State Senator “Champagne” Tony Grindberg Leaving NDSU Research Park

State Senator Tony Grindberg, who served as the director of one of North Dakota’s so-called “Centers of Excellence” (or Centers of Crony Capitalism, depending on your perspective), is leaving North Dakota State University’s Technology and Research Park. His new employer? Why, one of the companies that got special favors through the Technology and Research Park.

You’ve got to love how that revolving door spins.

Despite claiming that it was ok for Grindberg to double-dip on his salary and bill his country club membership (not to mention high-end booze and expensive meals) to his employer since the TRP is supposedly a “separate, non-profit” organization, the announcement of Grindberg’s departure came from NDSU President Dean Bresciani in his capacity as President. The announce was also posted on the NDSU website.

Because they only claim that the TRP is separate when they want to skirt state regulations.

A couple of weeks ago the ND Commerce Department, which overseas these “Centers of Excellence” issued a report indicating that they had consumed nearly $40 million in appropriations from the state government to create 973 “direct jobs.” At a cost of about $40,000 per job, that’s not such a great deal for the taxpayers, but it sure has been a good deal for Senator Grindberg and the companies that get special “economic development” deals through the centers.