Williston Economic Development

by Barb Peterson   

An official ground breaking ceremony was held recently for the new state-of-the-art 2020 Professional Center located adjacent to Mercy Medical Center.

The idea for the new business venture and potential building began back in 2011. 

"The dream started about 1½ years ago when the optometrists wondered what would happen if they did their own thing," said Mercy Medical Center CEO Matt Grimshaw. 

KUMV-TV

by Chris Williams

First International Bank and Trust CEO and Chairman Steve Stenehjem cuts the ribbon at an open house at the bank's new facility recently in Williston.

First International Bank and Trust celebrated its grand opening with an open house at its new Williston branch.  This branch is the bank`s largest one and bank administrators say they will be able to help customers in several different ways now.  Read More.

Fairfield Sun Times 

Montana and North Dakota dignitaries participate in the the ribbon-cutting at ONEOK's new Stateline II natural gas processing facility.

ONEOK, a company engaged in natural gas gathering and processing, natural gas pipelines and natural gas liquids recently had a ribbon cutting ceremony at the firm's recently completed Stateline II Natural Gas Processing Facility and the Bakken NGL (Natural Gas Liquids) Pipeline. The ceremony was held at the Stateline II plant near Williston. In attendance at the ceremony were ONEOK officials as well as representatives from Montana and North Dakota.   Read More. 

Williston Economic Development

by Barb Peterson

Williston Mayor Ward Koeser earned the Ambassador of the Year award recently in Williston.  He is pictured with Theodore Roosevelt reprisor Joe Wiegard.

The winner of the Ambassador of the Year award moved to Williston during the 1978 oil boom and fell in love with the place. 

He started a business; raised a family; and about 20 years ago he answered the call to become a public servant.  On the campaign trail for Williston Mayor, he pledged that Williston could become "The Best Little City in America." 

Ward Koeser went on to win that election and four more thereafter.  Today, he will tell you, we aren't "The Best Little City" yet, but I think we are closer.  Read More.

Williston Economic Development

by Barb Peterson

Garbel's Furniture in Crosby won the award for best existing business in 2013.  Pictured are Theodore Roosevelt repisor Joe Wiegard, Kay and Don Garbel.

Don and Kay Garbel could be called the "accidental furniture store owners."

The couple's original plans to purchase the furniture store in Crosby fell through... at the time they were excited about the opportunity to own their business so they bought the local Self Serve gas station and convenience store instead. About nine months later the owners of the furniture store changed their minds and decided to sell; and suddenly the Garbel's had two locations on Main Street.  Read More.

Williston Economic Development

by Barb Peterson

Ken Penn was honored with the award for the best lender in 2013.  Pictured are Penn, his wife Kay Penn and Theodore Roosevelt reprisor Joe Wiegard.

The regional director of the Small Business Development Center works with a lot of great lenders in the region, but when asked who really stood out Keith Olson selected First National Bank and Trust's Ken Penn. 

"It took a while for Ken and me to mesh and understand how the other worked," says Keith. "Once we became comfortable with each other I have learned a great deal from Ken and how he deals and works with his clients and trusts his gut." 

Ken's knack for being a good judge of character has certainly come in handy in recent years.  Read More.

Williston Economic Development

by Barb Peterson

Red River Supply, Inc. won the title for best existing business for 2013.  Pictured are Rich Vestal, Theodore Roosevelt reprisor Joe Wiegard and Kathy Vestal.

Red River Mud Company has grown from a one-man-show to Red River Supply, Inc. - which has more than 100 employees. 

Red River Supply president Rich Vestal was a mud hand in the Williston Basin when the company he worked for went bankrupt in the mid-70's.

Vestal had ingenuity - but no capital. Luckily, he had just purchased a home which allowed him to get his company off of the ground.  Read More.

Williston Economic Development

by Barb Peterson

Megan Fleck/Meg-A-Latte was named the best woman run business in 2013.  She celebrates with Theodore Roosevelt reprisor Joe Wiegard.

The winner of the "Woman Owned Business Entrepreneur of the Year" award began her love affair with coffee houses while going to college in Fargo.

Megan Fleck Wold worked as an assistant manager at a coffee shop and studied for her college courses at coffee shops.

Later when she and her husband artist Ed Wold moved to Williston an opportunity to open a coffee shop of her own presented itself. On December 1, 2011 Meg-A-Latte was officially established and it opened its doors a few months later.  Read More.

