Minot Area Development Corporation : Success Stories

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Cutting the ribbon on the new energy park are members of the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and holding the ribbon, front left, are Eric Grove of Magnum Trucking, Roger Nash of Pumpco, N.D. Commerce Commissioner Shane Goettle, Mayor Curt Zimbelman receiving assistance from MADC president Jerry Chavez, Ward County Commission Chairman Bruce Christianson and Landy Brown of Pure Energy.

Energy Park Dedicated

Minot celebrated the economic activity being generated by tenants of the Great Plains Energy Park at a dedication Friday marking completion of the first phase of the park.

North Dakota Commerce Commissioner Shane Goettle called the park a "great idea implemented effectively."

Goettle joined Mayor Curt Zimbelman, oil company officials, representatives of Minot Area Development Corp., and other city and county leaders at the MADC-sponsored event.

"This is a great project," Goettle said. "It's made possible by vision and collaboration."

MADC built the Great Plains Energy Park in response to numerous requests from petroleum exploration and servicing companies for locations to set up their operations. With $1.1 million from the MAGIC Fund, MADC broke ground in 2008. Located east of Minot on U.S. Highway 2, the park's first phase occupies 45 acres and offers water, sanitary sewer, curb and gutter, a frontage road and street lights.

The three tenants of the park Pure Energy, Magnum Trucking and Pumpco have brought more than 200 jobs and generated more than $60 million to the area's economy, according to MADC.

Company officials report that their businesses are thriving in the energy park.

"We have continued to increase our exposure in the community, and we have tripled the size of our workforce," said Roger Nash of Pumpco. Pumpco employs 100 people.

"We continue to look for ways to make the business better," he said. "The future for Pumpco is bright. Pumpco will continue to grow. We will continue to build not only the business we are in but our presence in the community as well."

Nash said Pumpco wants to be an integral part of the community, which means it will be working to educate the public about its operations and to listen to community input.

Landy Brown with Pure Energy, the first to claim a spot in the energy park, said the company recognized early the advantages of a location in Minot.

"Simply put, the Magic City and the energy park cannot be beat. Access to the oil field is convenient," he said. "Minot's amenities attract and keep our employees and their families."

Eric Grove with Magnum cited the company's 50 percent growth since moving into the energy park. The North Dakota-based company has thrived along with the state's economy, he said.

"We, like North Dakota, seem to continue to grow and make our way," Grove said.

Bruce Christianson, Ward County Commission chairman, quoted an Associated Press analysis showing Ward County as having the healthiest economy in the nation.

"We are darn proud of that," he said, crediting the energy park for contributing to that standing. "The benefits are obvious."

Zimbelman noted the cooperation of the state, county and city that went into making the project a reality.

"The energy park was a risk, but with the incredible activity in the Williston Basin, the effort of the MAGIC Fund and the presence of dynamic tenants like Pure Energy, Pumpco and Magnum, we are already seeing that the reward is great," Zimbelman said. "It's exciting to see things happen in the first phase. It won't be long before we see things happening in the second phase."

Phase II is under construction and will provide an additional 70 acres of developed infrastructure. Completion is expected this fall.

*Jill Schramm-Minot Daily News

Great Plains Energy Park Dedication

You are invited to dedicate Minot's Great Plains Energy Park!

July 16, 2010 - 10:30 a.m.

Great Plains Energy Park
Highway 2 and 64th Street Southeast (Next to Pumpco)

Campus Tours and Refreshments following the Ceremony

Honor Guests invited: Governor Hoeven, Mayor Zimbelman and Petroleum Industry Leadership

Minot's Economy on a Roll

May 11, 2010 -

In an economy plagued by financial duress, Minot remains the exception.

After feverish oil activity in 2008, taxable sales and purchases in North Dakota fell to more normal levels last year. However, Minot's taxable sales and purchases continue to grow at record pace - up 7.8% from 2008, according to the North Dakota Tax Department. Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman said economic growth has been good, and the figures underscore Minot as a regional service center for the part of the state that is doing very well.

Areas of increase in Minot include transportation and warehousing, wholesale trade, information industries, construction, education, health care and social services, finance and real estate.

North Dakota Governor John Hoeven, middle, Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman, right, and Minot International Airport Director Andy Solsvig announce air service to Denver from Minot.

