ND Petroleum Council to meet in Watford City

Save the date! The 2021 North Dakota Petroleum Council's annual meeting has been set for September 22-24. We are excited that they have decided to host this meeting at our Rough Rider Center again. Over 400 attendees participated at the 2019 ND Petroleum Council's annual meeting in Watford City.
December Economy at a Glance

The December Economy at a Glance is now available.

Some data of note:

  • The total true and full value of property in McKenzie County has increased from about $2.69 billion in 2019 to $3.21 billion in 2020.

  • The McKenzie County labor force has decreased from 10,432 in October 2019 to 8,007 in October 2020.
Touring the Bismarck Career Academy

Over a dozen leaders from throughout McKenzie County toured the Bismarck Career Academy earlier this month. Leaders in McKenzie County have been looking for ways to increase the amount of career-specific training that can be provided in our community and wanted to better understand the multi-decades of success of the Bismarck Career Academy.
River + Ranch Magazine features local home

The December/January edition of the River + Ranch Magazine features the home of Kira and Greg Noll of Watford City all decked out for the holidays. The magazine describes the home as a "beautiful Colonial home with a touch of modern running through." The issue also features the local interior design business Tranquil Concepts Design and Decor and the local floral shop Mabe's Flower Market.
Free crisis support

Free and anonymous support services are available to North Dakotans who may be experiencing feelings of anxiousness, stress, depression, loneliness, or frustration during the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. If you are in a time of intense difficulty, distress or trouble, please call 701-223-1510 to talk to a trained counselor. This service, called Project Renew, is an initiative of the North Dakota Behavioral Health Initiative.
Small business relief grants

A new grant has been announced for small businesses and enterprises affected by Covid-19 in rural communities. The LISC Rural Relief Small Business grants seeks to serve those especially those in underserved communities, including entrepreneurs of color, women- and veteran-owned businesses that often lack access to flexible, affordable capital.
Main Street Expansion grant program

The North Dakota Department of Commerce has announced the Tourism Main Street Expansion Grant Program. The grant's purpose is to support new or expanding businesses that provide an improved visitor experience, with an emphasis on attracting visitors to the core of a city or town. The grants are a 2:1 matching grant with a maximum award amount of $15,000. The deadline to submit an application is January 22, 2021.
Healthy Living Challenge

The Watford City Parks & Recreation Department is launching a Healthy Living Challenge on January 3, 2021.

Registrants will be able to choose from a three or six week option and use various methods of exercise to complete the challenge. Visit here for more information.
Motorsport event

The McKenzie County Fairgrounds' Multipurpose Building will be the site of the Battle at the Barn. Motorsport enthusiasts will have a chance to experience the race. Practice will be on January 15 and the race will be held on January 16. Find more info here.