Submitted Photo This development is part of the Shovel Ready Lot program enacted by the McKenzie County Job Development Authority in 2020. The program provides for reimbursement of infrastructure costs for the developers. In turn, they must sell the lot with a capped price (between $40,000-$50,000) and are to have all of their lots developed by 2026.

With a county’s population that has doubled, and our county seat’s (Watford City) population that has tripled over the last decade, there have been numerous opportunities for growth. We now have over 800 hotel rooms available in our community, many apartments, and new single-family housing.

The single-family housing shortage has been the most significant challenge to meet. With employers reporting adequate single-family housing as often the biggest obstacle for maintaining and growing their permanent workforce, the McKenzie County Job Development Authority (JDA) has been working to incentivize more construction.

In 2019, the JDA enacted the Housing Development Subsidy program which provides up to $50,000 for certain single-family houses to be built and sold. To date there’s been 33 houses accepted into the program. The initial $1 million in funding was allocated within a year; last year, another $1 million was approved for the program, with about 50% of that already allocated.

In 2020, the JDA enacted the Shovel-Ready Lot program to provide for reimbursement of infrastructure costs for the developers. The developers, in turn, must sell the lot with a capped price (between $40,000-$50,000) and are to have all of their lots developed by 2026. Two developers were awarded – Stepping Stone Inc. with 55 lots and Stenehjem Development with 79 lots.

While the pandemic and oil price volatility of 2020 decreased area economic activity, many projects have still transpired.

The Long X Bridge on Highway 85 was replaced and upgraded to four lanes last year; our municipal airport will be closed for use from April-October as it undergoes a $20M+ renovation which, once completed, will accommodate larger aircraft; and Fox Hills Elementary – a second elementary school building for Watford City was opened.

We are excited about the Vantis network coming to Watford City and Williston which will allow for beyond the visual line of sight unmanned aircraft.

It is no doubt that our economy follows the petroleum markets, but we are doing what we can to make our community a community of choice with quality healthcare, education, events, outdoor recreation, safety, and housing.