Fly direct: Minot to Denver

February 16, 2010 -

United Airlines announced twice daily service to Denver, Colorado much to the delight of the oil industry that frequently traffics the Rocky Mountain oil hub. Minot has been listening diligently to the needs of petroleum industry, area businesses and companies considering expansions and the additional service is a direct response to these needs. A western destination has been a big target for Minot for the past two years.

Minot will now have a total of nine direct flights to Denver, Salt Lake City and Minneapolis starting in June.

Dr. Selmer Moen, Program Director for Minot State University's Computer Science Department, briefs Minot area employers on the university's current curriculum.

MADC & MSU host Computer Science Roundtable Discussion

December 14, 2009 -

Employer needs was the topic of conversation when Minot Area Development Corporation and Minot State University hosted a Computer Science Roundtable Discussion in late 2009. The strategic partnership aims to enhance the community's ability to provide a sizeable pool of qualified candidates from which knowledge-based employers can fill employment needs.

Bringing their voices and breadth of understanding to the discussion were some of the community's largest employers with knowledge-based needs such as InfoTech, SRT Communications, ING, Trinity Health Systems and IRET Property Management. As MADC's focus for development this year will be knowledge-based businesses, upcoming discussions of a similar nature will be key.

Trade consortium brings shippers and exporters together

October 26, 2009 -

For the second year in a row, Minot Area Development Corporation and ag equipment manufacturer Aemsco partnered with the Canadian Trade Office to bring together international trade personnel as well as local, state-elected and Canadian officials for a trade consortium. The gathering provided shippers and exporters an opportunity to examine international trade advantages through the Port of North Dakota and offered an opportunity to enhance U.S.-Canadian trade relations.

Pure Energy President Paul Debonis, right, holding scissors and James Rozell, left, managrer of North Dakota operations do the honors at the company's Minot grand opening.

Pure Energy celebrates grand opening

October 22, 2009 -

The anchor tenant of Minot's premier oil center is officially open for business in the Great Plains Energy Park. Senior officials from Pure Energy Services USA, Inc. joined North Dakota Governor John Hoeven, Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman and community leadership in celebration of the ceremonial grand opening of Pure Energy's Minot location in late October 2009.

State and local leadership acknowledged the $20 million investment Pure Energy's new operations brought to the state of North Dakota over the past year since they began their expansion as well as the efforts of those who made the expansion happen. Pure Energy's Minot operations offer among other services, production testing and cased wireline hole services.

Minot's Great Plains Energy Park™ (pictured) will also benefit from the $1.5 million EDA grant for the expansion of water infrastructure in east Minot highlighted above in red.

$1.5 million EDA infrastructure grant awarded to Minot

August 19, 2009 -

Governor Hoeven and North Dakota's US Congressional Delegation announce the awarding of a $1.5 million grant by the US Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) to the City of Minot for the expansion of water infrastructure in east Minot.

As a result of the funding, businesses and residents in east Minot will benefit from an increase in water availability and water pressure. Minot's Great Plains Energy Park™ will also benefit with looped water infrastructure around the second phase of construction at the Park.

US Senator Byron Dorgan praises ING for their 10 years of service in the Minot community.

ING Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary

August 20, 2009 -

In its ten years conducting business out of Minot, financial services giant ING has grown from several hundred employees when it opened in August 1999 to become the company's largest servicing center in the U.S. at around 900 employees to date.

ING CEO of the Americas Tom McInerney attributed the center's amazing growth and success over the past 10 years to Minot's high-quality and well-educated workforce. "The growth of our Minot facility is a testament to the high-quality work performed by our employees here. It clearly shows that the Greater Minot community offers companies like ING a high-caliber employment base, which is critical to our business success," said McInerney. "We're proud to be part of the Minot community, and plan to be here for many years."

Rendered image of planned 80,000 sq ft canola processing plant to be located in Minot's Value-Added Agricultural Complex.

BioExx announces canola processing plant expansion into Minot

July 23, 2009 -

Canadian ag processing company BioExx has announced its intent to expand an 80,000 metric-ton per year canola processing facility into Minot's Value-Added Ag Complex and is in the process of completing the necessary financing.

The Toronto-based company is a great match for North Dakota - combining advanced technology with North Dakota-grown canola to generate a high-value end product. The North Dakota Department of Commerce identified Minot to BioExx executives as the ideal location for the expansion of the company.

