MARCH 16, 2018

WILLISTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
NEWS & UPDATES

Dear Williston Wire Readers,
 
Congratulations to the Williston Fire Department for earning a dramatic upgrade in its ranking from the Insurance Services Office! The WFD has added two new fire stations, new equipment, staff and a training facility in recent years. The improvements were funded in part through the 1/2 cent county sales tax dedicated to emergency services.  The upgrades have helped make Williston a safer and better place for all of us!
 
 
Shawn, Ann, Barb and Brenda 

Williston Fire Department ranked among  Top 2 Percent in US
The Williston Fire Department has built two new fire stations in recent years to meet the demands of the city's dramatic population growth. Williston Economic Development

News Release - T he City of Williston Fire Department has been named one of the top fire departments in the US, The Williston Fire Department is extremely proud to be among the top 2% of fire departments across the United States, according to recent figures released by the Insurance Services Office (ISO). The ISO has upgraded the city's protection rating to a Class 2, which for the last 12+ years the department was rated as a 5 / 8b. The new ISO rating of 2 / 2y is based upon many factors which include water supply system, number of fire stations, personnel, the various types of equipment and response times, to name a few.  Read More
Williston ranked Best Small City for Job Opportunities
Williston has been at the center of the shale oil boom in the state, growing its job count 121% since 2007.
Forbes - Surprisingly, our list of the best small areas for jobs does not include many of the scenic small communities that tend to attract affluent emigrĂ©s from large cities. Instead most of our leading areas from the last 10 years tend to be those driven by the energy industry, led by No. 1 Williston, North Dakota. With 36,000 people, Williston has been at the center of the shale oil boom in the state, growing its job count 121% since 2007. Wages have soared 47% to over $68,000, well above the national median income of $52,000. Read More  
Williston remains Optimistic during Swings in Commodity Prices
Williston is working to break free from the industry's boom-and-bust cycles. 
Bloomberg - As the price of oil goes, so goes Williston, North Dakota. Now, though, the community located deep in the state's Bakken shale play is working to break free from the industry's boom-and-bust cycles. When oil sold for $100 a barrel, Williston -- one among many oil towns dotting the nation's shale basins -- grew faster than its infrastructure and services could handle. There was a housing shortage, a too-small police force and endless traffic tie-ups. Then the bust hit, with oil prices falling below $30, and Williston lost around 4,000 residents in just a year as the industry responded with massive layoffs. Bad news? Not according to some. Read More
Sport and Rec Show March 16-18 in Williston
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"We have really strived to build the ty pe of Sport & Rec show that the Williston community has asked us for: a fun family event and a resource for people who love the outdoors," said the CVB's Sabrina Ramey.
News Release - The Sport & Recreation Show will be held at the Raymond Family Community Center March 16-18, 2018. The show is produced by the Williston Convention & Visitors Bureau each year as a fundraiser, with proceeds benefiting the Williston Police Department, community events and event equipment for Williston. "We have some great returning vendors who join us every year," commented Event Communications Coordinator Sabrina Ramey, "and then we have many new vendors." Read More
Bond Referendum March 19, Special Election March 20
News Release - Williston Public School District #1 invites the community to join them for the last Public Information Meeting regarding the Bond Referendum on March 19 a t 6:15 p.m. at the Bakken Elementary School in the auditorium. A public participation period will begin at 7 p.m. The special election will be held March 20 at the Williston Area Recreation Center from 8 a.m.-7 p.m.  Read More
2 Days, 2 Job Fairs April 25 and 26
Employers interested in participating should contact Job Service to register.
Williston Herald - 
Oiltown is big, and getting bigger, if Williston-area job postings are any indication. Williston's Job ServicesND office lists 1,326 job openings this month, an increase of 367 job postings over last month. The state agency represents a fraction of actual job postings, as not all companies use the free service. 
Cindy Sanford is the Willstion Job ServicesND office manager. 
"We've got two jobs listed for every resume on our website," she said. "People need to get their resumes up online. We had two get interviews just off the website."
Read More 
PSC approves Pipeline Upgrade, New Gas Plant 
Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak, right, speaks on a pipeline issue as commissioners Brian Kroshus, left, and Randy Christmann, center, listen on Wednesday morning in the PSC hearing room.  Tom Stromme/Tribune
Bismarck Tribune - Two major oil and gas projects approved Wednesday by the North Dakota Public Service Commission aim to improve pipeline safety, meet local demand for diesel and reduce natural gas flaring in the state.  Commissioners approved a project from Cenex Pipeline LLC that will upgrade a portion of a refined fuels pipeline in northwest North Dakota that was built in 1960. However, the company does not have easement agreements to begin construction along 22 percent of the pipeline route.  Also Wednesday, commissioners approved the Arrow Bear Den gas plant near Watford City to process growing volumes of natural gas in the core of the Bakken.  Read More
Helms releases January Oil Report; Production down due to Winter Weather
"We really expected a much bigger production drop than we saw," Director of Mineral Resources Lynn Helms said Tuesday as his agency released the preliminary numbers.
Dickinson Press - North Dakota oil production held steady in January despite harsh winter weather, producing an average of more than 1.17 million barrels per day. The drop of about 7,000 barrels a day since December was significantly less than regulators expected in January, a month that had extreme winds, subzero temperatures and power outages in the Bakken. Read More
Red Rock Ford to open Watford City Dealership in Summer; Walls going up on Williston Dealership
Red Rock Ford General Manager Alex Nelson and his girlfriend, Lisette Michaels stand inside the showroom at Dickinson. Linda Sailer/The Dickinson Press
Dickinson Press - 
Red Rock Auto is posed to meet Watford City's need for a new-car dealership in town. Construction is underway on the showroom, and it's projected to open this summer. 
The family-owned business will be co-managed by the Nelson brothers-Alex and Adam. 
Red Rock Ford is the third dealership started by the Nelson family in western North Dakota. Alex is general manager of Red Rock Ford, which recently opened in Dickinson, and Adam manages Red Rock Ford in Williston. Watford City will be a franchise for Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram. 
Read More
Watford City Residents pleased with New Post Office
Watford City's new Post Office houses nearly 3,000 P.O. boxes and 16 sections of parcel lockers. Sydney Mook / The Dickinson Press
Dickinson Press - Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night keeps the post office from doing its job, but now residents in Watford City have a brand new spot to pick up their packages and letters. On Sept. 25, the Watford City Post Office opened for business at its new location, 1204 4th Ave. NE. The new facility is more than double the size of the previous building, which was near the downtown area, and is complete with two retail counters and P.O. boxes available to rent. The new location provides more parking space for customers and capacity for 10 postal carrier routes. The 9,000-square-foot building houses nearly 3,000 P.O. boxes and 16 sections of parcel lockers.   Read More           
Plans for Tioga Community Center total $5.2 Million
Tioga Commissioners approved the project's master plan unanimously.
Crosby Journal - Changes made to the design of Tioga's new community building will bring the project in under the $5.2 million budget.  A representative from Graham Construction presented plans last week to the Tioga City Commission, showing the alterations.  The two major changes include shortening the length of the main community room to reduce the size by 1,400 square feet and lowering the ceiling in an area in which the space was for aesthetics rather than functionality, in the main entry.  To read the full story, sign in to our online edition.
Upcoming Williston Events
03/19------Special Commission Meeting
Per Mayor Klug, a special meeting of the Williston Board of Commissioners has been called at 12 p.m. at City Hall to request  advertisement for bids for the demolition of the Hedderich's building.
 
