Nine new Williston corporations and limited liability companies registered in May with the North Dakota Secretary of State, just another sign of how fast the town is growing.

The new corporations included businesses in oil and gas title services, trucking, construction, real estate, insurance and a lounge. The variety of corporations shows Williston's strength in the oil industry, but also signals growing development within the city.

Nine new corporations is about on average for Williston over the past few months according to the city economic development office. With the growth that's going on in and around the city, they've seen new corporations at an increasing rate. Two years ago, nine corporations in one month would have been unheard of in Williston.

A new corporation doesn't necessarily mean a new business. Owan Realty for example, a family real estate business, has been incorporated for more than 40 years, but reregistered in May to transfer their presidency.

Some of the other new corporations are already established businesses in town, but becoming a corporation offers distinct advantages. First off, it allows the company to sell stock to raise more capital. Many small corporations, like most in our area, are closely held, meaning they are not publicly traded, and only a small, controlled group of people own stock in the company. Becoming a corporation also allows owners to separate their personal assets from business assets and limits the personal liability of owners and officers should the company take a loss.

Williston corporations that registered in May were: DC, Inc.; PA Safety Coor, LLC; Danson Joe, Inc.; Owan Realty, Inc.; Shane Cymbaluk Trucking, Inc.; Robert J. Eynon Agency, Inc.; C-Goll Enterprises, Inc.; Black Pine Holdings, Inc.; F&P Construction, Inc.