VC projects announced: New industrial park, business expansions total almost $60 million

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John M. Steiner / The Sun This area east of the John Deere plant in Valley City, N.D., is where projects totaling nearly $60 million will be constructed in the near future.
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John M. Steiner / The Sun An aerial photograph shows the area of land to be developed just east of the John Deere Seeding Group factory of Valley City.

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Community leaders in Valley City unveiled plans to add new infrastructure and business expansions next to a major highway during a press conference Friday.

The announcements included expansion of the John Deere Seeding Group facility along with a new maintenance facility and armory for the North Dakota National Guard, as part of a new industrial park planned in an area just north of Interstate 94.

The announcements were made during a press conference hosted by the Valley City-Barnes County Development Corp.

Jennifer Feist, director of development for VCBCDC, said the new industrial park has an estimated cost of $9 million to $9.5 million and will include concrete streets, water, sewer and storm sewer infrastructure. The location includes about 75 acres of usable space.

Funding for the development of the I-94 Regional Development Corridor is still being finalized with grants from the South Central Dakota Regional Council, Lake Agassiz Regional Council and the North Dakota Department of Transportation being pursued, Feist said.

“The infrastructure is the first issue to be developed,” said Bob Werkhoven, Valley City mayor. “We first need to provide surface transportation to the two projects.”

The North Dakota National Guard is one of the two groups already committed to using 20 acres of the space, Feist said.

“We’ve been working with the city for quite a while trying to locate the proper space,” said Col. Steve Tabor, director of facility engineering for the North Dakota National Guard. “This is an ideal location for us and we are looking at $30 million in construction over the next few years.”

The Guard plans to construct a 30,000-square-foot field maintenance shop at a cost of about $11.6 million. This facility would be about 10 times larger than the existing National Guard field maintenance shop on the north side of Valley City. Construction is planned for 2015.

Tabor also announced plans for a readiness center to replace the existing city-owned armory in Valley City. This building would include 52,000 square feet of space and be constructed between 2020 and 2021, depending on funding.

“Both facilities are currently programmed for 100 percent federal funding but will be state owned when completed,” Tabor said.

The John Deere Seeding Group also plans to expand.

“This is an important step as we grow to meet demand,” said David Bradford, John Deere Seeding Group factory manager at Valley City. “We plan to expand the plant by 100,000 square feet to 300,000 square feet.”

John Deere Seeding Group manufactures air seeding and tillage equipment marketed to farmers worldwide. The planned expansion has a $20 million price tag.

Bradford estimated the plant expansion would be complete by the fall of 2013. Depending on business demand, the workforce could expand from its current level of 330 people by as many as 100 people.

The announcements come days before Valley City residents will go to the polls to vote whether to continue the city’s 1 percent sales tax. A 10-year extension of the tax is on the Nov. 6, general election ballot. The tax is distributed with 70 percent used for economic development, 25 percent for tax relief and 5 percent used for retail business development.

Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at 701-952-8452 or by email at knorman@jamestownsun.com

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