Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development Innovation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves RFQ to hire third‑party manager for The Hive tech accelerator
Summary
City staff recommended an RFQ to seek third‑party management for The Hive, the downtown tech accelerator focused on unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Council approved the RFQ unanimously; staff said the accelerator was purchased with an EDA grant and currently operates with one full‑time director and part‑time help.
The council unanimously approved a request‑for‑qualifications on Monday to identify a third‑party manager for The Hive, the city‑operated tech accelerator housed in the repurposed Grand Forks Herald building.
Haley Rosasen, human resources manager who has been assisting with The Hive’s operations since a staffing reduction last fall, said the facility was purchased in 2019 and renovated with a $1.1 million Economic Development Administration grant. The site currently hosts more than 30 tenant companies in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and related technology, Rosasen said, and the accelerator is shifting programming from early‑stage start‑up curriculum toward networking and scale‑up support.
“We are trending in the right direction financially,” Rosasen told council, but she said the city wants to recruit a manager with UAS industry knowledge, stronger tenant recruitment and more robust day‑to‑day staffing than the current single full‑time managing director and a part‑time operations employee can provide.
Council members said they support a private operator that could grow The Hive without increasing city full‑time equivalents. Mayor Brandon Bochinsky moved approval of the draft RFQ and the motion passed unanimously.
Why it matters: The RFQ is intended to attract a management organization that can expand tenant recruitment, increase programming and aim toward long‑term revenue sustainability for a publicly supported downtown asset.
Provenance: Jobs Development Authority and City Council, item 2.2 presentation and approval, 04/07/2025.
