Press Releases
August 22, 2006
Conrad Helps Open New World-Class Shipping Facility
Northern Plains Commerce Centre Will Bring New Jobs to North Dakota
Bismarck — State and local leaders joined Senator Kent Conrad today to drive the first ceremonial railroad spike at the Northern Plains Commerce Centre (NPCC) -- a world-class transportation and shipping facility.
"I'm proud of the work we have done together — at the city, state and federal levels — to make the Northern Plains Commerce Centre become a reality," Senator Conrad said. "Today's opening means big opportunities for North Dakota."
The NPCC will serve as an intermodul transportation hub, linking road, air, and rail freight in one central location. The NPCC concept was born in 2004 in meetings with Senator Conrad, Bismarck Mayor John Warford, and state and local economic development leaders. Over the past several years, Senator Conrad has been working to bring together the key partners in the $20 million shipping facility, securing its anchor tenants, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and Ingersoll-Rand's Bobcat Company.
In addition, Senator Conrad helped secure $2 million from the national highway bill and a $1,024,050 Economic Development Administration grant for the facility last year. He is now working to designate the NPCC as a Foreign-Trade Zone, allowing companies to import products from around the world through Bismarck without incurring duties from U.S. Customs.
The NPCC is strategically located with access to Interstate 94 and U.S. Highway 83 for ground transit; rail service is tied in to Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Dakota Missouri Valley and Western; and the Bismarck Airport will provide air transportation.
Using special containers that are interchangeable for different modes of transportation, freight at the NPCC will be transferred in Bismarck and shipped to markets across the nation and around the globe. In addition, farmers will be able to utilize this shipping center by loading harvested crops directly into intermodul containers, allowing for less handling of crops and quicker arrival to market.
"The NPCC will be the most efficient industrial and distribution facility in the Northern Plains, giving North Dakota a new avenue to the global marketplace," Senator Conrad said. "This is a real investment in North Dakota's future."
