Only One Area Has Avoided the Recession: Bismarck
July 27, 2009
Bismarck, N.D. – Msnbc.com recently posted an article that tout’s Bismarck-Mandan’s resilience to the recession. The following is an excerpt from msnbc.com investigative reporter Bill Dedman’s article published July 17.
Every area in recession except one! Bismarck. “It is a credit to the citizens of the Bismarck-Mandan metro area, that support our economy, to be recognized as the only metro area out of 381 not in recession. It is truly an honor to be the ‘last man standing’!” said Bismarck Mayor John Warford.
Overall, the recession continued to spread in May. The Adversity Index shows that the recession reached every state, and all but one of the nation’s 381 metro areas. The Adversity Index, from msnbc.com and Moody’s Economy.com, measures the economic health of 381 metro areas and all 50 states. Each area is in recession, at risk, recovering or expanding.
That holdout is Bismarck, N.D., which benefits from high prices for its energy products. Housing prices also didn’t run up as high as the rest of the country, so they haven’t fallen so far either. Bismarck is becoming a transportation hub for the region. And North Dakota state government is doing much better than average financially.
“We see this information as a credit to the entire “Team Bismarck-Mandan MSA”, said Russ Staiger, President, Bismarck-Mandan Development Association. “It is this team approach that over the years has represented an ongoing partnership between the public and private sectors and between the two cities. This partnership in turn has allowed us to take advantage of our common economic strengths and deal with the difficult moments when they occur.”
“If you’re flat to what you were doing last year, that’s the ‘new up’ in the economy. And we are fortunately a little bit up over last year,” Stuart Tracy, chef and owner of Pirogue Grill. Bismarck has moved close to recession, labeled “at risk” by Moody’s, without falling in yet.
“A slowing of personal income growth will lead to a mild contraction in employment in Bismarck,” said economist Glenn Wingard of Moody’s Economy.com, which sells reports on metro areas. “Its healthy housing market and low exposure to Wall Street write-downs will ensure that the downturn will be modest.” For more information please visit www.bismarck.org or to read the full article visit http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31910726/ns/us_news-the_elkhart_project/
Contact:
John Warford, Bismarck Mayor
Phone: 701-355-1306
Russ Staiger, President, BMDA
Phone: 701-222-5530
E-mail: rstaiger@bmda.org
BOULEVARD AVENUE CLOSURE EAST OF 19TH STREET AND SOUTH OF THE SIMLE MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIELD.
July 24, 2009
ON MONDAY, JULY 27, 2009, STARTING AT 8:00 AM, BOULEVARD AVENUE EAST OF 19TH STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO THROUGH TRAFFIC.
WATER AND SEWER IS BEING INSTALLED FOR LIONS PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
TRAFFIC SHOULD DETOUR USING 19TH STREET, HANNAFORD AVENUE AND SIMLE DRIVE.
THIS CLOSURE WILL BE IN PLACE THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK.
Community Safety Social to be Held August 4
July 23, 2009
August 4, 2009
5:00 -8:00 PM
K-9 Demonstrations begin at 6:30 PM
Sleepy Hollow Park
Corner of 26th Street and Divide Avenue
Bismarck
Meet law enforcement officers, fire fighters, highway patrols. See their equipment and more! Enjoy give-aways, children’s activities and refreshments. This event is being held on National Night Out – August 4th, a year-long community building campaign, designed to:
- Heighten crime prevention awareness
- Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs
- Strengthen neighborhood spirit and law enforcement-community partnerships
- Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back
For more information you may call 355-1889 or visit www.bismarck.org
contact:
Dan Sweeney
Bismarck Law Enforcement Chaplaincy
Phone: (701) 355-1889
Remediation Wells To Be Drilled in Mandan’s Main Street in Early August
July 21, 2009
The Mandan Remediation Trust has determined that approximately seven wells are needed along the center of Main Street between First Avenue NW and Second Avenue NW to extract hydrocarbons beneath the street. To facilitate continued movement of traffic in both directions and minimize disruption to downtown Mandan, the wells will be drilled from the south side of Main at a slant.
Construction work is expected to begin August 3. The drilling will take approximately two weeks. Repairs to sidewalk panels and the boulevard are to be complete by the end of August.
The wells will add to the comprehensive system of approximately 300 wells and over 20 miles of pipelines installed in downtown Mandan to remedy an underground diesel fuel spill. The system was installed during three construction seasons, from 2005 through 2007, with costs paid for through a settlement fund from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. The system began operating in phases in 2006. It has since removed and treated more than 1.6 million pounds of hydrocarbons including diesel fuel and methane.
The area under Main is beyond the typical radius of influence of neighboring remedial wells on the north and south sides of the street. To be sure in a few years that the remedial efforts can be deemed complete and meet North Dakota Department of Health standards, the Remediation Trust needs to monitor and remove any product beneath Main Street.
Removal of free phase product beneath downtown Mandan is expected to be complete in about two years with soil scrubbing to occur thereafter. The soil scrubbing process will involve pushing air into the soil to invigorate naturally occurring bacteria that eat away at any remaining contamination.
Meanwhile, redevelopment is occurring. CRT Investments, which includes Dakota Commercial and Development Company of Grand Forks, expects to break ground in August on a parcel acquired for the remediation. Plans are to construct a four-story building with commercial/retail space at street level and 30 one- and two-bedroom apartments on upper stories.
Public Info Meeting – Future of Mandan Community Center — August 19, 2009
July 20, 2009
There will be a public information meeting regarding potential future use of the Community Center by the Mandan Public School District on August 19, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. Related topics include the Mandan Park District’s exploration of a possible recreation center. A quorum of the Board of Mandan Park District, Mandan City Commission and the Mandan School Board may be present for the meeting.
Location:
Bosh Froehlich Room
City Hall
205 2nd Ave. NW
Mandan, ND 58554
