04.10.14

Hoeven: Air Force Expects to Sign Final Enhanced Use Lease for Grand Sky in Early June

WASHINGTON – At a hearing of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee this week, Senator John Hoeven thanked Kathleen I. Ferguson, Acting Assistant Secretary for Air Force Installations, Environment and Logistics for the Air Force’s support in creating Grand Sky, a new state-of-the-art aerospace business and technology park on Grand Forks Air Force Base and pressed for a timeline for finalizing the Air Force’s enhanced use lease (EUL) with Grand Forks County. Ferguson told Hoeven that the Air Force expects the final lease to be signed by early June.

“The agreement we’re forging in North Dakota between Grand Forks County, the Air Force and Northrop Grumman will help create one of the premier hubs in this country for developing unmanned aerial system technologies,” said Hoeven. “We appreciate the Air Force’s support for the Grand Sky and the enhanced use lease. They have been creative and innovative in supporting this project.”

Ferguson said the project has tremendous benefits inside and outside the Air Force and is a great example of a partnership between the Air Force, the local community and the industry in moving forward new technologies.

The Air Force has announced its intention to sign the EUL with Grand Forks County to build the complex on approximately 217 acres at Grand Forks Air Force Base. Under the terms of the agreement, the county will provide payments to the Air Force in exchange for a 50-year lease. Hoeven has been working to help forge the new alliance, which will bring Northrop Grumman to Grand Sky as the anchor tenant.