Great Plains Food Bank to receive $5 million for new distribution center in Fargo
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR-KFGO) – Governor Kelly Armstrong has signed House Bill 1143, providing a one-time $5 million appropriation from the Department of Agriculture to support construction of a new statewide distribution center. The investment will be matched dollar-for-dollar by private donations raised by the nonprofit.
“We’ve reached full capacity at our current facility, and the demand for food assistance is higher than ever,” said Melissa Sobolik, CEO of Great Plains Food Bank. “This new state-of-the-art distribution center will allow us to accept, store, and distribute more food to more people across North Dakota, efficiently and sustainably.”
The existing statewide distribution center no longer meets the organization’s growing needs. The facility faces critical challenges including insufficient space with the use of trailers for overflow inventory, and major infrastructure issues such as HVAC deficiencies. Without room to grow, the Great Plains Food Bank’s ability to meet rising food insecurity has been strained.
The new facility in Fargo will address those barriers, maximizing logistics and storage efficiency while preparing the organization for future growth. It will increase food storage capacity with more pallet racking and expanding the cooler and freezer space. The design also includes specialized areas like a community room and an allergen repack space to enhance service delivery and innovation.
“We are grateful to Governor Armstrong and the North Dakota Legislature for recognizing that access to food is a fundamental need for every North Dakotan,” Sobolik added. “This is more than just a building—it’s a springboard for expanding and innovating how we tackle food insecurity. As long as hunger exists, so will we.”
Designed with long-term sustainability in mind, the facility will support the organization’s mission for decades to come.
The new site will be located at 3315 Westrac Drive.
Construction is expected to begin in 2027. Great Plains Food Bank serves all of North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota.
