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A joint groundbreaking will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 16, at DCN’s Bismarck location.

BISMARCK, ND (July 10, 2019) – DCN (Dakota Carrier Network) will begin construction of a nearly 20,000 square-foot addition to the north end of its Bismarck location in July 2019. The hardened addition is the future home of the Central Dakota Communications Center (CenCom), which provides 911 public safety communication services for Bismarck, Mandan and Burleigh County. The two organizations will hold a joint groundbreaking ceremony at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 16, at DCN’s Bismarck location, 4202 Coleman Street.

“The public-private partnership between DCN and North Dakota’s public safety sector has been in place since 2000, and we’re honored to continue to support critical infrastructure to ensure the safety of people in our state,” DCN CEO Seth Arndorfer said.

DCN and CenCom worked with Fargo-based TL Stroh, architectural and interior design firm, on plans for the addition, which will be constructed with the same specifications as DCN’s existing hardened Bismarck Coleman and Fargo Great Plains data centers. These facilities were built to withstand up to 200 mph F4 tornado-force winds. Construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2020.

“It is a wise use of tax dollars to leverage what DCN has already built rather than recreate a facility for our own existence,” says CenCom Director Mike Dannenfelzer. “Our previous partnership has been successful, and we look forward to operating under the same roof.”

Public-private partnership history
DCN first provided network services to CenCom in 2000, supporting 911 public safety communication services for Bismarck, Mandan and Burleigh County. The public-private partnership has proven a successful endeavor for the two entities that are now preparing to have their operations located under the same roof.

“DCN has provided mission critical services to the State of North Dakota for almost 20 years, and the CenCom project is another example of how our state and local leaders are leveraging investments made by private industry in North Dakota to achieve greater things,” shared Arndorfer.

Rendering of the future CenCom addition to DCN’s Bismarck location.

Rendering of the future CenCom addition to DCN’s Bismarck location.