Grand Forks County officials unveil details for drone technology park

Backers of a North Dakota technology and business park for unmanned aircraft systems expect to finalize a contract for the facility in the next few weeks.

The project known as Grand Sky will cover 225 acres on the Grand Forks Air Force base. Officials unveiled details for the park Thursday at an annual drone summit in Grand Forks.

Grand Forks County Commissioner John Schmisek says it would be the largest industrial park in North Dakota. The anchor tenant is aerospace technology company Northrup Grumman.

Schmisek says officials are wrapping up negotiations with the Air Force on the facility.

Sen. John Hoeven says North Dakota should be a global leader in unmanned aircraft. The state is bidding to become one of six national test sites for drones.