Committee gives initial OK to GF tax breaks

PILOT programs for Epitome Energy and the Memorial Village II received support from a Local Government Advisory Committee on Monday. The advisory board was comprised of members from the City of Grand Forks…Grand Forks County…School Board…Park District…and Manvel School Board.

Under the plan Epitome Energy would receive an 83% tax break for 15 years. The company is looking to build a $420 million dollar soybean processing facility on 75 acres of land northwest of Grand Forks.

The Memorial Village II project would see a 100% tax break for ten years – with an 80% break in years 11 to 20. The five story mixed use building will include 167 market rate apartments plus an NCAA regulation size softball complex near University Avenue and Columbia Road. The city is also working through the details of a $2 million dollar low-interest loan for the UND softball complex.

Both projects will go to the city council in June with a public hearing scheduled on July 5th.