Williston Economic Development

by Rachel Sawicki

Three Amigos Southwest Grill was recently named the best new businss in the region.  Pictured are owner Cam Holt, Theodore Roosevelt reprisor Joe Wiegard and owner Aaron Parker.

Many new businesses have opened in Williston over the past year, but a place that takes a "fresh" approach to Southwest food was given the status of New Business of the Year.

Both originally from Bismarck, North Dakota, Cam Holt and Aaron Parker were living in Bozeman, Montana, when they first heard of the boom in Williston from friends who had left Bozeman for a better life in Williston.  Read More.

KUMV-TV

by Evan Kruegel

Mercy Medical Center has added a brand new emergency response vehicle to its fleet, and it`s the hospital`s fastest vehicle ever.  You won`t find it parked with the other ambulances. Instead, you`ll find it behind the building, sitting on top of a heli-pad.  Trent Massie has been flying emergency helicopters for 14 years and he`s stationed in Williston with his Guardian Angel flight crew.  Read More. 

Dickinson Press

Oil Patch Dispatch 

Chiropractic physician Stephen Alexander, pictured Thursday near Tioga, operates a mobile clinic to serve oil field workers.

The men who moved to northwest North Dakota to work in the Oil Patch struggled to find chiropractors available and called "Dr. Steve" for help.

Alexander, 43, who practiced for 12 years as a chiropractic physician in Las Vegas, decided to develop a chiropractic rehab clinic on wheels. He invested $200,000 in a 57-foot RV that is customized with a digital X-ray machine, examination room and other technology.  Read More.

Bismarck Tribune

by Lauren Donovan

Steve Aramburu and Joe Hackett are owners of Chicago's Finest, a food stand along Highway 84 near Alexander.

KUMV-TV

by Evan Kruegel

Residents in two bedroom units at Century Apartments claim their rent has gone from $850 to nearly $2,000 in the last two years. Across town, residents at Riverside Apartments will see a 30 percent increase in their rent effective June 1. Neither of those rental prices are in line with the new Fair Market rental spectrum, so what gives?  Read More.

By the Sterling Group

Construction has started on North Gate Apartment Homes, a 300-unit upscale community in Williston, North Dakota. North Gate is a partnership between Braxton Development and The Sterling Group.  Sterling Construction is the general contractor for the arket rate rental development that will consist of 12 buildings and feature a variety of spacious one, two and three bedroom floorplans. These floorplans range in square footage from 709 square feet to 1,305 square feet. Rents range from $1,950 to $3,500 for unfurnished apartment homes.  Read More.

Build a Better Tomorrow Campaign

The WHS mentoring program originated as a way to make starting high school less intimidating.

Seeing new faces in and around Williston is nothing new, especially within the public school districts. It's what Williston High School (WHS) is doing to welcome those new faces that is new and making a difference.  The mentoring program didn't start out solely for new students moving to the area.  "We were looking for a transition program for those students moving from eighth to ninth grade," said Brent Lysne, WHS counselor and mentoring program director.  Read More. 

Build a Better Tomorrow Campaign

Williston Herald

by Sara Spaulding

Graduating students watch classmates accept their diplomas from WSC President Dr. Raymond Nadolny on Friday.

One hundred twenty-five Associate degrees were awarded this year. Forty-three program certificates and 21 GEDs were also awarded. 

Graduates came to attend this college from all over the country and the world, from as far away as California, New York, Kenya and Thailand.  Read More.

Williston Economic Development

by Barb Peterson

Thousands of people lined the streets of Willison to celebrate the 81st annual Band Day Parade and Festival.  Williston CVB executive director Amy Krueger estimates there were about 6,000 people that participated in the activities at Harmon Park following the parade.

Williston Herald

by Jerry Burnes

The troops are coming to Williston.

Dinner will be served at 5:30, followed by a program at 7:30 p.m. in which soldiers will be receiving their promotions, honors and awards.  Read More. 

News Release

Miss North Dakota 2012 Rosemary Sauvageau will crown the 2013 winner on June 8th in Williston.

The Miss North Dakota Scholarship Pageant will be held in Williston on June 6, 7, 8 at the Williston High School Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. each evening.

Twenty one young North Dakota women will compete for the title of Miss North Dakota 2013. She will represent our state at the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City in September. The Miss America pageant will return to Atlantic City after eight years in Las Vegas.  Read More.