03/19------Williston Planning and Zoning Commission
The commission meets the third Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Commission Room at City Hall at 22 East Broadway.

03/19------Public Input Meeting on Bond Referendum
The meeting will begin at 6:15 p.m. at the Bakken Elementary School in the auditorium.

03/20 ------ Special Election
Qualified voters can cast their ballot on the Bond Referendum at the Williston Area Recreation Center from 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

03/23 ------ Ribbon Cutting for Exhale Yoga & Wellness
The Williston Chamber's ambassadors will hold a ribbon cutting at 2 p.m. at the Harvest Plaza.

03/27 ------ Williston City Commission
The commission meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 6 p.m. in the Commission Room at City Hall at 22 East Broadway.

04/10 ------ Williston City Commission
The commission meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 6 p.m. in the Commission Room at City Hall at 22 East Broadway.
 
04/13  ------ Williston Chamber Eggs & Issues
Williston Economic Development is the sponsor for the meeting beginning at 7:30 a.m. at TrainND.
 
07/10-12 ------ ND Water Resource Districts Association's Summer Meeting
The 2018 North Dakota Water Resource Districts Association's annual summer meeting will be held at the Grand Williston Hotel and Conference Center.

Upcoming Energy Events
03/21 ------ NDPC Denver Social
The meeting will be held at the Denver Petroleum Club in Denver, CO.

05/22-24 ------ Williston Basin Petroleum Conference
The 26th annual event will be held in Bismarck, ND. Early bird general attendee registration is open until April 12, 2018.
 
05/22-23 ------ Energy Exposition
The 2018 Energy Exposition will be celebrating 19 years as the Rocky Mountain's longest running energy trade exhibition. The event will take place at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, Colorado. Reserve booth space today.  Energy Exposition

The Summer 2018 event will be held at the Rough Rider Center in Watford City. 

09/24-26 ------ NDPC Annual Meeting
The meeting will be held at the Ramada in Fargo, ND.

10/03-04 ------ Bakken Oil Product & Service Show
The 8th annual trade show and seminars will be held at the Raymond Family Community Center. Bakken Oil Show website

City of Williston, ND | Economic Development | 701-577-8110 | Email | Website
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