Grand Forks will move forward with the purchase and demolition of the former Grand Forks Inn & Suites Motel. The city council – meeting as the JDA – agreed to buy the vacant building from American Bank Center in Bismarck for $450,000 dollars.
Once cleared the site will be readied for redevelopment – including a potential CTE project. City Administrator Todd Feland says other locations are also being considered for a Career and Technical Education complex but the former motel site is a top contender.
The 2021 North Dakota Legislature set aside $70 million dollars in CARES Act funding to help jumpstart CTE’s projects. The initial deadline to apply for up to $10 million in state matching funds is October 1st.
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The council also gave preliminary approval to a proposed $216.7 million dollar budget. The 2022 spending plan holds property taxes in check…increases fees for the average user by 85 cents per month…and grants employees a 3% pay increase. Members were reluctant to include elected officials on the city’s health insurance plan at a cost of up to $45,000 dollars. Final budget approval is expected September 7th.
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