The Bush Foundation has been involved in supporting community vitality in North Dakota for decades. With our current focus on engaging communities in solving the tough problems they face, we've been watching the dynamics of the development of the Bakken oil fields (the "oil patch") and its subsequent boom play out across many interests.

Opinions differ widely about whether the oil boom is a positive or negative force for the state. It's resulted in a rapid influx of people to the region. The expanding industry has spurred an unprecedented economic growth, but the speed at which this took place meant certain public services could not expand fast enough to supply the demand. Severe housing shortages, lack of schools and other inadequate infrastructure have become tough problems that affect the communities of western North Dakota. 

There are many views and opinions as North Dakota navigates the oil boom. These links on a variety of topics relating to the oil patch may give more perspective:

• The National Geographic's March 2013 cover story features an article about the oil industry in North Dakota and how communities on the Bakken oil patch are coping with the economic and human toll of the boom.
• The Center for Rural Entrepreneurship's policy education white paper lays the groundwork for policy development to help oil producing communities with long term sustainability. This paper was commissioned by the Bush Foundation through the Western North Dakota Energy Project.
• The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis offers an interesting collection of information about the oil patch, including an extensive memo on the demographics, economic and financial situation.
• In 2010, the Bush Foundation worked with other partners in North Dakota to host a series of community conversations called "Prospects and Possibilities" that brought citizens together to talk about how they viewed their state's future. Learn more about these meetings and read the report.
• The mulitmedia public media project Black Gold Boom explores how oil has changed North Dakota. Other media projects include News from the Oil Patch as well as ongoing coverage by the Williston Herald and Bismarck Tribune.
• On our own blog, see posts about how the Western North Dakota Energy Project is helping oil-producing communities navigate the energy development boom, how oil has created opportunities and challenges for the MHA Nation and about the mixed blessing of the oil boom in North Dakota that includes interesting video clips.
• On Twitter you can follow hashtags such as #Bakken or #oilpatch.

Foundation staff and other interested parties toured the oil patch on Monday, July 16, to see firsthand the impact of the oil boom on North Dakota's people, communities, land and culture. You can follow @BushFoundation on Twitter to see our tweets, read Jane Leonard's blog post and check out photos from the tour.