Bank Forward of Hannaford, ND has eight locations in North Dakota and 4 in Minnesota.  When they decided to make a strategic move to Grand Forks and build a bank on UND’s Bronson Property, they wanted to hire and train their staff before the new bank was constructed. Our Incubators have hosted  the key team members for  manufacturing and processing companies during the time of construction, so the incubators became home for the bank for a few months in 2008, severing as their training and operations center.  When the doors were opened on their North end bank, the team was in place and new bank was fully operational.

La Rinascente Pasta Co has a history in the Bronx of New York, but in 2003, North Dakota investors bought the specialty pasta company and moved it to Hope, North Dakota.  During the time of raising money from investors and pulling the leadership team together, LA Rinacente Pasta was based out of our incubators until the new facility as constructed in Hope. Their pasta products include clustered fideos, folded fettuccine, and jumbo shells.

Pilot Friendly Products was developed by Michael Shope, a UND aviation student with strong interest in entrepreneurship.  Mike developed light-weight LED flashlight for pilots a high-value product and started and grew the venture to having an office in the incubator and warehouse and distribution the community. The student arranged for the LED light to be manufactured in China utilizing UND contacts in Shanghai. After developing national distribution and sales, the company was acquired by a leading aviation supply company in Seattle. Michael graduated from UND and is living the life of an entrepreneur, now working on another venture, Clean Republic with faculty member Dr. Yong Hou.