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CITY, N.D. (AP) A company planning a .7 billion fertilizer production plant in Grand Forks is expanding its shareholder drive to include farmers and other investors.

Darin Anderson is a Valley City farmer and chairman of the managing partners for Northern Plains Nitrogen LLP. He tells Agweek that the company has been able to offer shares to a limited group of investors.

The company is offering up to 1,800 shares to accredited investors. The price is $5,000 per share, with a minimum investment of $15,000. Northern Plains Nitrogen is seeking at least $3 million and up to $9 million in the shareholder drive.

The plant is expected to open in 2017 and plans to use natural gas through an existing pipeline near the site or directly from the oil patch through a proposed pipeline.