The city of Williston, N.D., has offered a hat-tip to Grand Forks and Fargo, naming the two Red River Valley cities recipients of its Community Partner Award for showing interest in and helping deal with the impact of Williston Basin oil development.
Tom Rolfstad, Williston's economic development director, announced the awards at a luncheon in Williston on Wednesday, the Williston Herald reported.
The two eastern cities sent delegations of local government and business leaders to the oilfields to see first-hand some of the consequences of the rapid increase in oil activity, including severe challenges with roads, housing and the workforce.
"They took the initiative to come out here," Rolfstad said. "We always felt like there was this east-west divide in the state. I think we've done a lot to bridge that gap."
Grand Forks Mayor Mike Brown said he was delighted by news of the gesture.
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"We went out there because we felt we're one state," he said. "It was a really eye-opening experience. The tremendous opportunities oil brings to the state also brings problems," and the rest of the state needs to help with the response.
Organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks and UND's Center for Innovation, the 32-member delegation spent two days touring oil operations in Williston, Tioga and Stanley, N.D., and meeting with mayors, oil industry executives, geologists and others.
Business leaders from contracting, engineering and architectural companies made the trip along with other business and civic leaders. Among the people they visited: some of the 15 or so Grand Forks area contractors and businesses already working in the Williston Basin.
Chamber President Barry Wilfahrt said at the time that the trip "is about building on existing business to business relationships and finding new opportunities to work together."
Wayne Seames, professor of chemical engineering at UND, also was a member of the Grand Forks delegation. He had last toured the area six years earlier.
"The changes since then are amazing," he said on his return. "The level of activity -- I had heard about it, but when you see all those oil wells, all the trucks, all the activity in towns ... it's amazing."
Members of the Grand Forks delegation also shared advice on dealing with sudden and substantial infrastructure needs, drawing on their experiences following the 1997 flood.
In October 2010, Grand Forks played host, welcoming delegates from Williston, Tioga and other western towns who toured UND's Energy and Environmental Research Center and geology core library.
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A 30-year boom?
Ben "Bud" Brigham, founder and CEO of Brigham Exploration, gave the keynote speech, citing "incredible" challenges and opportunities in North Dakota. His company will expand its drilling operations in the state this year, he said, and is opening a new corporate facility just west of Williston.
"We're in the midst of a 20 to 30-year oil drilling boom here, I think," Brigham said.
Gov. Jack Dalrymple, who spoke at the Williston luncheon, also was honored as one of two "ambassadors of the year," along with Jim Arthaud, owner of Missouri Basin Well Service.
"He has been a tireless advocate for us," Williston Mayor Ward Koeser said of Dalrymple.
Koeser saluted Dalrymple for proposing nearly $1 billion to meet road and water needs in western North Dakota, improvements he said are critical if the region is to continue to prosper. The proposals largely were approved by the 2011 Legislature.
"We knew that this was something that no community should have to face on its own," Dalrymple said. "The state as a whole, we feel, is doing great. But when you come to Williston, you see it being taken to a whole new level."
Reach Haga at (701) 780-1102; (800) 477-6572, ext. 102; or send e-mail to chaga@gfherald.com .
