JSDC updates, Annual Report

Holly Miller

Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation (JSDC) Board of Directors was given an update on the water supply projects for the planned CHS nitrogen fertilizer plant and enlarged the parcel of land set aside for a crew camp.

On Wednesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, JSDC, Vice President of Economic Development, Holly Miller said at the meeting, Stutsman Rural Water District, Manager, Geneva Kaiser discussed the Spiritwood Regional Water Reuse Facility Project.

The planned water reuse plant has enough capacity for about 300 gallons per minute above the needs of the CHS plant.

A water reuse plant would use wastewater from Great River Energy, Cargill Malt and Dakota Spirit AgEnergy in combination with water from the Jamestown and Spiritwood aquifers to supply the 3,800 gallons per minute of water required by the planned CHS nitrogen plant.

The North Dakota Legislature provided a $10 million grant and a $40 million low-interest loan for the $144 million project. The rest of the funds would be borrowed and repaid through the sale of water to CHS or other industrial water users.

In other business, the JSDC Board approved an increase in the acreage it will make available for a possible future crew camp to house construction workers for the planned CHS project.

The approval increases the land available for a crew camp from 40 acres to 80 acres at an annual rent of $600 per acre.

The JSDC land being made available for the crew camp is located southeast of Spiritwood and about 5 miles from the planned location of the CHS plant.

JSDC, CEO, Connie Ova has said developers have shown interest in starting businesses such as service stations, truck stops and restaurants in the area of the crew camp.

At the meeting the JSDC Board approved a revised version of its policies and procedures manual.

The revised policy and procedure manual now goes to the Jamestown City Council and Stutsman County Commission for approval.

Holly also said the JSDC’s Annual Meeting was recently held, including the Annual Report being presented.

She added that a JSDC news letter is returning to the web site,

www.growingjamestown.com

The JSDC Annual CEO Report

2014

From Connie J. Ova

Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.

James Cash Penney

JSDC continues its focus on long range growth. We worked diligently to finalize the Spiritwood Energy Park Association (SEPA) rail loop and are proud to announce that the final connection to the BNSF rail was completed in time for the Dakota Spirit Ag Energy (DSA) start-up this spring of 2015. Dakota Spirit Ag Energy is the JSDC 2014 Business of the Year. Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, and working together is success. Congratulations DSA!! We are very happy to have such excellent partners as Great River Energy (GRE) to continue to work with on SEPA and future projects. Great River Energy has invested $634,652,000 yes MILLION in this community to date.

JSDC invested in 320 acres of real estate directly to the south of SEPA. There is a rail spur in the WSW corner of the SEPA rail for future connection to the southern property. JSDC has committed 30-40 acres of this acreage as a possible location for a crew camp facility. And, we are working with Stutsman Rural Water District, City of Jamestown, GRE, Dakota Spirit Ag Energy, CHS, Inc. and Cargill Malt on the Spiritwood Water Reuse Regional Facility planned for that area as well.

We were able to grow the Jamestown and Stutsman County area in 2014 by providing business re-location, business expansion, business start-up, business retention and community enhancement opportunities. This included $367,000 in community match dollars for Flex PACE Interest buy down loans and $343,000 in New Jobs Training Funds to 11 projects that leveraged $163.5M current and future investment in Jamestown and Stutsman County and created or retained 60+ jobs for the community. JSDC also provided $5.5M in grants for various projects including $4.7M to CHS being paid over a 30 year period at $235,000 annually. These dollars leveraged $3.7 Billion dollars, up to 2000 construction jobs and a future payroll in excess of $20M along with 180 full time careers.

The JSDC 2014 Annual Report available online at www.growingjamestown.com click on “Reports”.

As we look forward to 2015 I ask that you give some thought to the following questions:

How can we unify our community’s definition of economic development and help residents understand the role of JSDC?

How can we better leverage our education assets to help attract, retain and grow businesses?

What can we do to help students pursue degrees that will lead them into high demand occupations?

How does our community’s quality of life affect economic development? What is JSDC’s role in quality of life improvements?

How can we expand our use of technology in community engagement and marketing?

Should job creation continue to be our primary performance metric? How can we re-think the measures of our community’s well-being?

What should we do to empower the next generation of leaders in our community

The JSDC Board of Directors and JSDC Staff continue to strive for growth and prosperity for the people and businesses of Jamestown and Stutsman County. We thank the community for ongoing support.