Fufeng discussion brings out a crowd

For the second week in a row critics of a proposed corn milling facility in north Grand Forks showed up at last night’s council meeting.

The city is working on a development agreement with the Fufeng Group that includes tax breaks and incentives.

Supporters point to the number of new jobs the project will create and the economic development opportunities that exist.

Many in the crowd voiced concerns over environmental issues and the fact the company is based in China.

Mayor Brandon Bochenski told the crowd that the city wouldn’t be this far along in negotiations if they didn’t believe it’s a “legitimate” company that’s been in business for 20 years across the globe.

Several council members suggested the city move ahead slowly with the development plan in order to give them more time to digest all the information.  The issue will be back before a Committee of the Whole meeting next week.