Building 5,000 Homes in 24 Months - Bakken Housing Summit May 16-17 in Williston

News Release 

The Bakken Housing Summit will be held May 16 and 17, 2012 in Williston, North Dakota. The challenge is to build 5,000 homes in Western North Dakota in the next 24 months.  The Williston Basin extends throughout Western North Dakota and presents one of the largest economic opportunities in the country. The energy industry is spending more than $4 billion in 18 months on capital investments including oil exploration, gas plants, pipeline infrastructure, and rail facilities.  In November, 2011, North Dakota had an unemployment rate of 2.9% with 19,627 job openings. The lack of housing thwarts the ability to hire workers and is threatening the continued growth and development of the Bakken shale play.  See Entire Story.

Severe Housing Shortage is Williston's Greatest Business Challenge

Williston Herald

Part 1 of 5 by Jeff Zarling  

Most people are aware of the problems we face with a lack of housing including escalating rents, inflationary pressures on housing prices and the severe shortage of housing stock.  Many people are unaware, however, of how much progress has been made, some of the initiatives under way, and the unique barriers to solutions.  The series will discuss the major components of the housing picture including the scope of the problem; infrastructure; land, developers and builders; and the financial component.  Let's start with some basic facts and figures and a little historical perspective.  See Entire Story.  

Three Williston Rental Projects Seek Aid from Affordable Housing Fund

Williston Economic Development

by Barb Peterson

Statewide Housing Conference to be Held February 8 & 9 in Bismarck

News Release 

Taxpayers Give Big Boost to Housing Projects Sponsored by Lutheran Social Services

Lutheran Social Services

News Release

The state's Housing Incentive Fund tax credit program  will help Lutheran Social Services Housing build affordable nonprofit rental units in Belfield and Beach similar to the townhomes above that they built in Parshall.

Taxpayers eager to take direct action in solving western North Dakota's current housing shortage gave a generous boost in late December to Lutheran Social Services Housing, one of the state's fastest growing non-profit housing developers.  Lutheran Social Services Housing raised $364,159 in state tax credits for its nonprofit affordable rental housing projects in Williston, Belfield and Beach.  Of the $364,159, $86,050 will be directed to Lutheran Social Services Housing's future apartment complex for older adults in Williston, $28,109 to help with new affordable apartments being built this year in Beach and $10,000 for upcoming projects in unspecified oil patch locations.  See Entire Story.

How the Tax Credit Program Works.

Bismarck Tribune Editorial:  Planning for Growth Takes on New Importance

Bismarck Tribune

If the oil industry continues its frenetic growth - and that seem more and more likely - then the Bismarck-Mandan community will see profound changes in the next four to six years - more housing, heavier traffic, more students and really just more of everything. With it will come jobs and better wages and many, many good things. There will be an expanded tax basis to help foot the bill. In the meantime, it will be a bumpy road.  It's important that planning operations on both sides of the river here are vigorous, because making sense out of this growth will be difficult. Planning will become more and more important, not as a restriction on growth but to make sure subdivisions and roads and other infrastructure make sense and are safe and efficient.  See Entire Story.

Rapid City Journal Editorial:  If Booms Comes, Be Prepared

Rapid City Journal

Editorial

South Dakotans normally have little that they admit to being envious of our neighbors to the north - North Dakota. However, North Dakota's robust energy industry - fueled by oil and gas exploration - makes it one of the few states that kept a budget surplus through the recession.  Surveys by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources have concluded that the Bakken formation does not appear in South Dakota; however, the Three Forks shale formation is present, and it holds the potential for oil production.  The prospects of the North Dakota oil boom moving south is the topic of a Feb. 2 panel discussion in Belle Fourche hosted by the Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce.   The idea that the North Dakota oil boom is headed our way is speculation at this point. But if any of the ongoing exploration wells hits paydirt, the boom could arrive with unexpected speed.  See Entire Story.

Tester Calls on Federal Governement to Help Montana Prepare for Bakken Oil Boom

Billings Gazette

Montana US Senator Jon Tester attended a roundtable discussion in Billings recently about the potential oil boom impacts in eastern Montana.

The Bakken oil boom can be a moneymaker for Eastern Montana, but the torrent of business will prove too much for the community if it isn't ready, said Montana U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, who thinks the federal government should be helping.  Spending cuts ahead will make federal support of the Bakken economy challenging, but still possible if communities are specific about what's needed, Tester said.   "It's very evident that there are some opportunities to move the Bakken along in a way that it isn't a boom-bust cycle, and it's going to take some good planning to do that," he said.  See Entire Story.

Montanans Say Bakken is Headed Their Way

Big Sky Business Journal

When it comes to The Bakken - someone has "to put a rope around the chaos... We need someone to put a saddle on this chaos and ride it for all it's worth,"  said Kendall McCrae, an entrepreneur in the Bakken. McCrae was one of a number of participants in a roundtable discussion focused on the phenomenon of the rapid development of oil and gas in eastern Montana.  It was a listening session for US Senator Jon Tester, sponsored by the Billings Area Chamber of Commerce.  "The oil and gas development "...isn't stopping at the border.  It is coming this way," McCrae told the packed room.  See Entire Story.

Stanley Residents Help Solve Oilfield Waste Problems

Bismarck Tribune 

Father and son Beau and Curt Vachal, of Stanley, plan to build the first stand-alone lagoon in the oil patch to deal with wastewater from rigs and worker camps.  Photo Courtesy Bismarck Tribune.

Will Oil Boom Change the Character of North Dakota?

Bismarck Tribune

Column by Ken Rogers

Ken Rogers, Bismarck Tribune Columnist.

