Minot, North Dakota: A Decade of Resilience, Reinvention, and Grant-Driven Transformation
By Steven J. Borjeson
Introduction
In the summer of 2011, Minot, North Dakota faced one of the most devastating natural disasters in its history. The Souris River, swollen by record rainfall and upstream snowmelt, overtopped levees and inundated nearly a quarter of the city, forcing more than 12,000 residents from their homes. The April/May 2015 issue of The Western Planner “Minot, North Dakota: Small City, Checkered Past, Bright Future” captured the city’s early recovery, including neighborhood rehabilitation, housing shortages, and rapid population growth tied to the Bakken oil boom.
More than a decade later, Minot’s story has shifted from emergency response to long-term transformation. Recovery has been driven by the resolve of residents and reinforced by major federal and state grants, local investment, and sustained planning efforts. What began as a community in crisis has evolved into a regional model for flood resilience, economic diversification, and comprehensive planning leadership.
The Flood That Changed Everything
On June 22, 2011, the Souris River surged past every recorded benchmark, reaching levels unseen since 18811. Record snowpack in Saskatchewan and persistent spring rainfall produced a hydrologic event that overwhelmed Minot’s flood protection system2. Levees were overtopped, temporary dikes failed, and pump stations exceeded their capacity as floodwaters rapidly inundated neighborhoods long considered safe3.
More than 4,100 homes were damaged or destroyed, infrastructure across the city failed, and public facilities including parks, schools, and fire stations suffered extensive damage4/5. Over 12,000 residents evacuated in the largest displacement event in North Dakota history3. Despite coordinated efforts by local responders, the National Guard, and mutual-aid partners, the city experienced widespread disruption, long-term displacement, and severe economic impacts.
As the water receded, deeper systemic vulnerabilities became clear. The flood exposed aging infrastructure, long-standing gaps in emergency preparedness, and weaknesses in decades-old floodplain policies4/5. It also highlighted the challenges of managing a binational watershed governed by U.S. and Canadian authorities2. These lessons ultimately reshaped local planning, zoning, housing strategy, and capital investments6, making the 2011 flood a pivotal turning point in Minot’s civic identity.
Immediate Response and Community Heroism
In the days surrounding the flood’s crest, Minot demonstrated extraordinary unity and resolve. Residents converged on makeshift sandbag stations, forming human chains that stretched across neighborhoods as volunteers worked alongside airmen, business owners, retirees, and students5. When emergency loudspeakers warned that dikes were failing, neighbors mobilized instantly, helping families evacuate valuables and reach higher ground 7 . Volunteer networks shifted block by block as conditions changed, reinforcing the sense that “the whole city showed up at once.”
Evacuations were difficult and often perilous. Guard members waded through knee-deep water to assist elderly residents, while volunteers carried pets and personal items to comfort displaced children7/8. Emergency responders worked around the clock with FEMA and state agencies to maintain evacuation routes, manage shelters, and deliver supplies5.
Local churches organized meal trains, businesses donated food, and medical volunteers established mobile clinics to treat injuries and stress-related conditions4. At Minot Air Force Base, airmen took leave to reinforce dikes and assist with temporary housing efforts. Even after the river receded, families with dry homes housed neighbors, and volunteers spent weeks clearing debris and salvaging belongings. These acts of compassion became a defining memory of the disaster, illustrating a deep culture of shared responsibility and community resilience7.
Long-Term Recovery: The Central Role of Grants
Minot Ten Years Later – Key Takeaways
• Over $176 million in CDBG-DR and CDBG-NDR funding transformed Minot’s housing, infrastructure, and flood resilience.
• The Souris River Flood Protection Project now directs long-term land-use decisions and protects thousands of homes and businesses.
• Downtown Minot has undergone substantial revitalization through NDR funds, the Renaissance Zone, local grants, and MAGIC Fund investments.
• State development funds ($2.65 million plus a $200,000 loan in 2025) helped expand local businesses and childcare capacity.
• Local philanthropy supplied more than $600,000 in 2025 alone for community programs, facilities, and nonprofit operations.
• The city has strengthened its planning, grant-management, and emergency preparedness capacity.
• Minot’s economy is diversifying beyond oil through manufacturing, logistics, childcare infrastructure, and small-business investment.
• Climate adaptation—once a side consideration—is now central to Minot’s long-term strategy.
Minot’s recovery was anchored by disciplined use of federal, state, and local funding. CDBG-DR allocations provided 67.6 million dollars for housing reconstruction and infrastructure repair, while the city’s successful application for HUD’s National Disaster Resilience competition added another 74.3 million dollars positioning Minot as a national leader in resilience planning6/9. In total, more than 176 million dollars in CDBG programs enabled large-scale reinvestment10.
