Senate Ag Committee backs incentive program aimed at luring $450M potato processor to North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. — The Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee on Feb. 24 voted to give House Bill 1332 a due‑pass recommendation after extended testimony from state and local officials who said the bill would help recruit a large potato processing plant to North Dakota.

Representative Jared Haggart, sponsor of the bill, told the committee HB 1332 would add a value‑added agriculture facility incentive to the existing Ag Diversification and Development Fund and authorize a $30 million funding mechanism to support new, large processing facilities.

The bill would charge the Ag Diversification and Development Committee with developing the grant program. Under the proposal, grants would be reimbursement‑based: an eligible facility could receive up to half of a $30 million award (about $15 million) upon receiving a certificate of occupancy, and the remainder after achieving 50% of production capacity.

“The purpose of this bill is to add to the AD fund the responsibility of developing a value‑added ag facility and incentive funding mechanism,” Representative Haggart said. He listed six criteria for projects to qualify, including in‑state location, new construction on an industrial‑ready site with municipal infrastructure, a minimum…