ND 2.0 Initiative Comes to Dickinson | Video

Alex Hagan | 3/6/2012

The population of western North Dakota remained static, or even shrank, for much of the past 25 years. Even as the oil boom began, many communities were initially reluctant to plan for expansion, having been stuck with huge bills after the last oil bust.

Now, with today`s activity projected to last well into the future, cities and towns that have been overrun with people are now trying to play catch up. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has put together an initiative to help some of those hotspots figure out what to do from here on out.

The North Dakota 2.0 Initiative came to Dickinson to discuss the areas of concerns for the town and the state. Jasper Schneider, the leader of the seminar, says the initiative is important for the North Dakota community. "It`s so important now more than ever that were smart and strategic about what our future looks like and that really is what the heart of North Dakota 2.0 is all about."

Members of the seminar were able to speak out during the two hour session to voice their opinions about Dickinson and North Dakota.

"And we`re going to go through a series of questions, everybody is given a clicker, and they are able to vote on a number of questions and were able to get their response," Schneider said.

The major issue discussed was the housing shortage. Local firefighter Kelly Armstrong says this issue needs to be addressed to keep up with the population. "Currently, that is the biggest need and that`s just simply because were behind the action curve with the development."

Schneider says the future is bright, but the state must be careful throughout the next few years. "We really have the ability to be masters of our own universe to take control of our own destiny, because of our economic prosperity."

North Dakota 2.0 will visit a total of 12 towns throughout the state. The Initiative will visit Crosby and Watford City later this week.

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