By Alix Larsen
FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – City leaders across the Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, Dilworth & Horace covered many important topics during this year’s State of the Cities event.
Starting with West Fargo, the city continues to experience significant growth, with thousands of new acres of development planned through 2050.
“Projections across these models could see population growth estimated between 17,000 and 26,000 new residents. And job growth between 13,000 and 20,000 new jobs,” said Dan Hanson, senior director of community and development services for the City of West Fargo.
Convention center expected to generate $50 million
The Fargo Convention Center is expected to bring around $50 million to the community in its first year once completed. The project involves both public and private partnerships, with the winning proposal required to build both the center and a hotel.
“Our hope, fingers crossed, is that by the end of March, we have approval by the commission and we can move forward with the winner of the bid,” said Shirley Hughes, president and CEO of Visit Fargo-Moorhead.
Hector Airport expansion adds gates, amenities
Hector International Airport’s 73,000-square-foot expansion will increase gates from five to nine. The project includes a restaurant where TSA currently operates, an updated baggage claim and a skyway opening by the end of this year.
“For families, we are adding a 1,500 sq. ft. playroom, a nurturing room, family restrooms, and a virtual reality room,” said Paula Ekman, chair of Hector International Airport MAA.
Moorhead projects address infrastructure needs
Downtown Moorhead features the Loop Building, which houses the new library. Moorhead City Hall is being renovated to a ground floor layout. The 11th Street underpass project is nearing completion to address the more than 70 trains passing through town daily.
“While inconvenient at times, but so is waiting for a train everybody, the last phase of this project is Center Avenue. We look forward to celebrating the grand opening of 11th St this fall,” said Matt Leiseth, president and CEO of Downtown Moorhead Inc.
Mayors address community challenges
Mayors from Horace, Dilworth, West Fargo, Moorhead and Fargo discussed major issues in their communities.
Horace Mayor Jeff Trudeau addressed future special assessment plans. “We do want to move to permanent bonding right away just try to save money for the individual taxpayers at the end,” Trudeau said.
Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney discussed progress on addressing homelessness, including moving the Downtown Engagement Center and the Referral and Recovery Center, with 35 nonprofits providing assistance.
“If you think about it, sometimes our downtown facility’s too small. We have people spill out, they go on Broadway they go downtown they bother people. You need to have a space where people can be managed and taken care of with the needs that they have,” Mahoney said.
Moorhead is hiring a navigator from CAP-LP to work with unhoused individuals.
“A number of these individuals have Section 8 housing vouchers, which would allow them to be able to get into an apartment — a place to live so that they are not unhoused. There are a lot of individuals that with that voucher they can’t find someone to be able to rent to them. That’s a lot of the work CAP-LP will do,” said Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson.
Dilworth also discussed its new community center plans. That project has an estimated base cost of $10.6 million, with the possibility of some multi-million dollar additions.
