Submitted Photo Increasing the supply of single-family housing remains one of the biggest priorities for the McKenzie County Job Development Authority.

While 2010-2019 brought much growth and excitement into our county, we look forward with curiosity and anticipation to what 2020 and this new decade will bring.

Construction is going strong on the second elementary school in Watford City with plans for it to be operational and occupied by the start of the new school year this fall.

Last year the McKenzie County Job Development Authority kicked off a housing development subsidy program that incentivizes single-family home construction. Additionally, $5 million has been allocated for a shovel-ready lot program that provides funding for infrastructure, so we are looking for that to spur substantial residential construction this year and into 2021.

Efforts are continuing to be made among business, education and government as to how to best provide career and technical education training to high school students as well as workers who may be looking to upgrade their skills through the McKenzie County Skills Initiative.

Funding for local economic development projects in McKenzie County come primarily from the McKenzie County Job Development Authority and the Watford City city-sales-tax-funded Rough Rider Fund.

The majority of the Rough Rider Fund commitments go toward the recently completed projects of the new McKenzie County Healthcare Systems facility and 260,000-plus square foot Rough Rider Center.

Our Job Development Authority has financially supported the Wolf Pup Daycare facility, McKenzie County Sportsmen’s Club gun range construction, Fox Hills Golf Course expansion, Summit Silver Creek Residential Treatment facility, new building for the McKenzie County Heritage Park, trail maintenance on the Maah Daah Hey Trail, and the NDSU Williston Research Extension Center seed cleaning facility.

Vawnita Best is the City of Watford City’s Community Development coordinator. Daniel Stenberg is the director of the McKenzie County Job Development Authority. Keith Olson is the Small Business Development Center director and shares his time between his Watford City and Williston offices. The Small Business Development Center provides free and confidential business consulting services to those looking to start or expand their businesses in our area. Please call 444-7419 for more information, or visit econdev.mckenziecounty.net.