The Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp. took a step Tuesday to clear the way for a new National Guard armory in Jamestown.
Kelly Rachel, president of the JSDC Board of Directors, told the board the project was very unique and a departure from normal economic development activities.
The JSDC Board unanimously approved relinquishing 19 acres of land it had leased from Jamestown Regional Airport for construction of the Jamestown Airport Industrial Park. The land was part of the roughly 96-acre site leased from the airport the JSDC had improved with roads and utilities for future economic development.
The 19-acre parcel that reverts back to the airport will be leased by the airport to the North Dakota National Guard to build an armory.
Jamestown Mayor Dwaine Heinrich said the armory would likely be built and ready for use in three to nine years. Funding for the building project, estimated at $28 million, must be approved by Congress with a state contribution of about 20% approved by the North Dakota Legislature before construction could begin.
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Katie Hemmer, airport manager, said the airport governing board would hold a special meeting Wednesday to approve the lease with the North Dakota National Guard.
In other business, the JSDC approved a deferral on repayment of up to 12 months for payments on a loan made by the JSDC to the Spiritwood Energy Park Association. The JSDC had provided a zero percent interest loan to the Spiritwood Energy Park Association for a heated railroad switch that was required by BNSF after a rail loop was constructed at the SEPA industrial park. Dakota Spirit AgEnergy is the only tenant at the SEPA Industrial Park and is repaying the loan at the rate of about $6,000 per month.
Connie Ova, CEO of the JSDC, said the deferral of the loan would help Dakota Spirit AgEnergy financially during the current low energy prices.
