Williston Economic Development

by Barb Peterson
 

Who is included in the civilian labor force? The labor force is a single count by place of residence. The number includes those over the age of 16 who are employed or actively seeking employment. The number does not include people who are retired, institutionalized or in the military. The number does not include those that reside in an area only during work weeks. Example: Stay in a crew camp or hotel, but return to another town or state on days off. Graph provided by Ann Kvande, Williston Economic Development.

Williams County's civilian labor force is now the third largest in the state.

In July 2012 Cass County had a civilian labor force of 87,159; Burleigh County 48,578; Williams County 36,538; Grand Forks County 35,690; and Ward County 30,273.

The civilian labor force is all members of the population aged 16 or over who are either employed or unemployed and actively seeking employment. It does not include people who are retired, institutionalized, in the military or who live in an area only during work weeks.

The labor market information is gathered by Job Service North Dakota's Workforce Intelligence Network (NDWIN).

Job Service officials say the numbers confirm the population trend in the region. "It's a reflection of the economic activity that is going on in the area," says Cindy Sanford, Williston Customer Service Office Manager for Job Service North Dakota. 

The growth in Williams County has been amazing - in just two years the work force nearly doubled from 18,481 in July 2010 to 36,538 in July 2012.   "To say the population growth has been astounding would be an understatement in relation to the intense activity residents are feeling in the area. The heavy traffic flows, long lines for services and limited housing are a direct reflection of these numbers," says Shawn Wenko, Williston Economic Development Assistant Director.  See Entire Story.

Williston Economic Development

by Barb Peterson

Pictured from left to right:  Chris Duner, KU Electric; Tory Crowe, BWW Regional Manager; Dani Reichenberger, BWW Owner/Operator; Brandon Reichenberger, BWW Owner/Operator; Sammy Herslip, BWW Owner/Operator; Randy Bitters, BHF Construction Corp; Ward Koeser, Williston Mayor; Tate Cybaluk, Basin Brokers; Martin Reiger, Developer.

Construction is officially underway on Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW) in Williston.  A ground breaking ceremony was held recently for the new restaurant at 417 Reiger Drive. 

Wings of Minot, LLC is bringing the restaurant to Williston. The company is owned by Brandon and Dani Reichenberger and Sammy Herslip.  The company also owns BWW in Minot.

BWW will serve about 270 people indoors and 40-50 on its patio.  The restaurant expects to open sometime around February 1, 2013.

To apply for a position e-mail willistonwings@gmail.com  or call Dani at 701-340-9616 or Tory Crowe at 701-509-2514. 

News Release

A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at The Williston, formerly the Elks Lodge, on Friday, September 7, at 4 p.m.  The Williston offers a boutique hotel, fine restaurant dining and a bar.  It is located at 408 First Avenue East.  Ribbon Cutting Invitation.

KFYR-TV

Enbridge Pipeline has completed construction on the first phase of its expansion at Berthold.  This week it started using trucks to deliver crude directly to its rail cars.
Right now Enbridge is working out the kinks in the project, but eventually they`ll be able to transport out 10,000 barrels a day. "We all high-fived everybody because we had the first rail car full, so this has been a long time coming and everybody`s antsy and customers are ready to give us oil, so it`s been a fun time," said Charles Roehm, Enbridge Rail supervisor.  See Entire Story.
 

Delta Air Lines, the only major U.S. carrier that owns a refinery, is trying to buy cheaper domestic Bakken crude oil to boost savings on making jet fuel.

Bakken crude can be purchased at a price similar to or lower than West Texas Intermediate, President Ed Bastian said today at a Deutsche Bank AG Aviation & Transportation Conference in New York. Delta's refinery in suburban Philadelphia now is supplied with more expensive imported crude from BP Plc. (BP/) 

Delta is joining oil exploration and production companies working to tap new North Dakota crude supplies released through hydraulic fracturing.  Securing lower-cost North Dakota crude would boost Delta's expected $300 million annual benefit from the facility, Bastian said.  Spending for fuel, Delta's largest expense, rose 15 percent in the first half of this year to $5.54 billion.   See Entire Story.

BNSF Railway (BNSF) has announced that it has increased capacity in 2012 to enable the railroad to haul one million barrels per day out of the Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana. This increased capacity will allow the energy industry to continue the record expansion of oil production in the Williston Basin and to ship the new production to markets throughout the U.S. It will also benefit shippers of other commodities, including agricultural products.   See Entire Story.

Reuters

Water management company Heckmann Corp (HEK.N) will buy privately held Power Fuels for about $381 million as it eyes a bigger share of the fracking market.   

Heckmann's shares surged 26 percent as investors cheered the deal that expands the company's operations to the oil-rich Bakken shale formation.

The company will pay $125 million in cash and offer 95 million shares, worth about $256 million as of Friday, as part of the deal. It will also assume about $150 million worth of debt.

Heckmann provides energy companies with water for fracking and it also treats the waste water generated during the process.  See Entire Story.

Sidney Herald

Reynolds Market will begin construction on a new 46,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art supermarket in April 2013. The shopping center, will be one of the largest in eastern Montana.

