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First Grand Sky tenant breaks ground

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. David Dobrydney
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
A little more than a month after the official groundbreaking for the Grand Sky Technology Park, another groundbreaking has taken place.

Northrup Grumman held its ceremony October 14 in a small ceremony here attended by corporate representatives, state and federal politicians and U.S. Air Force members from the 319th Air Base Wing.

U.S. Senator John Hoeven acted as master of ceremonies for the event.

"This is a huge step in making Grand Forks the number one place in [unmanned aerial systems]," Hoeven said as he described the $10 million investment the Northrup Grumman facility represents.

Among the speakers were Gov. Jack Dalrymple and Hoeven's fellow Senator Heidi Heitkamp, who described the view from Washington of the project.

"They were doggedly determined to make this happen at the [Department of Defense]," she said, describing the significance of the public-private partnership that allowed Grand Sky to lease property from Grand Forks Air Force Base. "I can only predict great things."

Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley invoked figures that loom large in the history of aviation and the state of North Dakota, such as Carl Ben Eielson, and praised the "pioneering spirit" that is still evident today in the Grand Sky project.

Hoeven closed out the remarks by stressing the important role Grand Sky and Northrup Grumman will play in national defense, stating "this isn't just about maintaining technical superiority, as we must do. This is about preserving freedom, not just for ourselves, but for the world."