BioExx states that the company considered several domestic and international locations before deciding on Minot. The major deciding factors were reportedly infrastructure availability and competitive costs, feedstock supply, availability of favorable funding programs, discussions with local utilities, design engineers and contractors and local, regional and national support.

Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman and MADC visited Washington D.C. May 6-9, 2009, to request $4.3 million in federal funding support from North Dakota's Congressional Delegation

$4.3 million requested for Minot's knowledge-based industry

May 6, 2009 -

Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman and MADC visited Washington, D.C. May 6-9, 2009, to meet with North Dakota's Congressional Delegation to request and garner support for $4.3 million for a local Department of Defense (DoD) related project.

When fulfilled, the funding would help to initiate a business function with a DoD contractor in Minot. This has the potential to grow into four different lines of business activities in Minot that include software development, embedded software development, manufacturing functions, and data center operations.

Minot's Workforce Development Program Manager, Missy Feist-Erickson, visits with attendees and job seekers at Iowa's Job Expo 2009

Minot's Workforce Development Program showcases available jobs

April 27, 2009 -

Minot's available workforce and talent pool continues to grow with the assistance of the community's Workforce Development Program (WDP).

Representative from MADC and Minot's WDP attended Iowa's Job Expo 2009, April 27-29, where over 1,400 job seekers attended.

The Expo was a success for the WDP with over 40 resumes collected from experienced, white-collar seeking professionals ready to make a move from Des Moines, Iowa to Minot, North Dakota.

Those resumes from the latest job fair have been added to the collection available online at MADC's website www.minotusa.com. The available resumes, approximately 400, have proven to be a valuable resource to area employers with open positions for their workforce recruitment efforts.

Keynote speaker James T. Brown of Whiting Petroleum Corporation, second from left, poses with outgoing chair Darwin Langseth, left, incoming chair Karen Krebsbach and MADC president Jerry Chavez

Minot's Future is Bright

February 23, 2009 -

Over 170 members of the Minot community, business leaders, and local leadership gathered at the Holiday Inn for Minot Area Development Corporation's (MADC) annual Board of Director's meeting to celebrate the success of the past year and listen to keynote speaker James T. Brown, Senior Vice President of Whiting Petroleum Corporation.

Minot's vision to be an oil center in the great Plains and the community's desire to learn more about the petroleum industry led MADC to invite Brown as keynote speaker for the meeting. Brown's message for the Minot community was this: "Plant the crop now!" It is important for Minot to sew the seed, to continue planning by making sure necessary infrastructure is in place. Brown said, "We're going to continue to drill in the Bakken in ND and we're going to be producing oil here for a long, long time."

InfoTech-Minot Technology Center signs contract with Raytheon Missile Systems

January 14, 2009 -

InfoTech-Minot Technology Center (InfoTech) has signed their first contract with Raytheon Missile Systems of Tucson, Arizona. Raytheon contracted InfoTech for the development of software for a weapons system Captive Flight Data Recorder (CFDR). The CFDR allows onboard missile signal data recording, and is a new unique capability provided to the U.S. Air Force for the Flight Test Community.

"We are pleased to have Raytheon - a national leader in the Department of Defense
arena - partnering with InfoTech and the Minot community for the benefit of area
residents as well as national security," said Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman. "Minot's
rich history of partnerships that engage high-technology enterprise, government
agencies and local economic development create new and better paying jobs for the
citizens of Minot."

Local and State leadership present Luke Marano Sr. (third from left), CEO of Philadelphia Macaroni Company with a Corporate Citizenship Award for Minot Milling.

Minot Milling receives Corporate Citizenship Award

November 12, 2008 -

State and local leadership gathered at Minot City Hall November 12 to celebrate the successes of Minot Milling, a division of Philadelphia Macaroni Company (PMC), and to present it with a Corporate Citizenship Award on the anniversary of its tenth year in Minot.

"It was the people of North Dakota that helped us to become successful in Minot," said Luke Marano Sr., CEO of Philadelphia Macaroni Company. Specifically he thanked the community, Minot Milling employees and MADC for their continued support and assistance. "We are honored to receive this award and grateful to be a part of the Minot community," said Marano.

C&F to Commence Operations

September 26, 2008 -

C & F Foods, Inc. announced its purchase of the MG Grain facilities located in the Minot Value-Added Agricultural Complex. The company seeks to continue the goals of MG Grain, purchasing agricultural commodities such as beans, peas and lentils from North Dakota and neighboring growers then processing, shipping, and delivering them to both national and international markets.