State investments reinforced these gains. The North Dakota Development Fund supported business expansion and childcare capacity, including major awards to Scranton Holding Co. and Oswill Properties LLC 11 . Philanthropic support, especially the Minot Area Community Foundation’s more than 600,000 dollars in 2025 grants, strengthened nonprofits, parks, and community services12.
Local tools, including the MAGIC Fund, played a key role by investing more than 33 million dollars in redevelopment, business growth, and job creation13. Collectively, these funding sources not only rebuilt the city but modernized infrastructure, diversified the economy, and enhanced the city’s administrative capacity helping Minot transition from recovery to long-term resilience10.
Personal Stories: From Loss to Renewal
Recovery in Minot is best understood through the experiences of residents. Entire neighborhoods along the Souris River and in Eastwood Park were inundated, forcing families from homes that had stood for generations5. Federal and local housing programs helped many rebuild on the same lots often elevating structures to new standards while others relocated to new, higher-ground neighborhoods supported by the HUD resilience grant9/10. These new communities, including Park South and Milton Young, offered strong utility networks, better street connections, and improved access to schools and parks.
Small businesses also charted paths from devastation to renewal. Shops along Central Avenue and in the downtown core used MAGIC Fund assistance and local redevelopment support to reopen, modernize, and expand13. Revitalized storefronts, renovated interiors, and increased foot traffic have helped transform downtown into a vibrant cultural and commercial hub14.
Public facilities reinforced the city’s social fabric. The Minot Public Library reopened with improved technology, updated spaces, and expanded programming, supported by city resources and philanthropic partners15. For many residents, its reopening symbolized the return of normalcy and community life. These stories show individual acts of reconstruction and renewal collectively illustrate Minot’s determination to rebuild not just structures, but the sense of community woven through daily life7.
A Decade Later: Minot’s New Path Forward
Today, Minot’s planning framework reflects a shift from short-term recovery to long-term transformation. More than 176 million dollars in resilience and disaster funding, paired with state development awards and philanthropic support, have enabled the city to integrate flood protection, housing, and economic strategy into a unified, forward-looking vision10.
Flood-prone areas have gradually transitioned into greenways, stormwater basins, and recreation corridors linked to regional trails providing risk reduction and new public amenities6. New residential developments on higher ground offer improved utilities, walkable street networks, and stronger access to services. Public facilities including parks, libraries, fire stations, and public works buildings have been upgraded not just to pre-flood conditions but to serve as resilient, energy-efficient community anchors.
Downtown revitalization has accelerated. Strategic use of CDBG resources, MAGIC Fund support, and private investment has brought upper floors back into use, improved streetscapes, and strengthened a diverse mix of restaurants, shops, and arts venues13/14. The core now functions as a civic gathering space and economic engine.
Institutionally, Minot has gained significant capacity. Staff expertise in grant administration, planning, hazard mitigation, and public engagement has expanded dramatically, positioning the city to compete for major federal programs in transportation, climate resilience, and economic development10. This capacity, perhaps the city’s most enduring legacy, ensures that Minot can execute complex projects across multiple sectors for decades to come.
1. A Modernized Physical Landscape
The Souris River Flood Protection Project (SRFPP) remains the centerpiece of Minot’s physical transformation. This multi-decade system includes levees, floodwalls, pump stations, interior drainage improvements, and significant utility relocations16. Completed phases such as the Fourth Avenue floodwall and the Napa Valley levee have already reshaped the riverfront17. Future segments, including the Burlington-to-Minot corridor and Maple Diversion expansion, will complete a protective system designed for future hydrologic conditions18.
Beyond engineered protections, CDBG-funded property buyouts have converted former flood-damaged neighborhoods into open space, stormwater basins, and connected parkland10. New resilience-funded housing developments offer safer, well-planned neighborhoods with improved utilities and access to services6/9. The SRFPP now shapes zoning, land-use decisions, and long-range planning, serving as the backbone of Minot’s urban framework.
2. A Reenergized Downtown Core
Downtown Minot has experienced one of the most visible transformations of the past decade, emerging as a vibrant cultural and commercial center that reflects the city’s broader shift from recovery to reinvention. Before the flood, the district faced long term decline marked by vacant upper floors, aging infrastructure, and the steady movement of businesses toward highway corridors. Post flood investment guided by the downtown redevelopment plan and supported through MAGIC Fund resources, CDBG programs, and private capital reversed this trend and set the stage for sustained revitalization13.
