Williston, ND Active Issues

You guys won't believe these numbers.  The following is the taxable sales and purchases for our area compared to other areas in ND.  Check these numbers out.

                                Taxable Sales          Taxable Purchases        Total
Williston                  $712,669,904           $60,500,288             $773,170,192
Dickinson                 $336,247,029          $26,086,424              $362,333,453
Mandan                   $163,145,970           $21,805,403             $184,951,373
Minot                       $795,727,453           $44,149,191             $839,876,644
Bismarck                  $1,221,515,989        $74,769,631             $1,296,285,620

Williams Cnty          $771,933,953            $131,873,308        $903,807,261
Our trade area        $831,883,640           $134,380,303          $966,263,943
(Alex, Crosby,
 Grenora, New Town,
 Ray, Tioga, Watford,
 Wildrose)

These numbers for a trade area of under 20,000 people are staggering.  Number one, these kinds of numbers should be able to bring in new businesses regardless of population and number 2, the 1 cent sales tax we just passed becomes even more valuable to all of us.  We also saw an 87.54 percent increase in taxable sales from 4th quarter of 07 to 4th quarter of 08.  Bismarck's increase was only 4.09 percent, Dickinson saw a 14.05 percent increase, Mandan saw a -10.10 percent decrease, and Minot saw only 7.68 percent increase.

So.....I'd say Williston is doing pretty darn good.  Road restrictions are falling, price of oil is rising and will hopefully stabilize, we are getting our much needed hotels, houses are being built.  In my mind there are far more positives about Williston right now than negatives.  Anyone that wants to try and convince me likewise, bring some strong facts to the table and lets have at er. 

ps...sure would be nice to see those numbers above posted in the Herald.