GRAND FORKS, N.D. — The North Dakota Mill & Elevator on Sept. 26 celebrated the completion of its new G Mill wheat flour milling unit in Grand Forks. With the $27 million expansion, North Dakota Mill has increased its total milling capacity by 30%, to 49,500 cwts, making it the largest single site wheat flour mill and the seventh largest milling company in the United States.
“This expansion will allow for an additional 7.5 million bus of spring wheat per year to be processed here in North Dakota into top quality flour sold across the country,” the North Dakota Industrial Commission said. “The G Mill will increase the North Dakota Mill’s total economic impact to the region by over $150 million per year.”
In 2014, the North Dakota Industrial Commission authorized the expenditure of $19,815,000 to increase milling capacity by 11,500 cwts per day, and in the spring of 2015 an approval was made for an expansion project of $7,985,000 to construct a building on the mill’s property in Grand Forks. Major contractors on the projects included VAA Engineering, Ocrim S.p.A., CETEC, Vigen Construction and Fusion Electric.
“The increasing demand from our current customers has driven the need for expanding our milling capacity,” said Vance Taylor, general manager of North Dakota Mill. “We will continue to leverage our consistent high quality, high level customer service and plant/transportation efficiency to drive growth.”
Owned by the state of North Dakota, the North Dakota Mill & Elevator Association began operating in October 1922 as a value-added market for wheat produced in North Dakota. Approximately 80% of the mill’s flour and semolina is shipped on bulk rail cars and trucks, and 20% of finished products are packaged in 5-, 10-, 25-, 50- and 100-lb bags for shipment via boxcars and trucks. Product also is packed in totes/super sacks for shipment. The mill also sells a line of bread machine and pancake mixes for the retail trade.
The mill also has an organic certification for processing organic wheat products.