Restoration of historic storefronts, upgrades to sidewalks and lighting, and the redevelopment of long underused buildings have brought new restaurants, retail spaces, and arts venues back into the core. Several small businesses that considered leaving Minot instead reinvested with assistance from local gap financing and facade improvement programs14. These efforts not only stabilized commercial activity but also strengthened the district’s long term economic resilience.
Today, downtown functions as a true civic gathering place, hosting festivals, markets, public art, and a steadily expanding residential community. Its renewed vitality has become a defining element of Minot’s identity, demonstrating how coordinated planning and targeted investment can create a stronger and more connected urban center for the future 13/14.
3. A Diversifying Regional Economy
Economic diversification has become central to Minot’s stability. Manufacturing expansions, logistics growth through the Port of North Dakota, childcare investments, and new service-sector employers have shifted Minot away from reliance on oil-driven cycles 14/19. State awards, including major Development Fund investments, have strengthened key industries and expanded childcare capacity supporting workforce participation and employer recruitment11.
Local tools such as the MAGIC Fund have supported more than 200 projects and helped accelerate entrepreneurship, business expansions, and small-scale manufacturing13. Healthcare, education, technology, and trades have also grown, supported by workforce partnerships with Minot State University20. By pairing strategic investment with targeted incentives, Minot has built a more balanced and resilient economic base.
4. Improved Governance and Planning Capacity
One of Minot’s most important yet understated achievements is the modernization of its internal governance systems. Administering more than 176 million dollars in federal funds required new staffing, advanced compliance systems, and updated planning procedures6/9. Over time, the city developed sophisticated grant-management frameworks, modernized procurement, and strengthened interdepartmental coordination10.
Planning capabilities expanded significantly. New staff positions in GIS, long-range planning, zoning reform, and community engagement have enabled a more integrated, systems-oriented approach to development and hazard mitigation17. Training in federal regulations, resilience planning, and public engagement has made this capacity durable.
This investment in people and systems may be one of Minot’s most enduring legacies: a strengthened institution capable of delivering complex projects and shaping long-term community outcomes.
Lessons for Planners: Grants Are Not Just Funding—They Are Planning Tools
CDBG-DR and CDBG-NDR enabled Minot to reshape entire neighborhoods, modernize utilities, and build capacity in ways that traditional capital budgets could never match. Planners should view major grant programs as instruments for implementing comprehensive plans rather than one-off funding opportunities.
Long-Term Recovery Requires Multi-Decade Vision
The Souris River Flood Protection Project shows that post-disaster recovery extends far beyond cleanup. True resilience requires generational commitment, phasing, and the willingness to align land use, infrastructure, and financing over many years.
Local Economic Diversity Is Critical
Minot’s reliance on oil during the early boom years created vulnerability. Today’s diversification supported by state funds and local incentives provides stability and buffers the community against shocks in any single sector.
Administrative Capacity Matters
Minot dramatically expanded its planning and compliance capabilities, enabling it to manage millions in federal funding and pursue new opportunities. Building staff expertise, systems, and interdepartmental coordination is a core resilience investment.
Downtown Revitalization Is Key to Identity
Reinvestment in the city core helped restore community identity, attract private investment, and create social cohesion after trauma. A strong downtown can serve as both an economic engine and a symbolic center of recovery.
Social Infrastructure Supports Physical Resilience
Community foundation grants and nonprofit partnerships filled gaps that federal funding could not address, ensuring social stability during long-term recovery. Investments in human services, culture, and community spaces are essential complements to levees and pipes.
Climate Adaptation Must Be Mainstreamed
Flood protections, elevation standards, and watershed-based planning illustrate that resilience must be integrated into every policy and project. Climate adaptation is not a separate program—it is a lens for all planning work.
5. Strengthening Community and Social Resilience
Minot’s recovery also strengthened its social infrastructure. The Minot Area Community Foundation awarded more than 600,000 dollars in 2025 to programs supporting food security, mental health, youth services, and senior needs12. Local nonprofits expanded services through grants and partnerships, maintaining critical support networks for families still recovering years after the flood21/22.
Housing stability programs, run by the Minot Housing Authority and partner agencies, provided case management, relocation support, and services that helped families avoid displacement during reconstruction23. Investments in parks, trails, and the Minot Public Library strengthened community connections and provided inclusive spaces for education, recreation, and cultural programming15/24.
Faith-based organizations also provided essential support through volunteer networks, emergency funds, and community care programs 25. Together, these systems form a durable foundation of human resilience that complements the city’s physical and economic recovery.
6. Preparing for a Changing Climate
Minot now plans for a climate future marked by greater hydrologic variability. Updated floodplain maps, elevated building standards, and zoning for open-space buffers reflect this shift10. Critical infrastructure, such as lift stations, substations, treatment facilities, and roadway crossings, have been elevated or redesigned based on projected conditions 16/17.