High quality agricultural producers and quality railroad transportation availability through the newly established Port of North Dakota in Minot made MG Grain that much more attractive to California-based C&F Foods. The Port of North Dakota offers the containerized and bulk transportation that is necessary for the operations of C & F Foods.

Crews complete construction of public infrastructure - including water and sewer, curb and gutter - to Phase I of the Great Plains Energy Park.

Phase I Energy Park Infrastructure Nearly Complete

September 25, 2008 -

All that remains to be constructed of Phase I public infrastructure in the Great Plains Energy Park is a frontage road with street lights. Construction is set to be completed this fall.

Last April the City of Minot approved the MAGIC Fund screening committee's recommendation to grant $1.1 million in MAGIC Funds for expanding public infrastructure to the first phase of the park. Infrastructure construction began in July, and all water and sewer is in the ground and the curb and gutter is complete.

Minot Leadership Continues Process to Obtain Federal Funding

September 18, 2008 -

MADC and local leadership visited Washington, D.C., Sept. 18-19 to initiate the first step to obtain funding this year for InfoTech-Minot Technology
Center. When fulfilled, the $4.3 million request will allow InfoTech to continue developing the Secure Discovery/ UDDI project for the U.S. Navy. The Secure Discovery technology developed by InfoTech in Minot provides the nation's war fighters the ability to make critical decisions with trustworthy and accurate information and communications.

InfoTech's business in Minot currently employs 19 full-time people in high-paying jobs including software developers to team leaders.

Last year $2.8 million was approved in FY 2008 appropriations, and in FY 2007 Senator Dorgan was instrumental in acquiring $1.8 million in the federal appropriations bill for InfoTech - Minot Technology Center.

MAGIC Fund Approval for Minot's Great Plains Energy Park - Phase II

September 24, 2008 -

The MAGIC Fund screening committee approved of MADC's request for $1,696,000 in MAGIC Funds for the build-out of Phase II of the Great Plains Energy Park which will now go to the Minot City Council for final approval. If granted, the money will go towards expanding public infrastructure from the end of Phase I eastward to 72nd Street.

Specifically, the funds will pay for the build-out of water, sewer, curb and gutter, and pavement and lighting for continued construction in Phase II of the quickly expanding energy park. Funding is critical to move development of the Great Plains Energy Park into Phase II to accommodate continued growth and capital investment by the petroleum industry into Minot.

Sixty acres of land are available in Phase II of the enery park. All of the lots in Phase I are sold out, totaling over 45 acres.

Construction crews near completion of expanding water and sewer into Phase 1 of the Great Plains Energy Park(TM)

Minot's Great Plains Energy Park (TM) is Booming

August 4, 2008 -

Construction at Minot's Great Plains Energy Park is booming alongside the rapid expansion of the oil industry to Minot.

Last March, the concept of the energy park was created, and in April the City of Minot approved $1.1 million in funds to expand public infrastructure to the park. On July 11, North Dakota Governor John Hoeven, joined by Minot city officials and representatives of Pumpco Services, led the groundbreaking of the Great Plains Energy Park™. Following the groundbreaking, construction commenced and crews have since placed almost one mile of water and sewer into the ground between 55th and 64th streets, located in the first phase of development.

Governor Hoeven, Minot city officials, and representatives of Pumpco Services break ground at the Great Plains Energy Park (TM)

Ground breaking ceremony held for Great Plains Energy Park (TM)

July 11, 2008 -

North Dakota Governor John Hoeven, joined by Minot city officials and representatives of Pumpco Services, led the groundbreaking of the Great Plains Energy Park™ in Minot.

"Phase 1 of the Great Plains Energy Park with 45 acres is fully occupied with the expansion of Pumpco, Pure Energy, and Magnum Trucking," MADC President Jerry Chavez said. "Combined, these companies will create over 200 new jobs in the Minot area."

Gov. Hoeven proudly welcomes Pumpco officials Mark Songer and Willie O'Neill to North Dakota and the Great Plains Energy Center(TM)

Pumpco Services chooses Minot to expand operations

July 11, 2008 -

City officials formally welcomed Pumpco Services, an oil-field service company headquartered in Gainesville, Texas, to Minot during a groundbreaking ceremony held at the Great Plains Energy Park™. Pumpco anticipates a capital investment of $50 million into the expansion, including the construction of a shop, office, and chemical warehouse totaling 51,000 square feet on approximately 22 acres in Minot's Great Plains Energy Park™.

