accelerator will use the majority of the first floor of the Herald building, which is owned by the city, as well as approximately half of the second floor.

The city purchased the building from Forum Communications, which owns the Grand Forks Herald, for $2.75 million in April 2019. The Herald's employees still work in the building, renting office space upstairs.

Those familiar with the building will be surprised by the renovation, which so far has included tearing down walls, exposing old brick walls and generally creating wide-open spaces before starting with new construction.

With progress currently being made on the project, City Administrator Todd Feland said the Tech Accelerator will be beneficial to the community for several reasons.

“That's going to be an exciting asset for the community from an economic development perspective, with tech startups in the UAS sector, with workforce development and upscaling people,” Feland said.

“It's going to have great spaces for us to really focus our energies in the downtown area and our existing partnerships in workforce development and startups, specifically in data analytics and UAS.”

State leaders, including Gov. Doug Burgum and Sen. John Hoeven, have noted the benefits the renovated building is expected to bring to Grand Forks and the region.

Feland said the goal is to have the project substantially complete by August.

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