More Happening In North Dakota Than Just the Oil Patch

A big "thank you" to a reader for sending this in.

Grand Forks Herald reporting there is activity across the state:

According to North Dakota Tourism Division, 57 new hotels with 4,900 rooms have opened in the state since 2008, and 39 hotels with 3,600 rooms are under construction or development. New construction is even happening in small towns outside the Oil Patch, such as Langdon, Harvey and Carrington, all in the eastern half of the state.

If someone with a hotel franchise is building in one part of the state, they are likely to look at other markets, Ausmus said.

Charles Hayes, who has built hotels in Fargo and western North Dakota, said he has plans to start construction on a Grand Forks La Quinta this year but has not chosen a location. 

The Canadian traffic is particularly noteworthy:

“Seven hundred thousand people live two hours north who love to come to North Dakota,” said Leslie, whose Fargo-based company has a stake in the new Staybridge Suites next to the Alerus Center.

Changes to import duties last year, allowing Canadians to bring home more goods tax free, gave shoppers from Manitoba and other provinces more incentive to spend in the states, as has the continued strength of the their dollar.

Nice story. I'm glad to see Grand Forks doing well; the city always seemed to be overshadowed by Fargo.