"The addition of Pumpco further confirms that Minot is becoming a hub for companies specializing in oil services," said Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman.

MADC purchased an additional 320 acres of land east of 42nd street and north of County Road 12.

Growth at Value-Added Agricultural Complex

July 7, 2008 -

In a continued effort to expand the Value-Added Agricultural Complex in Minot, the Minot City Council at their regular July meeting approved $800,000 and $410,000 in MAGIC Funds for MADC to purchase additional land east of town. The Council accepted the MAGIC Fund screening committee's recommendation to approve an $800,000 grant to purchase 320 acres of land in the Value-Added Agricultural Complex.

An additional $410,000 grant was approved for the purchase of 8.8 acres near the City of Minot Public Works Department on 31st St SE. The nearly 9 acres was purchased with the intent to hold for future development.

Show in picture from left to right: Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman, ND Governor John Hoeven, Pure Energy president Paul Debonis, and Pure Energy US operations manager Mike Mahoney.

Oil-Servicing Company Announces Minot Location

MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA, MAY 2008 -

Pure Energy, an oil-field servicing company headquartered in Canada, announced its plans to expand into Minot's Great Plains Energy Park™. Pure Energy president Paul Debonis said the company chose Minot because of the warm reception they received and for the opportunity to grow in the Williston Basin for the long term.

Pure Energy received a vote of confidence from the Minot City Council with a $600,000 incentive package to begin operations in Minot. The company will receive MAGIC Funds in the form of a $200,000 cash grant and $150,000 to buy lots in the energy park. Additionally, a $250,000 loan will be received and forgiven upon meeting certain employment criteria.

Pure Energy currently employs 45 people with plans to create at least 80 jobs by 2011.

Petroleum companies will establish Minot offices

MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA, MARCH 2008

Two major energy conglomerates - Hess Corporation and Leader Energy USA - have announced they will establish a major presence in Minot to conduct operations. Hess is finalizing its choice of locations and Leader has already selected a location in
southwest Minot.

Hess officials announced in January that they would begin expanding their operation to Minot. A Hess spokesperson said the Minot office opening this year will be used primarily to recruit engineers to work in the Bakken formation, which includes Ward County and several additional counties in North Dakota and Montana.

Minot Projects Receive Final Approval for $4.6 Million in Centers of Excellence Funds

MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA, October 30, 2007 -

Two Centers of Excellence projects that will ultimately benefit Minot and the surrounding area have received final approval for $4.6 million in funding. The North Dakota State Legislative Budget Section approved $10 million in total funding Tuesday for Centers of Excellence projects. Projects with economic benefit to Minot include the University of North Dakota (UND) Center of Excellence for Biomedical Device Research, Development & Commercialization and the Great Plains Knowledge and Data Center at Minot State University.

"The Centers of Excellence recommendation is a vote of confidence in Minot's economic development activities," Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman said. "The caliber of these projects and their ability to create new higher-paying jobs is certainly good news for Minot and the region."

Port of North Dakota™ One Step Closer to Becoming Operational

MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA, August 8, 2007 -

Minot businessman and local agricultural leader Greg Johnson has been selected to manage the Port of North Dakota, following a decision in August by the Minot Port Authority to approve a Request for Qualification by North Dakota Port Services (NDPS), with Johnson as its president.

Johnson's primary role will be to work with various transportation providers to ensure smooth service for shippers, said MADC President Jerry Chavez. The facility is doing preparatory work in anticipation for an early spring 2008 opening.

InfoTech Celebrates Minot Opening

MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA, March 24, 2007 -

New York-based InfoTech celebrated the opening of its Minot Technology Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony March 24th. InfoTech-MTC will create a state-of-the-art, global information network for the U.S. military.

Matti Kon, president of InfoTech, said there is a trend in the country for technology jobs to be moved overseas, and that keeping jobs in the U.S. is important. The IT industry is turning their focus to the Midwest to find quality employees who do the work at a less costly price. "I think the trend of bringing IT to places like this (Minot) will continue," Kon said.

