My Hometown to feature Watford City

Watford City is being featured on a “My Hometown” Episode broadcast on the BEK Channel, Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at 4:30pm Central. The show will feature interviews with a variety of community members including Chamber of Commerce Director Mary Gumke, Gene Veeder, Mayor Phil Riely, Doug Bolken and Daniel Stenberg.
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MDH trail on 2022 Yahoo! Life list

In a story on the 2022 Bicycling Travel Awards, Yahoo! Life name the local Maah Daah Hey Trail as the “Best Hidden Gem in the US.” In the story, they report: “Yes, North Dakota deserves a spot on your bike-destination dream board. The state’s far western Badlands is home to an unsung hero of a trail system…” Read the full article here.
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$140 million natural gas project re-started

While stalled for a bit during the pandemic, ONEOK’s Demicks Lake III natural gas processing facility’s construction is back on. With a $140 million budget, the plans include the project to be completed by the first quarter of 2023 and will have capacity for 200 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. See more in this ONEOK press release.

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Lines redrawn for state legislative districts

What was once ND Legislative District 39 which included McKenzie County all the way to the South Dakota border has changed. The new district for McKenzie County–District 26–covers a much smaller geographical area–McKenzie County minus the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation and parts of Dunn County. Western North Dakota picked up more representation due to the growth documented in the 2020 Census. See more legislative district maps here.
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November Economy at a Glance

The November Economy at a Glance is now available. Some data of note include:
  • Brookledge’s apartment occupancy rate for November 2021 is 88%; one year ago it was 63%; and two years ago it was 87%.
  • McKenzie County’s unemployment rate for September 2021 came in at 4.0%; in August 2021 it was 4.8%; and in September 2020 it was 7.6%.
  • Online job openings total 249 for September 2021; in August 2021 it was 215; and in September 2020 it was 200.
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October 2021 Economy at a Glance

The October 2021 Economy at a Glance is now available. Some data of note include:
  • McKenzie County’s unemployment rate continues to fall. In July 2021 it was 5.5%, in August 2021 it was 4.8%.
  • Apartment occupancy rate for October 2021 is at 83%, the same as it was for September 2021.
  • McKenzie County’s labor force for August 2021 came in at 8,464; in August 2020 it was 9,328.
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$2.8 billion project for western ND announced

Plans have been announced for Cerilon to build a $2.8 billion gas to liquids (GTL) complex in western North Dakota. The complex would convert natural gas that is produced locally into high-demand liquid fuels such as low-sulfur diesel and military-grade jet fuel. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2023 at a site near Trenton, ND. See more from Governor Burgum Press Release; Williston Herald, Bismarck Tribune, and the Fargo Forum.
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Robust Hispanic population growth

McKenzie County’s Hispanic population grew over 1000% over the past decade according to the recent US Census. Various national news outlets have picked up on this including the Associated Press and EW Scripps TV news shown across the nation. Local Hispanic inclusion work is being done through a committee from Visionwest North Dakota called Hispanic Advocacy of North Dakota (HAND). HAND’s next cultural events in McKenzie County include a float in the Watford City Parade of Lights on November 26, and a Hispanic Christmas event on December 12. More details on those events to follow.
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Sales increase in 2021Q2

According to data recently released by the North Dakota State Tax Commissioner’s office, McKenzie County had $59.8 million in taxable sales and purchases for April-June (Q2) 2021. That is up from the pandemic-induced low of $45.4 million in 2021Q1, but still well behind the all-time high of $107.4 million in 2019Q2.

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September Economy at a Glance

The September Economy at a Glance is now available. Some data of note include:
  • Year to date visits to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park are up. For 2021 the visit count was 75,611, in 2020 the visit count was 64,871 at the same point in the year.
  • McKenzie County’s unemployment rate dropped from 6.7% in June 2021 to 5.5% in July 2021.
  • Watford City’s taxable sales increased from $38,068,798 in 2020Q2 to $52,324,598 in 2021Q2.
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Get in Touch

Meghan Taunton
McKenzie County Economic Development
100 2nd Ave SW, Suite A
Watford City, ND 58854
701-444-8856
mtaunton@co.mckenzie.nd.us

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