In this episode of Living in McKenzie County, McKenzie County Economic Development Director Meghan Taunton engages with local experts to discuss the landscape of small business development in the area. The panel features Cyrena Weeks, Executive Director of the Tri-County Regional Development Council; Keith Olson, Regional Director for the Small Business Development Center; and Susan […]
The City of Alexander and community partners celebrated the successful grand opening and ribbon cutting of Bright Minds Daycare on Saturday, April 25, marking a significant milestone for childcare access and early childhood development in western North Dakota. The event, held at the new facility at 1115 Bruegger Street, brought together local leaders, families, and […]
The April 2026 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some data of note includes: Hotel occupancy and comprehensive apartment occupancy rates are now included on the Economy at a Glance. The hotel and apartment data will be updated monthly and quarterly respectively. McKenzie County births continue to rise with 287 babies being born in […]
In the latest episode of the Living in McKenzie County Podcast, host Vawnita Best sits down with a group of students from Watford City High School (WCHS) to take a look at the student activities shaping the community’s future leaders. The episode features junior and senior students as they highlight the collaborative efforts between students, […]
In the latest episode of the Living in McKenzie County Podcast, host Vawnita Best invites listeners to explore the vibrant community activities and projects happening as spring arrives and summer approaches. Joining her in the conversation are Tony Carmichael, Jake Walters, and Jesse Wellen, who each bring unique perspectives on the developments and events taking […]
In a special bonus episode of the “Living in McKenzie County” podcast, the Long X Development team shares the work they do to make sure that McKenzie County is not just a place to live but a place to grow, connect, and thrive. The episode, hosted by Vawnita Best, Community Development Director for Watford […]
The March 2026 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some data of note include: There were ten building permits with a total value of $1,122,000 in February 2026. This is a significant increase in value with February 2025 having seven permits worth $328,055. March occupancy for Brookledge Apartments in Watford City was down to 89% from […]
In McKenzie County, the importance of infrastructure development to support economic sustainability and community growth cannot be overstated. As discussed in a recent episode of the Living in McKenzie County podcast with host Vawnita Best; City Engineer, Justin Smith, and McKenzie County Engineering Director, Grace Demars. explain the collaborative efforts between the county and […]
In this episode of the Living in McKenzie County Podcast, Host Vawnita Best sat down with the McKenzie County Soil Conservation District and the NRCS to explore the conservation efforts within McKenzie County. Vawnita was joined by Nikki Darrington, NRCS District Conservationist, Daniel Stenberg, Soil Conservation Urban Conservationist, and Karissa Frick, Soil Conservation Business Manager. […]
The City of Watford City and McKenzie County have commissioned the services of Retail Strategies, the leading national community development firm, to develop and execute a tailored retail expansion and recruitment plan. This partnership will support the desire for expansion of retail goods and services available in western North Dakota and eastern Montana. “Retail Strategies brings […]
