‘Boomtown Alliance’ links Odessa, North Dakota

A new group has formed with the aim of linking oil businesses in the Permian Basin and Williston, N.D., with an event being held March 1 to commemorate the new alliance.
The Boomtown Alliance, as they’re called, is led by the community relations agency US Energy and Williston-based Marquis Metal Works. Jason Marmon, the community director at US Energy, said the goal of the alliance is to bring oil industry culture to the communities they are based in. Marmon said US Energy has already been putting on local events in North Dakota for the last five years, from fishing and golf tournaments to job fairs.
“Williston is branded as Boomtown, USA, and I think Odessa is Boomtown, USA as well,” Marmon said. “There’s numerous companies that are operating in both areas that are fairly big and they’re mainly just a logo, so we’re kind of getting names with faces and have people more engaged in what’s going on.”
Marmon said it’s about more than just bringing these oil companies together, but about building relationships outside of the industry. Their first shot at this in Odessa will be at their first Odessa Energy Cookout and Concert on March 1 at the Ector County Coliseum, 4201 Andrews Highway.
The event kicks off at 2 p.m. with a job fair featuring numerous local oil and gas companies. At 4 p.m., there will be a barbecue cookout and contest with options of pork ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket and beef short ribs, and the event will cap off with a concert from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., headlined by the country band BlackHawk.
“Some people just think of it as a good time, but our sponsors tend to find it’s great development, great employee engagement, team building,” Marmon said. “It’s just a place outside of work where people get to know each other. That’s our goal.”
All proceeds of the event go toward US Energy’s Western Sports Program, which sponsors athletes, and provides scholarships, workforce training and expanding partnerships.
Marmon said they are planning to treat this like an annual event and hope to grow it even more next year, hopefully by featuring a Next Gen Bull Tiding, American Freestyle Bullfighting or Professional Bull Riding event next year.
“There’s so many industrial parks and companies that are out of touch with the community, and the community is kind of out of touch with the innovations and new opportunities going on in the industry, so it kind of works both ways,” Marmon said.