Williston Economic Development

What Williston Economic Development does

Williston Economic Development is the economic development department of the City of Williston, North Dakota, operating as a municipal government entity since 1976. The organization delivers business attraction, retention, and expansion services for the Williston/Bakken region, with a primary focus on deploying the STAR Fund — a voter-approved business incentive program funded by a 1% city sales tax (in force through June 30, 2030) of which 25% is dedicated to jobs creation and community development and up to $50,000/year is reserved for regional quality-of-life grants. Since 2010, the STAR Fund has assisted over 750 startups and existing businesses across retail, service, housing, childcare, manufacturing, and industrial verticals, governed by a seven-member STAR Fund Advisory Board with final approval held by the Williston Board of City Commissioners.

The department's core offerings center on an Available Properties database powered by Location One Information System (LOIS) with property data updates from REsimplifi, allowing companies to search sites and buildings by square footage, acreage, and geography. STAR Fund programs include low-interest loans, matching grants for business remodel and sign replacement (C4 Facade Incentive, Mini-Match), childcare incentives (Childcare Renewal and Growth Grants), PACE-style financing (Flex PACE, PACE), a C4 Technical Assistance Grant, and a Community Enhancement Grant. Complementary channels include the Williston Works Podcast (hosted by Executive Director Anna Nelson), the Williston Wire email newsletter, a 2022-2027 Strategic Plan, and a co-located ND Small Business Development Center at Williston State College (led by Regional Director Keith Olson).

Revenue mechanics are non-commercial: WED is funded by a statutory share of city sales tax proceeds plus grant disbursements, not by fees or contracts with customers. Leadership comprises Anna Nelson (Executive Director), Cierra Aamodt (Business Development & Office Coordinator), and a seven-member STAR Fund Advisory Board headed by President Richard Ceynar. The organization does not generate commercial revenue, has no parent company other than the City of Williston, and operates with approximately 8 employees out of 113 4th St E, Williston, ND.

Name

Williston Economic Development

Legal name

Williston Economic Development

Website

https://willistondevelopment.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Williston Economic Development is the City of Williston, North Dakota's municipal economic development department, administering the voter-approved STAR Fund business incentive program (low-interest loans, matching grants, childcare/facade incentives) and an LOIS-powered Available Properties database to attract, retain, and grow SMBs in the Williston/Bakken region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Economic Programs (926), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Growth, Trade & Private Sector Development Programs (BPADABAF)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business incentive programs
• Commercial real estate database
• Small business grants
• Municipal development funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Williston, North Dakota

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. City Sales Tax Funding: Government-funded economic development organization. The voters of the City of Williston approved a 1% city sales tax through June 30, 2030. Of the proceeds, 75% is dedicated to infrastructure debt relief for City of Williston projects with the remaining 25% dedicated to jobs creation and community development. The STAR Fund sets aside up to $50,000 each year available to City of Williston and regional entities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Williston Economic Development is a municipal economic development department that administers STAR Fund business incentive programs including low interest loans, matching grants for business remodel and sign replacements, childcare facility incentives, and community enhancement grants. It maintains an Available Properties Database powered by LOIS/REsimplifi to help businesses locate and expand in the Williston area, and produces the Williston Works Podcast featuring local entrepreneurs and economic development topics.

Product overview

Williston Economic Development operates as a municipal economic development organization offering a portfolio of programs and services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include an Available Properties Database (powered by LOIS/REsimplifi) for commercial real estate searches, STAR Fund Programs providing various business incentives and grants, Williston Works Podcasts featuring local business interviews, and comprehensive Business Resources. These offerings serve businesses looking to locate, expand, or start operations in the Williston, ND area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STAR Fund: Business incentive program offering low interest loans, matching grants, and quality of life improvement grants for Williston businesses and regional entities
• Williston Works Podcast

Products and services

• STAR Fund Programs A collection of business incentive and grant programs funded by a 1% city sales tax, including low interest loan programs, matching grants for business remodel and sign replacements, childcare facility incentives, and quality of life enhancement grants. Programs include Mini-Match Program, Childcare Renewal Program, C4 Facade Incentive Grant Program, Flex PACE and PACE Programs, C4 Technical Assistance Grant Program, Childcare Growth Grant, and Community Enhancement Grant. Available to qualifying businesses and regional entities in the Williston area.
• Available Properties Database A sites and buildings database for companies looking to locate and expand operations in the Williston area, searchable by square footage, acreage, geographic location, and other user-defined criteria. Powered by Location One Information System (LOIS) with property information updated by REsimplifi.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 750 startup businesses, retail space, service providers, housing expansion, childcare facilities, manufacturing, industrial facilities and quality of life improvements assisted since 2010
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Location One Information System (LOIS)coreTechnology or IntegrationLOIS powers the Williston area sites and buildings database for companies looking to locate and expand operations. Provides search by square footage, acreage, geographic location and other user-defined criteria with up-to-date real estate and market demographics.
• REsimplificoreTechnology or IntegrationREsimplifi provides property information updates for the LOIS-powered property database used by Williston Economic Development.
• Williston State CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWilliston State College hosts the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) office at 113 4th St E. Keith Olson serves as ND SBDC Regional Director providing business development assistance.
• ND SBDC (Small Business Development Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Dakota Small Business Development Center provides regional business development services through the Williston office at Williston State College. Keith Olson serves as Regional Director.
• City of WillistoncoreOthersCity of Williston is the parent governmental entity. The STAR Fund is governed by a seven-member board with the Williston Board of City Commissioners retaining final approval/denial of all applicants.
• SelectUSAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured on Williston Works Podcast episode 'What Investors Look for in a Community: Insights from SelectUSA' discussing what investors look for in a community.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• International Economic Development Council (IEDC): Professional association for economic developers providing training, certification, and best-practice frameworks that municipal EDOs like Williston's adopt. Industry-level umbrella organization rather than a direct competitor.
• SelectUSA: Federal program within the U.S. Department of Commerce promoting foreign direct investment into the United States. Williston Economic Development has featured SelectUSA on its podcast, indicating alignment on FDI-attraction messaging.

Direct peers

• Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation: Regional economic development organization in Grand Forks, ND offering business attraction, retention, and expansion services with site-selection tools and incentive programs analogous to Williston Economic Development's STAR Fund.
• Minot Area Development Corporation: Also a Bakken-region peer, the Minot Area Development Corporation provides business incentives, site-selection assistance, and workforce development programs targeting the same oil-and-gas-impacted economy as Williston.
• Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation: Municipal/regional economic development organization serving the Fargo-Moorhead area with similar business incentive programs, site-selection support, and workforce development services. Comparable in scope and delivery model as another North Dakota city-based EDO.
• Bismarck-Mandan Chamber EDC: Capital-city economic development counterpart in North Dakota offering business attraction, retention, and expansion services with similar incentive program structures to Williston's STAR Fund.

Broad incumbents

• North Dakota Department of Commerce: State-level economic development agency administering programs such as the ND SBDC network (which co-locates with Williston Economic Development). Operates at broader scale but overlaps in mission around private sector development and business incentives.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/willistonwire
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http://www.cityofwilliston.com
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/williston-economic-development

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Williston Economic Development