GRAND FORKS — Agristo, the Belgian potato processor, has been awarded $250,000 from the state to develop engineering plans for its planned Grand Forks processing facility.

The $450 million project, when completed and operational in 2028, is expected to add some 350 jobs to the area.

Agristo North Dakota LLC received the award as part of a round of funding totaling $926,800 announced by North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring Friday morning, Nov. 28. Other organizations to receive Agricultural Products Utilization Commission awards are:

• Independent Data Management, of Fargo, was awarded $250,000 to improve the MyAgData electronic acreage reporting system;
• The North Dakota Department of Agriculture was awarded $85,000 to help North Dakota companies promote their products at domestic and international trade shows;
• ND Malting and Hops, Inc., of Williston, was awarded $76,800 for marketing;
• Triple 8 Assets LLC, of Williston, was awarded $160,000 to establish a laboratory;
• Rope and Oak Nature Park was awarded $40,000 to purchase equipment to establish an agritourism park near Hickson, an unincorporated township in Cass County;
• Kathrein Beef Company, of New England, North Dakota, was awarded $25,000 to help establish a ranch-to-market beef business; and
• Prospect Growth, Inc., of Fargo was awarded $40,000 to further develop a nanoparticle-based fertilizer.

Also Friday, the state Department of Agriculture announced $1 million in Agriculture Diversification and Development awards. Recipients are:

• Anchor Ingredients received $300,000 to upgrade three Hillsboro plants with new equipment to process flour and oat hulls;
• Cavendish Farms received $500,000 for the expansion of its Jamestown potato processing facility;
• Tracey Hauck, of Richardton, North Dakota, in Stark County, received $150,000 to build cattle confinement barn; and
• Weinlaeder Seed Company, of Drayton, received $50,000 to procure lab equipment for the expansion of a food-grade processing facility.

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BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) issued the following statement Thursday to wish all North Dakotans a happy Thanksgiving.

“Happy Thanksgiving to the people of North Dakota and families across our nation. Today we give thanks for the liberties we enjoy, the opportunities our country provides, and the hardworking spirit that defines our state. May this day bring you together with loved ones and renew a sense of gratitude and peace. From Mikey, me, and our family, we wish you a blessed and happy Thanksgiving,” said Hoeven.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) also released the following Thanksgiving Day video message.

“Saint Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, reminds us ‘in all things, be thankful.’ The Pilgrims embodied this spirit, even in the hardest of times. Today gives us a chance to recommit ourselves to the spirit of gratitude that’s with us always. My family wishes you and yours a great, festive, and celebratory Thanksgiving,” said Cramer on social media.

Copyright 2025 KFYR. All rights reserved.

FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – North Dakota will offer discounted Lyft rides through its ND Sober Ride program during the Thanksgiving holiday to keep impaired drivers off state roads.

The Vision Zero program will provide ride codes valid from Wednesday through Saturday, or while codes last. You can use Lyft code “VZTURKEY25” to receive $10 off their ride in areas where Lyft service is available.

During the recent Halloween campaign, about 150 discounted Lyft rides were used, according to program officials.

Lyft codes are unique to each campaign and can only be used once per user.

Codes and additional program information can be found at VisionZero.ND.gov.

Copyright 2025 KVLY. All rights reserved.