Submitted Photo Mark Lyman, right, economic development specialist, Minot Area Chamber EDC, and Justin Pearson, left, regional manager of Economic Development, BNSF Railway, pose with the IEDC Gold Award in the Public-Private Partnership category for the Minot Intermodal Facility.

The Minot Intermodal Facility was selected by the International Economic Development Council this month as a finalist for the “Best in Show” award during the 2024 IEDC Conference, according to the Minot Area Chamber EDC.

To be placed in the top 14 out of more than 500 submissions, the Minot Intermodal Facility first earned a Gold Award this summer in the category of Public-Private Partnerships for communities with populations between 25,000-200,000, a MACEDC news release stated.

“Congratulations to the Minot Area Chamber EDC on this well-deserved award for their successful efforts to bring consistent, reliable intermodal service as an option to producers and shippers in the state,” North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum said in the release. “Our office and many other state agencies worked together with local and national businesses for years to make the Minot Intermodal Facility a reality. Earning a Gold Award from the International Economic Development Council and being a finalist for the Best in Show Award are testaments to the value of public-private partnerships in improving our economic standing in the region and across the country.”

“We are proud to provide this logistics solution and option for our producers and shippers throughout the region and state, by means of the successful Minot Intermodal Facility. It is an added bonus to be recognized by our peers at IEDC with both the Gold Award for public-private partnerships and as a Best in Show nominated project,” said Brekka Kramer, president and CEO of MACEDC. “We truly wouldn’t be able to pull off a project of this size and impact without the many business partners in our community and across the country, as well as the local and state governments that have seen and support our vision for transportation and logistics.”

“BNSF Railway appreciates the ongoing partnerships we have with the State of North Dakota and Minot Area Chamber EDC as we expand rail service to our customers who are developing new and emerging commodities for container shipments to export markets,” said Justin Pearson, Regional Manager of Economic Development, BNSF Railway. “In addition to the intermodal site, Minot hosts the only BNSF certified site in the state, allowing a faster-to-market location for businesses looking for rail service. Minot Area Chamber EDC is an instrumental partner in making these rail options available.”

“Rail Modal Group, operating the Minot Intermodal Facility at the Logistics Park of North Dakota, has successfully introduced the state’s first intermodal facility, streamlining U.S. export logistics across North Dakota and into Canada,” said Monica Oberting, esquire and vice president of Business Development at RMG. “The new Minot Intermodal Facility provides farmers, producers, manufacturers, and exporters with more efficient and environmentally friendly transportation options. At Rail Modal Group, we are proud to be a part of this transformation, which greatly benefits North Dakota’s agriculture and manufacturing industries.”

The Gold Award and finalist status for the “Best in Show” 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Award add to other recent awards the Minot Intermodal Facility has earned, including the Economic Development Association of North Dakota 2022 Project of the Year and the 2024 North Dakota Main Street Summit Economic Diversification Award.

The intermodal port transfer facility is part of the Logistics Park North Dakota, which consists of more than 800 acres in east Minot. The port spans 136 acres and features more than three miles of rail track serviced by BNSF Railway. The facility organizes containerization and shipment for regional exporters of various products and commodities.

Earning an award under the IEDC category of Public Private Partnerships required a detailed explanation of the participants in, and the promoters of, the facility. This included the Bank of

North Dakota, City of Minot, N. D. Departments of Agriculture and Commerce, N.D. Legislature, N.D. Trade Office, The Northwest Seaport Alliance and many others.