Appropriations committee advances $5 million toward new Great Plains Food Bank distribution facility

Representative Mike Belz presented House Bill 1143, which originally proposed a $10 million appropriation to the Agriculture Commissioner for grants to support a statewide charitable food distribution and logistics facility. The committee amendment reduced the request to $5 million from the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund for 2025–27; the Appropriations Committee recommended the amended bill.

Belz described the Great Plains Food Bank as the identified collaborator and summarized its operations: the food bank’s annual budget is about $10.8 million and, he said, in 2024 the organization distributed nearly 16,000,000 pounds of food. The sponsor and testimony noted the food bank serves all 53 counties; Great Plains staff asked for state support to replace an existing site officials described as being built on a former dump and constrained from expansion.

Melissa Sobelik, chief executive officer of the Great Plains Food Bank, testified about the operation’s reach. "Last year we served 156,000 North Dakotans. 36% of them are children and another 12% are seniors," Sobelik told the committee. She said the food bank currently operates a Bismarck storage site in addition to its main facility and that the current building’s location and geotechnical conditions limit expansion. Sobelik described a recently acquired 9‑acre parcel that would meet distribution needs and qualify for New Markets Tax Credits.

Belz outlined the food bank’s revenue plan and fundraising progress: private contributions and earlier federal and local grant awards total several million dollars and staff testified that the facility’s full build‑out was estimated at roughly $30.5 million (including inflation). The bill amendment reduced state funding to $5 million under the committee’s view that the project could secure additional private and federal resources.

Representative Swantek moved a due‑pass recommendation on HB1143 and Representative Mitscog seconded. The committee voted to recommend the bill as amended; the roll call recorded in the transcript showed committee approval with 18 yes, 2 no and 3 members absent. Committee members who spoke during the hearing emphasized the statewide distribution role and the logistical advantage of the proposed site near interstate connections.

The committee record shows the bill will proceed to the next stage with a recommendation in its amended form.