Earlier this month, the McKenzie County Board of Commissioners approved $11.08 million in funding for three housing programs aimed directly at one of the most persistent challenges across the Bakken: getting more attainable housing built and into the hands of local residents.

The package fully funds three different pieces of the housing pipeline at once. $5.18 million goes toward 12 senior-suitable duplex units, designed with zero-step entries, curbless showers, and wide doorways. $2.3 million expands the Bakken Area Skills Center's Building Trades program, including a $1.5 million revolving fund for student-built modular homes. And $3.6 million reboots the Pathway to Purchase program, a rent-to-own structure for buyers who don't fit a conventional loan box.

Here's why this matters more than the headline number. Most markets only solve for one gap at a time. McKenzie County is solving for three. The senior housing piece quietly unlocks move-up inventory across the region, since seniors who can't downsize stay in homes that would otherwise come back to market. The Skills Center funding adds units year after year through a revolving structure. And the Pathway to Purchase program gives capable first-time buyers a real path forward.

What we're seeing on the ground right now across the Bakken: entry-level inventory moves quickly when it's priced right, move-up buyers are sitting longer because they can't find the next home, and investors are paying close attention to anything tied to long-term workforce housing. This funding package starts filling exactly those gaps.

Western North Dakota is not like the rest of the country, and this is one of those moments where local context matters more than national headlines. What happens in McKenzie County rarely stays there. Decisions like this ripple across the Bakken, shaping demand, inventory, and investment activity in Williston, Watford City, and Dickinson alike.

Don’t Trade Your 3% Rate for a Massive Mistake

Still holding a 3% interest rate? That is one of the most powerful financial positions you can be in right now. Selling might feel like the next step, but it could cost you more than you think.

When you sell, you give up that low rate, pay significant fees, and step into a higher-rate market under pressure to find your next home fast.

There is a smarter play.

Instead of selling, consider unlocking your equity:

✔️ Keep your low-rate mortgage
✔️ Use a HELOC to fund your next purchase
✔️ Turn your current home into a rental
✔️ Build equity in two properties at once

You are not just moving. You are building a portfolio.

Connect with us and discover how we can help you make smarter real estate moves.

Most business owners in Western North Dakota have a number in their head. But in the 2026 market, there’s a massive gap between what you hope your business is worth and what a buyer will actually write a check for.

If you’re within three years of a potential exit, you’re likely losing sleep over the "what ifs". What happens to the payroll if you get hit by a truck? Will the legacy you built stay intact, or will it be picked apart by the system?

We’re tired of seeing owners get burned by bad advice.

This Wednesday, April 29th, at 12:00 Noon CDT, join Erik Peterson (Proven Business Advisors) and Ben Brickweg (Sagewood) for a straight-talking webinar on the reality of selling a business right now.

In the webinar, we’re covering:
👉 How to boost your business value
👉 What buyers are actually paying for businesses
👉 Mistakes that cost owners millions

Details:
📅 Wednesday, April 29th
🕓 Noon CDT
📍 Live Webinar