04.14.15

Hoeven Announces Northrop Grumman Has Signed Lease with Grand Forks to Be Anchor Tenant in Grand Sky

World-Class Tech Company to Break Ground at Grand Sky Tech Park in September, Occupy Offices in September 2016

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today announced that Northrop Grumman has signed a lease agreement that would make the global aerospace and defense technology giant the anchor tenant in Grand Sky, Grand Forks County’s new technology park. Hoeven spoke this afternoon with Northrop Grumman CEO Wes Bush, who told the senator that the company has signed the lease with the Grand Sky Development Corporation.

Bush said the project will be built in three phases: Groundbreaking for the initial office building will take place in September of 2015 and employees are scheduled to take occupancy in September of 2016; a hanger facility will be built in the second phase, followed by construction of additional office space in the third.

 “As a leader in the aerospace industry, Northrop Grumman is an ideal partner and anchor tenant for Grand Sky,” Hoeven said. “The company now joins its partners in the region to create an advanced technology park on the Grand Forks Air Force Base. The Grand Forks area is growing its economy with a special focus on unmanned aerial systems and aeronautics; Northrop Grumman is benefiting from the unique assets available at Grand Forks Air Force Base; and the Air Force is gaining valuable support for operations and activities at the base. This is a fantastic enterprise, with each partner bringing a unique strength to the project. I want to thank all of the partners for their hard work and vision, which is what made it all possible.”

“Northrop Grumman is proud of our strong relationship with the State of North Dakota. We are thrilled to be the Grand Sky anchor tenant and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial working relationship,” said Tom Vice, Corporate Vice President and Sector President, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.

Hoeven underscored the advantages of the agreement. Northrop Grumman, he said, will provide top-notch expertise in the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) field, and Grand Forks Air Force Base, the University of North Dakota (UND), and other partners will provide the right environment to put the company’s vast knowledge and innovation to good use. This is the kind of innovative partnership that will help us continue to develop the Grand Forks region as the premier hub for unmanned systems technology.”

Hoeven worked to build the relationship between the company and Grand Forks in 2012. He brought Vice to meet with Grand Forks stakeholders to see firsthand the opportunities Grand Forks and the region have to offer the company. Northrop Grumman manufactures the Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft system which is flown out of the Grand Forks Air Force Base.

Two years ago the company and its partners signed an historic strategic alliance agreement with the Grand Forks Base Realignment Impact Committee (BRIC), UND, UND Aerospace Foundation (UNDAF) and Northland Aerospace Foundation to forge the new partnership. That agreement culminated in today’s announcement.

The senator was instrumental in getting approval for an Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) between the U.S. Air Force and Grand Forks County, which was signed in February. The lease enables the county to build the complex on approximately 217 acres on the Grand Forks Air Force Base.

Senator Hoeven is a member of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Committee.

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