Williston, ND, Is a Great Place to Grow Your Business

New investments and developments in Williston continue to transform the region.

By Bill Lewis on September 16, 2023

Yellowstone River Beef

From international energy and agricultural enterprises to locally owned companies, businesses of all types and sizes are choosing Williston, ND, as the place to invest, grow and create jobs.

Investments and Developments in Williston

Consumers in Asia and around the world are snapping up beef produced by Yellowstone River Beef (YRB), the largest exporter of beef in North Dakota. The company relocated from Oregon to Williston, where it found a more welcoming business environment. 

Cerilon GTL ND is investing billions of dollars to develop a modern gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant with carbon sequestration as a key component. Cerilon GTL ND’s parent company, Cerilon, is based in Alberta, Canada. 

Williston businesses are growing, as well. Larry Medhurst moved to Williston from Canada more than a decade ago to start a company. Now, he and his son, Jared, have launched a new business, ACES Energy Services. The company provides sales and rentals of mechanical filtration systems, solar hybrid light tower rentals and trucking and hotshot services. 

ACES (Advanced Clean Energy Systems) has created six jobs and plans to hire additional staff as the business grows. 

Encouraging Growth in Williston

“Williston is a great place for our company because of the people who are here. There are so many people here who have become successful or are becoming successful through the opportunities that we have here in Williston. Not only do these people want themselves to be successful, but they want their neighbor to be successful, as well,” Jared Medhurst says.

“Every good company starts with a good foundation and a solid team. Williston is one big team of great people, and the foundation is here through organizations like Williston Economic Development.” 

Public officials encourage economic growth in Williston and the surrounding region. 

Williams County approved a $10 million loan to Cerilon GTL ND to purchase the site of its 24,000-barrel-per-day GTL plant, which is expected to have the lowest carbon footprint of any GTL plant in the world. It will convert natural gas into high-value and low-emission synthetic energy products, including ultra-low-sulfur diesel, naphtha and lubricant base oils. 

The plant creates a platform for the production of other valuable products, such as ammonia and fertilizer. Cerilon has been integral in the support of major GTL operations across the globe. 

The Cerilon GTL ND plant is expected to bring more than 1,000 construction jobs and 95 permanent jobs to the area and create new technology job opportunities. The project also will bring enhanced community and infrastructure development as well as long-term property and sales tax revenue. 

The GTL plant will advance the state’s growing production of oil and natural gas without additional flaring while creating value-added products. The project supports North Dakota’s goal of carbon neutrality. 

Global Markets 

As the state’s largest exporter of beef, YRB is expanding to develop an additional 10,000 feet of processing space that will include a flash freezer with a 40,000-pound capacity. 

After deciding to relocate, the company discovered the perfect location in Williston, which boasts a supportive business environment and a great supply of cattle. 

“Once we planted our roots here, we got to work and have been so pleased with the community. The workforce is strong, and we couldn’t see ourselves growing our business anywhere else. Thank you, Williston,” says Trevor Abell, who is part of YRB’s ownership team.

“YRB is a fast-growing beef company that prides itself on its high-quality Wagyu and Angus beef. We employ 25 to 30 people who are extremely valuable to our organization. We export 80 to 90% of our products to Asia and other markets. We also offer custom processing for the locals that wish to market their own products. We have worked hard to promote YRB all over the world, and once they taste the robust flavor explosion our beef offers, they really fall in love with it.”