I wonder if the new oil-field North Dakotans will shape the character of the people who live here, or if long-time residents will shape the character of the newcomers?  See Entire Story.

Dakota Leadership Unhappy with Obama's Decision to Reject Oil Pipeline Application

Williston Herald/AP

Governors and members of congressional delegations in the Dakotas are blasting President Barack Obama's rejection of an application for an oil pipeline from Canada to Texas.  Obama said recently an arbitrary deadline set by Republican lawmakers gave his administration too little time for a full review of the $7 billion Keystone XL project.  The implications rippled across the political spectrum, stirred up the presidential campaign and even hardened feelings with Canada, a trusted U.S. ally and neighbor.   See Entire Story.

FOXNEWS.com: New Pipeline Proposal in the Works.

Bismarck Tribune/AP: Canada Optimistic Keystone Pipeline Will Be Approved.

Director's Cut:  North Dakota's Oil Production Continues to Climb

NDIC Department of Mineral Resources

Lynn Helms' Director's Cut

Lynn Helms, North Dakota Industrial Commission Department of Mineral Resources Director.

The good weather now ended, but warm dry weather through the fourth quarter of 2011 increased hydraulic fracturing activity and rapidly increased production. As a result, even with rig count up just slightly daily production increased almost 5%. Over 95% of drilling is still targeting the Bakken and Three Forks formations. The idle well count is now holding constant at approximately 300 above normal. This indicates that fracturing services are now keeping up with drilling activity, but the industry needs to add more crews to catch up.  See Entire Story.

Hess Plans to Spend $2.5 Billion in Bakken Development in 2012

ZACKS 

Integrated oil company Hess Corporation (HES) has unveiled its capital and exploration budget for 2012. The company intends to expend around $6.80 billion, of which nearly 98.5% will be targeted toward exploration and production. Marketing, refining and corporate spending for the year will be approximately $100 million.  Of the total budget, Hess plans to put in approximately $2.50 billion for unconventional resource development that revolves around exploration in the Bakken Shale in North Dakota, where the company expects to operate 16 rigs and move ahead with the expansion the Tioga Gas Plant. Hess also plans to continue its activities in the Eagle Ford Shale in Texas and the Utica Shale in Ohio.  See Entire Story.

North Dakota is Hottest Hotel Market

Lodging Hospitality Online

Follow the energy may be the best advice for someone looking for promising development opportunities in the U.S. hotel industry during this year and beyond. And if you follow the energy, you may end up in North Dakota, the hottest hotel market in the U.S.  The northwest part of the state centered around Williston is the epicenter of a new oil boom that's creating unprecedented demand and shortages for all kinds of products, including space in hotels. Developers are scrambling to build new properties, but the availability of sites is slim and prices to build new hotels continue to rise.  See Entire Story.

United Work and Travel to Host Open House for South American Workers January 21 in Williston

Williston Herald 

Two United Work and Travel participants are pictured working at the Williston McDonald's.  The program brings foreign students to the US to work , improve their English and learn about American culture.  Photo Courtesy of Williston Herald.

Mercy Community Sale Applications Due February 6

News Release

Mercy Medical Center's Annual Community Sale will be held on Saturday, April 28th, 2012 at the Raymond Family Community Center.  The application form may be downloaded from Mercy's website at www.mercy-williston.org or may be picked up at the Foundation office located inside Mercy Medical Center.  Completed applications must be received by no later than 3PM Monday, February 6, 2012.  See Entire Story.

02/02              6th Annual Midstream Summit 2012
 Houston Marriott West Loop · Houston, TX.  6th Annual Midstream Summit.

02/06              Safety Corner

01/21     Reynolds Family Benefit
A Lebanese dinner will be held from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at St. Peter's Episcopal Church to benefit the family of John and Rose Barkie-Reynolds who lost their home in the Minot flood. To purchase tickets, call Annie Barkie at 701-572-8556 or Sandra Barkie-Odegard at 701-570-6086. 

01/26     Heartsaver CPR Course
Heartsaver CPR/AED is for anyone with limited or no medical training who needs a course completion card in CPR and AED to meet job, regulatory or other requirements.  Students may just complete the adult portion, the adut and child portion, or the adult, child and infant portion of the course. Th class will begin at 6 p.m. at the Williston Community Library. To register for a course please go to: www.bakkenpushforlife.com. 

01/26 - 02/02     Watercolor Class
The James Memorial Art Center will be holding a Watercolor class for grades 1-3. The class will be taught by Jean Tande and held on January 26th and February 2nd from 3:45 p.m.-4:45 p.m.. Cost is $8 for JMAC members and $10 for non-members. For more information, call JMAC at 701-774-3601.

01/26-02/02     Watercolor Class
The James Memorial Art Center will be holding a Watercolor class for grades 4-6. The class will be taught by Jean Tande and held on January 26th and February 2nd from 5pm-6pm. Cost is $8 for JMAC members and $10 for non-members. For more information, call JMAC at 701-774-3601.

01/26-03/29     Adult Watercolor Class
The James Memorial Art Center will be holding an adult watercolor class on January 26th, February 2nd, 9th, 23rd, March 1st, 15th, 22nd, & 29th. The class will be from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Cost will be $18 per evening for JMAC members & $20 per evening for non-members.  For more information, call JMAC at 701-774-3601.

01/27     Casual for Charity Day
Businesses are encouraged to have employees dress casual for the whole day. Ask them to donate $1. Turn in or mail the money collected to Community Action Partnership at 120 Washington Ave. in Williston.

01/28-29     61st Annual Mardi Gras at St. Joseph's Church
Events will take from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. each day.  Activities include kids games, raffle items, concessions, bake sale, white elephant sale and much more.