United Pulse Trading is looking at a $12.7 million investment in its extrusion plant operation in Minot.

The company is asking for a $269,231 forgivable loan from the Minot MAGIC Fund to help purchase equipment. The MAGIC Fund Screening Committee meets Thursday to consider the request and make a recommendation to the city council.

According to information provided to the committee by Minot Area Chamber EDC, United Pulse Trading is seeking a state PACE loan, and the $269,231 would serve as the community’s portion of the interest buydown. If approved by the Bank of North Dakota, the state would provide about $500,000 in interest buydown, according to MACEDC.

In 2022-23, AGT Foods invested nearly $10 million to develop its Extrusion Center of Excellence, where it produces gluten-free pasta. The expansion would add two production lines, producing short pasta cuts and long pasta cysts, such as spaghetti. The center’s capacity would increase from 4,000 metric tons of pasta to 20,000 metric tons by the end of 2026.

AGT Food and Ingredients is a major supplier of value-added pulses, staple foods and food ingredients in the world. The company buys lentils, peas, beans and chickpeas from farmers around its more than 40 facilities in Canada, the United States, Turkey, Australia, China and South Africa and ships products to more than 120 counties, AGT Foods has had a presence in Minot since 2014.

AGT Foods currently lists more than 100 full-time employees in Minot, including 23 employees in the extrusion operations.