Submitted Photo The first intermodal train is shown coming into Minot in October.

Minot hosting the state’s only intermodal operation was major news in 2020

Within hours of a news conference announcing Rail Modal Group Minot as the new operator for the intermodal rail service, the first shipping containers were on their way to the nearby AGT Foods.

In October, Minot Area Development Corp. introduced Rail Modal Group as the operator for the facility in the industrial park in east Minot.

The facility, to reduce shipping costs for agricultural producers and other industries in the Great Plains, provides service to the ports of Seattle and Tacoma in Washington.

It will give producers and processors the opportunity to ship their products worldwide instead of just going to local and regional markets, according to Greg Oberting, president of RMG Minot.

Amy McBeth, regional director of public affairs for BNSF, said the site is ready to go for companies looking for rail service, noting BNSF previously certifying the intermodal site makes it unique in North Dakota.

“It’s another example of Minot understanding the importance of rail transportation, and MADC in particular. It’s a big deal for the region, and we’re pleased to be able to provide that service.

The process to bring intermodal to Minot was a collaborative effort of a number of groups from across the state including state government, private and financial institutions, BNSF and the Northwest Seaport Alliance.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in June to officially open the new Amur Tiger River Valley habitat in Minot’s Roosevelt Park Zoo.

Eloise Ogden/MDN
Becky Dewitz, center, then director of Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot, just cut the ribbon to mark the official grand opening in June of the Amur Tiger River Valley, the zoo’s new Amur tiger habitat. Ron Merritt, director of Minot Parks, is at Dewitz’s left.

The new habitat gives plenty of room to the zoo’s tigers to roam around and climb in a spectacular site where visitors can see them in good view. The tiger habitat is part of a $6.2 million project for the zoo’s African lions and Amur tigers. The African lions’ new habitat opened in 2019. The next project is the renovation of the former cat habitat for leopards. The projects are being done in conjunction with the zoo’s centennial celebration in 2021.

2020 was a year of closures for some business and the opening of some new businesses.

A major store closure in the city occurred this past summer when the Kmart store in southeast Minot shut its doors in southeast Minot.

This brought to an end a business operating in Minot since the early 1970s. The Minot store was the last Kmart store in North Dakota to close.

Ruby Tuesday restaurant, Gordman’s department store and a number of other businesses also closed during the year.

A number of new businesses opened during the year although many new and previously existing businesses had to revamp their way of service due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Culver’s restaurant is among new restaurants opening in Minot in 2020. When it opened in February, it became the sixth Culver’s location in North Dakota.

Dollar General opened its second location in Minot. The new location is near Oak Park in northwest Minot.

T-Mobile and Mi Mexico Express were among the new businesses in Dakota Square Mall.

The High Third restaurant featuring American-Canadian food began operating in downtown Minot.

Prairie Sky Breads also opened in downtown Minot. The business got its start selling breads at Minot’s farmers’ markets.

Kim Thompson, owner of Good Vibrations Modern Quilt Shop, moved her business from her home to a new store along East Burdick Expressway

28 Tastes & Taps moved into the former Fudruckers building in southeast Minot and opened for business this year.

Bremer Bank broke ground on a new, full-service branch in Minot. The new branch in southwest Minot is expected to be open in late summer 2021.

A merger between Minot-based First Western Bank & Trust and Fargo-based BlackRidge BANK became official on Nov. 16. The merger didn’t make changes for First Western customers except give them more ATM locations and office locations including in Fargo and a second location in Bismarck. BlackRidge customers received new debit cards and credit cards with First Western’s name.

Spartan Firearms, a gun and training facility, opened just west of Minot.

Verendrye Electric Cooperative and Enerbase partnered to open this past summer one of the first level 3 electric car charging stations in North Dakota. The charging station is located at the North Enerbase Travel Plaza.

New Dawn Chiropractic & Acupuncture in southwest Minot and Mattress By Appointment in southeast Minot also were among new openings this year.

Souris Valley Animal Shelter broke ground in August for a $3.2 million remodeling and rebuilding project.

The Minot Area Chamber of Commerce’s Ambassadors Committee helped many of the businesses celebrate their openings and other events.

Unified marketing campaign launches, Chamber & MADC merge

Minot launched a new unified marketing campaign and the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce and Minot Area Development Corporation made plans for and completed a merger during 2020

In July, Minot’s One Brand organization comprised of Visit Minot, Chamber, MADC along with partners from the City of Minot, Minot Park District and Downtown Minot unveiled a citywide brand effort called “It’s Magic in Minot.”

The One Brand includes featuring a unified logo and messaging.

Minot residents were also urged to take part in the “Share the Magic” photo and video contest.

The unified marketing strategy was recommended by economic development stakeholders during meeting conducted through the National Disaster Resilience Program.

In December, members of the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce and Minot Area Development Corp. overwhelmingly voted to merge the two organizations on Jan. 1.

Ballots mailed out in December came back with 94% of Chamber member votes and 95% of MADC investor votes in favor of the merger.

“I am excited for what the merger means to our region,” said L. John MacMartin, Chamber president and MADC interim president/CEO. “I have spent over a year working for both organizations and see a lot of synergies and opportunities for the two organizations to become one. We can combine resources and focus our efforts on a fresh start to serving the business community as one focused organization.”

Through an economic resilience program, the need for the organizations to collaborate and develop a single brand was identified. A change of leadership at MADC in the fall of 2019 served as impetus for studying a merger.

“We are in an environment where we all are looking for ways to work as effectively and efficiently as possible,” said Randy Hauck, MADC board chairman. “The organizations are already housed in one building and being able to look for further efficiencies will serve the members/investors well.”

The new Minot Area Chamber EDC would be governed by a 14-member board.