"We are extremely excited about this new opportunity to provide a beautiful, comfortable solution for our customers and friends that we have served in the area since 1925, as well as all the new people in the region," John Reynolds, president of Reynolds Market, said. See Entire Story.

AP/Bakken Breakout

by James MacPherson 

Evan Jensen waits for customers at his mobile shower business, Better Showers, near Alexander, N.D. Jensen raised money for the facility, which caters largely to workers in North Dakota's oil patch, by trapping muskrats and hopes profits from the business will pay for his college tuition.  AP photo.

It took little more than a day for 18-year-old Evan Jensen to smell opportunity in North Dakota's booming oil patch. 

The recent high school graduate got a whiff of himself and his 21-year-old brother, Justin. The two had been sleeping in a pickup while looking for work in the oil fields of western North Dakota.

"We smelled," he said. "Bad."

That's when the idea for a mobile shower hit him harder than the reek of his own B.O.

The mobile venture, called Better Showers, rolled into an RV campground in the heart of the oil patch in June. A shower costs $10, with a half-price discount for residents of the RV park where the business is located. Towels and washcloths are $1 extra. The water pressure is strong, the soap is free and there is no time limit.  See Entire Story.

Minot Daily News

Oil Capital Laundromat, located just off N.D. Highway 40 and 2nd Street in Tioga, has been open for slightly more than a month, said Tammy Valliere, manager.

"This is a brand new spacious facility with 30 washers and 22 dryers," she said. They have single to quadruple load capacity washers for regular and oil-field clothing.

"We have a big screen TV, free WiFi, snack and soda machines, and a great place to sit and relax," Valliere said.

The laundromat is open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

It also offers drop-off service with next day pick up, Valliere said. Drop-off hours are 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. See Entire Story.

Black Gold Boom

by Todd Melby 

Photo and video by Ben Garvin.

William Scherf, an oil roughneck, says working on a drilling rig will "make you or break you."  Find out why in this Black Gold Boom video by Ben Garvin.  Click Here for the Video.

Black Gold Boom

by Todd Melby 

Photo and video by Ben Garvin.

Tait Salzer has been working on a drilling rig for less than a year. Still, he says the guys he works with are family.  Click here for the Video.

KXNet

CDL College of Aurora simulator in Parshall, ND.  KXNet photo.

What was the most dangerous thing you did today?

Dickinson Press/Forum Communications

by Amy Dalrymple

A North Dakota Highway Patrol crackdown on truck enforcement in the Oil Patch resulted in 42 equipment violations that required trucks to be placed out of service.

In addition, 18 drivers were taken off the road for driver-related violations. A total of 263 commercial vehicles were inspected in an enforcement saturation period from Aug. 28 to Aug. 30 that involved more than 12 troopers and inspectors from across the state.

Lt. Jody Skogen said the Highway Patrol holds these saturation efforts to impress upon the trucking industry the importance of the regulations.

"A fatigued driver is an unsafe driver, an overloaded truck is an unsafe truck," Skogen said.  See Entire Story.

A software gift valued at $49 million will allow professors and students at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and Sinte Gleska University to improve their energy programs and potentially help the Rosebud Indian Reservation.

Oil-field service provider Schlumberger donated four types of commercial-grade software designed to interpret geology of petroleum fields and plan for drilling and production.

The software will be incorporated into petroleum-related course work at Mines. "We are trying to find out if there is any oil and gas in this area. If we find that there is, that would definitely be an economic boost," he said.

That study is being researched jointly by Singh and Mines professor J. Foster Sawyer.  See Entire Story.

WSC News Release

Williston State College celebrated the grand opening of its new science addition this week. The new addition is 10,000 square feet and upgraded the college from three laboratories to four, all of which feature state-of-the-art technology and equipment.

Mercy Medical Center

The public is invited to attend the Grand Opening Program, Blessing and Ribbon Cutting ceremony of the BirthPlace at Mercy and Outpatient Surgery Center on September 12 at 10 a.m.  A picnic lunch and guided tours will follow.

Upcoming Public Meetings

09/11              Williston City Commission

6 p.m. at City Hall.  08/14/2012 Minutes.

09/12              US Hwy 2/85 Reroute and Business Route Meeting

6-8 p.m. at the Williston Community Library.  US Hwy 2/85 Reroute and Business Route Meeting Agenda.

09/13              Public Input Meeting on New Town Truck Reliever Route

5:30-7:30 p.m. at New Town Civic Center Auditorium.  Public Input Meeting Agenda.

Upcoming Energy Events

09/11              Williston Basin Chapter API

6:30 p.m. social;  7 p.m. dinner.  Airport International Inn.

09/12-14         Bethel Lutheran Foundation's College for Seniors

8 a.m.-12 p.m.  The 2012 theme is Reflect and Renew. Fun and Excitement Awaits!  Admission is Free.  Space is limited - preregistration is recommended. Contact Jim or Kathy 572-0223. 

09/13              Intro to Oil and Gas Class

8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Williston State College.  Registration Form.

09/18-22        Bakken Field Tours

Minot & Williston.   http://www.bakkenfieldtour.com/