InfoTech-MTC is the seed tenant to Minot's anticipated Research and Development Complex. It is Minot's vision to attract other high-technology companies that can leverage available resources and relationships to compete competitively on a national and global level.

Value-Added Ag Business Announces Minot Location

MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA, March 8, 2007 -

MG Grain, LLC announced that Minot will be home to their new agricultural commodity processing facility. "We are very excited to come to this community," said Milad Ghattas, international businessman and owner of MG Grain. "Minot and the state of North Dakota welcomed us with open arms. In meeting with growers from the region, we knew Minot was the right place to build our business."

MG Grain, to be located on 40 acres in Minot's Value-Added Agricultural Park, will utilize the intermodal system for international distribution. It is anticipated the facility will produce 600 tons of agricultural commodities for transport per day, and the three-phase project will result in a minimum of 20 new jobs. Facility construction will begin this year.

Knowledge-Based Business Welcomed to Minot

MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA, October 11, 2006 -

$1.8 million in federal funding will help bring New York-based InfoTech to Minot. The facility will be included in Minot's Research and Development Complex. At a press conference Oct. 11 in Minot, InfoTech President Mattie Kon announced the company's plans to begin operations in about 90 days.

"This project is an exciting opportunity for Minot that will spur the local economy while strengthening the U.S. military," Senator Byron Dorgan said. "This new capability will help our service members get the information they need, when they need it, so they can better do their jobs protecting America."

"With Senator Dorgan's assistance, MADC has been able to identify a need expressed by the Navy, partner with a growing East Coast technology company that can meet
that need, and obtain federal funding to entice that company to locate personnel in Minot," said Mayor Curt Zimbelman. "This is a great accomplishment for Minot."

$1.5 Million Intermodal Park Grant To Help Economy

MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA, May 9, 2006 -

$1.5 million federal grant will help Minot build its planned Intermodal Park to provide flexible, efficient, economical rail and truck shipping of area commodities.

The grant from the U.S. Department of Economic Development Administration was presented to the Minot Area Development Corporation (MADC) and announced today during a news conference at Minot City Hall. Gov. John Hoeven and Sandy Baruah, Assistant U.S. Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, made the annoucement.

MADC President and CEO Jerry Chavez saw the grant as affirmation that the Minot area was pursing industries that would be substainable in the area. "The Minot Area Development Corporation has done its homework," Chavez said. "We've targeted two key industries that are naturally suited to the area: value-added agriculture and transportation, freight and shipping. This grant is a vote of confidence from the U.S. Department of Commerce that we're moving in the right direction."

New BNSF Fueling Facility and Car Shop in Minot

FORT WORTH, TEXAS, March 9, 2006 - Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) today announced that it intends to begin preliminary work to construct a new locomotive fueling facility and a new mechanical facility in Minot to help improve service to shippers in North Dakota and across the rest of BNSF's network.

"We appreciate BNSF's investment in Minot to establish both a refueling facility and mechanical facility," said Governor John Hoeven. "When completed, the investment in the fueling facility alone will exceed $20 million and there would be significant additional investments for the mechanical facility. In addition to the construction activity these facilities will create 35-50 jobs in the Minot area."

Choice Hotels International

Choice Hotels International celebrated the 15th anniversary of its Minot reservation call center in Minot on March 14, 2006. "For us, it's a milestone," said Phyllis Burckhard, senior director of call center operations in Minot. "We want to continue to grow this call center as well as strengthen ourselves in this community," she said.

MADC President and CEO Jerry Chavez stated, "When Choice Hotels International was looking for a new location for an international call center, they came knocking on Minot's door. We weren't surprised."

Chavez added, "After all, a move to Minot meant Choice Hotels would become even more competitive and profitable. That's what having one of the nation's most productive work forces can do for a bottom line. Combine that with the ability for companies to expand in 30 days or less and a highly-competitive incentive package, and the choice for Choice Hotels became very easy." MADC is proud to support this project, imagine what we can do for you.

ING

ING/ReliaStar established a service center in Minot in December of 1998 and currently has 680 full-time employees. ING has proven itself as a highly reputable asset to the Minot Area and has had a significant and positive impact on the Minot economy.

"ING chose Minot for our expansion because our service center employees have demonstrated that they can provide unsurpassed customer service. I think this decision speaks volumes about Minot and the caliber of people who live and work here," Tom McInerney, CEO, ING U.S. Financial Services