Update On Williston Area Economic Development -- From the Williston Wire

Short updates from the Williston Wire. Generally no links because you, too, can subscribe to the Williston Wire for free.

Blackwood Estates Subdivision, a modular home subdivision, consisting of 87 one-acre lots, will have model homes available for viewing by September, 2012. I think I've discussed why "they" are able to build houses so quickly in the oil patch in previous posts.

Meanwhile, a Missouri entrepreneur has moved his business and his family to Williston to build custom homes in the oil patch. He has built his own business, starting in 2000; he is 37 years old.  They are Chris and Melissa Jeffries, president and vice president, respectively, of JFE Construction.

Pheasant Ridge Development broke ground on the north side of Watford City. The development will cover 36 acres; in two to three weeks, there should be 15 to 20 homes under construction. For newbies, Watford City is in the heart of the Bakken, the county seat of McKenzie County where the Bakken oil activity is headed this year.

From Dickinson: a Michigan-based company is set to lease apartments for corporate tenants; 32-unit, two- and three-bedroom town homes will be available next summer. Haan Development has built two low-income multi-family projects in Williston and is also working on a similar 40-unit project in Dickinson.

A master plan for Parshall is moving along to develop 320 acres north of the Parshall High School: lots for 680 homes, 600 apartments, 320 hotel rooms, and 30 commercial lots. According to wiki: As of the census of 2000, there were 981 people, 339 households, and 240 families residing in the city. Parshall also has the distinction of holding the state's coolness record: On February 15, 1936, Parshall recorded a temperature of -60 °F (-51 °C), setting a state record low temperature which still stands today.

Most interesting to me: the El Rancho Hotel in Williston, long-known for its fabulous Sunday buffets, may be getting out of the restaurant business. It will turn over food and beverage operations to the Williston Brewing Company. This sounds very, very exciting, interesting, and another reason to return to Williston.

A Marriott extended stay hotel has opened in Bismarck. If you can't find lodging in the oil patch, Bismarck is just a few hours down the road via some incredible scenery.

The Williston Wireline links a story updating folks on all the road construction projects which are proceeding well, according to the spokesperson.

This is the big story everyone is talking about: the state says the Bakken boom will get bigger -- 35,000 more wells to drill. Harold Hamm has said somewhere around 48,000 Bakken/Three Forks will be needed. Sometime ago on the back of an envelope, I also calculated about 48,000 total wells based on current data. The current projections are that about 2,000 wells will be drilled each year. So, 17 to 24 more years of drilling activity. Home of Economy in Williston is going to be selling a lot of Carhartt work clothing for many, many years.

The Williston Wire links to a very interesting blog that I "discovered" only recently. I can't remember if I have bookmarked it at the sidebar at the right.  Again, for folks who feel the Bakken is being "ruined" by high operating costs, this might be something useful to read. Or not. We all have our myths (world views).

The Williston Wire has a great link to the China energy story in the US.