Federal and State Money Flowing to OIl Counties -- $1 Billion For Starters -- Bakken, North Dakota, USA

Money flowing to western North Dakota, some data points (some numbers rounded):

• $610 million for roads (oil counties; $60 million for other counties across the state)
• $150 million for Western Area Water Supply, loan from Bank of North Dakota
• $100 million for oil impact and other projects, grants from Bank of North Dakota
• $5 million of the $100 million specifically designated for schools dealing with rapid expansion

Greatest part of road construction slated to begin spring of 2012

• Construction on Highway 22 north of Killdeer may begin as early as this summer
• Commitments to work on highways 85, 22, and 23

Other projects:

• Williston State College: an extra $100,000 for security
• Dickinson State College: $750,000 for Theodore Roosevelt projects
• Minot Air Force Base: $325,000; to enhance the base to prevent closure
• North Dakota State College of Science: additional $10 million to expand diesel motor mechanics program; program now at capacity; oil industry desperately needs mechanics

For newbies and out-of-staters, how does that $100 million compare with past years?

• For the previous biennium, only $8 million ($4 million/year) was appropriated

Rumors:

• More big box stores and another huge truck stop (in addition to those in Williston)