BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today joined local officials and company representatives for the grand opening of United Pulse Trading Inc., a $7.5 million pea and lentil splitting facility in Williston, N.D.
The new facility is capable of cleaning, calibrating, peeling, splitting and color sorting 75,000 metric tons of peas and lentils, making it the largest lentil and pea splitting company in the Americas. Hoeven was joined for the ribbon cutting by president and CEO of Alliance Grain Traders, Murad Al-Katib, Williston Mayor Ward Koeser, and other local officials.
United Pulse began operating in 2007 while undergoing major expansions and renovations, and has since created 33 new jobs at the processing facility in Williston and five new jobs at its headquarters in Bismarck. The company, which has roots in Turkey, has moved five new Turkish families to North Dakota.
"Our aggressive efforts to diversify our agriculture industry through value-added ventures is expanding our economy and creating jobs," said Hoeven. "United Pulse in Williston, which is at the heart of lentil and pea production in the nation, is providing new markets for growers and building the economic base of both the region and our state."
United Pulse is a subsidiary of Saskatchewan-based Alliance Grain Traders Income Fund, the largest lentil exporter in the world. Because North Dakota is the leader in pea and lentil production for the nation, Alliance Grain Traders' expansion into the state was an ideal next step. The State provided $400,000 in interest buydown from PACE and Flex PACE, as well as the North Dakota Development Fund, to assist the company in the purchase, renovation and expansion of the Missouri River Ag Processing facility formerly owned by Superior Grains of Crosby. United Pulse also recently completed a $1 million rail line, dramatically increasing its loading capacity, and has purchased 20 more acres in the Williston Industrial Park for expansions.
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"Tonight's Grand Opening marks the completion of the first phase of a multi-phase investment in the state," said Murad Al-Katib, president and CEO of Alliance Grain Traders. "Support from the state and the economic environment in North Dakota is very positive for us. Williston will be a base from which we continue to build our investment in this sector and in the state."
Alliance Grain Traders operates 13 other processing plants in Canada, Turkey and Australia and exports to 85 countries. Al-Katib says the company's future growth plans are focused on North Dakota, as well as Australia and Turkey, with investments planned in lentils, peas, durum wheat milling and beans.
"United Pulse will continue to be important to both our producers and our state," said Hoeven. "We look forward to working with the company to expand its operations, creating even more value-added opportunities in our state."