Stormwater management has evolved through green-infrastructure strategies such as detention basins, bioswales, and permeable surfaces24. Major projects now evaluate future precipitation patterns, soil moisture trends, and resilience requirements at the earliest design stages17. Emergency-management planning incorporates climate scenarios and binational watershed coordination with Canadian partners2.
This proactive approach ensures that Minot’s long-term resilience is not temporary but designed to meet the uncertainties of future climate conditions.
7. A Clear Vision for the Next 20 Years
Minot’s long-range vision integrates flood protection, housing, economic diversification, and climate adaptation into a unified strategy shaped by lessons of the 2011 disaster10. Completing all SRFPP phases remains the highest priority, ensuring long-term protection and adaptable infrastructure for future climate conditions17/18.
Housing goals emphasize expanding both affordable and market-rate supply, focusing on infill, mixed-income development, and new neighborhoods on safer terrain6. Downtown revitalization will continue through mixed-use development, cultural investment, and multimodal connectivity14.
The city will modernize utilities, strengthen broadband, enhance transit and trails, and invest in freight-supporting transportation infrastructure10. Workforce development partnerships with Minot State University and regional industries will support new sectors in manufacturing, logistics, ag-tech, and information services14/20.
With expanded grant-administration capacity, Minot is poised to compete for major federal programs in resilience, mobility, infrastructure, and economic development. These opportunities will shape a more adaptive, livable, and prosperous Minot for decades to come.
Conclusion
More than ten years after the Souris River overwhelmed the city, Minot stands as a stronger, safer, and more resilient community. Guided by long-term planning, coordinated governance, and disciplined investment, the city used federal, state, and local funding to modernize infrastructure, diversify its economy, strengthen social systems, and expand internal capacity9/10.
Minot now serves as a model for communities addressing climate change, economic transition, and disaster recovery. Its experience demonstrates that resilience is built not only through levees and floodwalls, but through planning, collaboration, and continuous investment in people and place9/18. By applying these principles, Minot has transformed its hardest lessons into a foundation for enduring strength and future growth.
About the Author
Steven Borjeson is a North Dakota native and a Senior Environmental Planner and Project Manager with UltraSystems Environmental Incorporated in Irvine, CA. His work centers on preparing environmental documentation under the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, coordinating technical studies, and managing the review of complex development and infrastructure projects. His career began in the City of Minot’s Planning Division and later continued with the City of San Diego’s Development Services Department, where he gained practical experience in post disaster recovery, zoning administration, and discretionary land use permitting.
The recovery experience he gained in Minot has given him a practical understanding of community rebuilding that now guides his approach to disaster response in California. This foundation guides his current consulting work with the County of Los Angeles, where he supports coordination, documentation, and planning efforts for recovery operations following the Eaton and Palisades fires, which caused extensive damage to homes, public facilities, and essential infrastructure.
Works Cited
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2 International Souris River Board. (2013). Summary of the 2011 Souris River flood. International Joint Commission.
3 North Dakota Department of Emergency Services. (2012). After-action report: 2011 Souris River flood. ND DES
4 Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2012). 2011 Minot, North Dakota flood: Impact and response summary. FEMA
5 City of Minot. (2013a). Minot 2011 flood recovery progress report. City of Minot.
6 City of Minot. (2016). CDBG National Disaster Resilience application. City of Minot.
7 Ward County Historical Society. (2014). Voices of the flood: Oral histories from the 2011 Souris River disaster. Ward County Historical Society. 8 North Dakota National Guard. (2012). 2011 Souris River Flood after-action review. North Dakota National Guard. 9 Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2013). Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) allocations: Minot, ND. HUD. 10 City of Minot. (2018). CDBG-DR action plan and amendments. City of Minot.
11 North Dakota Department of Commerce. (2025). North Dakota Development Fund: 2025 project awards. North Dakota Department of Commerce.
12 MACF (Minot Area Community Foundation). (2025). 2025 grant awards summary. MACF.
13 City of Minot. (2022). MAGIC Fund annual report. City of Minot.
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20 Minot State University. (2024). Workforce development and industry partnership report. Minot State University.
21 CAPND (Community Action Partnership of North Dakota). (2023). Annual community services report. CAPND.
22 Salvation Army – Minot. (2022). Feeding and emergency assistance report. Salvation Army.
23 Minot Housing Authority. (2021). Housing stability and support services report. Minot Housing Authority.
24 City of Minot Parks Department. (2023). Parks, trails, and recreation improvements report. City of Minot.
25 Ward County Ministerial Association. (2023). Faith-based community services overview. WCMA.