Looking at Future Community Growth
As energy development expands in Western North Dakota, Bismarck- Mandan and Burleigh and Morton counties are anticipating continued growth. While many local leaders don’t expect drilling to reach the community or surrounding counties, with an ideal proximity to the oil fields, many ancillary services and individuals are making the area home.
With a steady influx of businesses and employees expected, local leaders believe now is the time to prepare for the future. “It is important we plan to get our cities positioned for the right response to …

Measure 2, an initiative to eliminate property tax in North Dakota, will be up for a vote in June. Petitioned onto the summer ballot through eff orts spearheaded by the group “Empower the Taxpayers of North Dakota,” the measure, if passed, will constitutionally alter the state’s tax structure by eliminating property tax as a revenue source for local government entities.
While the prospect of eliminating property taxes is appealing on the surface, many in both the public and private sectors believe the proposal could be detrimental to state, county and local …

By Kylie Blanchard, Clearwater Communications
Many issues impacting North Dakota businesses were discussed, debated and voted on during the 2011 legislative session, but a few key topics remain on the table for the upcoming special session scheduled to begin Nov. 7.
For the second time this year, state lawmakers will convene at the Capitol to tackle redistricting needs, health care reform and flood recovery. The session is expected to last five days and legislators will remain focused on a set agenda with few new bill introductions expected.
Interim Legislative Redistricting Committee members have …

Flood’s impact will continue well into future
By Kylie Blanchard, Clearwater Communications
As releases from the Garrison Dam ease and the river begins to stabilize, local officials and Bismarck-Mandan residents are beginning to look toward flood recovery. However, the community remains on hold while the water and many unknowns linger, including the full reach of the river, when the water will recede and what will be left of the homes and land in its path.
The first challenge is we haven’t got out of the flood yet,” says Bismarck Mayor John Warford. “We …

By Kylie Blanchard, Clearwater Communications
Today’s technology provides many conveniences in producing, copying, sharing and saving business documents and data. But these conveniences often pair with an elevated risk of sensitive information being compromised through inadequate security measures.
In today’s business world, data security strategies are as important as business plans, and as technology evolves, companies are being urged to learn about and implement security measures.
“Information can be one of the most valuable assets businesses have,” says Todd Henderson, vice president of operations at Records Keepers LLC. “Any business that produces records …

An ‘out-of-the-box’ approach pays off in building business
With challenges come opportunities and, often, the opportunities lie in the approach chosen to meet those challenges. While many businesses have struggled in the wake of the national downturn, some have chosen to use bold and creative strategies to move forward and continue to build business.
In a recent survey of nearly 90 Chamber small business members, results showed 57 percent of the participants were concerned about the national economy’s impact on North Dakota. In addition, businesses reported a cut in expenses and hiring …

Hunting has significant economic impact across community
The air is crisp, the leaves have turned and everywhere you look you spot blaze orange. It is hunting season. While this is the time when residents and visitors venture across the state in search of prized game, the economic impact of these trips goes largely unrecognized. At every stop, hunters spend money on gas, food, and supplies and have a direct eff ect on the community’s economy, including Bismarck-Mandan.
“We do know Morton and Burleigh counties are very popular hunting areas for both North …

By Kylie Blanchard, Clearwater Communications
Businesses, residents and community organizations in Mandan are coming together to develop a plan for the city’s future and the momentum surrounding the project is moving Mandan toward many positive changes.
“We’re at a pivotal time in Mandan because we are growing in the community,” says Kirsten Baesler, chair of the Mandan Tomorrow project. “It was time to continue our improvement and look to what we want to be in the future.”
The Bismarck-Mandan Chamber, along with the city of Mandan, Mandan Public Schools and Mandan Parks and …