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Industry
The importance
of oil and agriculture to Powell's economy has earned the city the motto
"Where
Oil and Water Mix."
As a result, a large number of affiliated and supportive industries
have arisen in the area. These firms include oil field equipment and service
companies, drilling contractors, farm implement retailers, feed and fertilizer
dealers, elevators, agricultural cooperatives, irrigation supply companies,
trucking firms, machine shops and retail establishments. Several local
business firms are described below, along with brief summaries of the
goods and services that they provide.
Industrial
Parks
There are two other industrial parks located in the Powell area with many
of the same amenities as the First Development Park. These parks give
a new enterprise additional options that may not be available in a community
with only one park.
Oil
Production
Commencing
"in 1955, several previously separate fields in the Big Horn Basin were
united in order to improve operating efficiency. Unitization combined
equipment and facilities, thus providing for more orderly production and
development of the Big Horn Basin oil fields.
Marathon
Oil Company
The Marathon
Pipeline Company based locally in Powell, services and repairs 818 miles
of oil pipeline throughout northern Wyoming that leads into a series of
other lines. The system terminates eventually in St. Louis, Missouri.
Marathon Oil Company has three fields currently in operation in Park County:
the Byron field and Garland-Kinney fields, both some fifteen miles east
of Powell and the Oregon Basin Field situated thirty miles south of Powell.
Marathon drills wells, pumps and collects crude oil, and separates this
oil from water at its facilities before it is transported via pipeline
to refineries in the St. Louis area for final processing. Natural gas
production is limited to that re-injected for pressure maintenance in
the formation.
Agriculture
Since the
early days of the Shoshone Irrigation Project, agriculture has played
an important role in the development of the Powell Valley. Approximately
25% of the 3,334,809 acres of land in Park County are classified by the
Bureau of the Census as under agricultural and related production. The
majority of the land devoted to ranching and livestock production is concentrated
in the southern part of the county, with most of the farming and crop
production occurring in the irrigated fields of the Powell Valley. The
Powell Valley lies in the north central section of the Big Horn Basin
extending from northern Park County eastward into Big Horn County, representing
a striking contrast of verdant crops against the rugged terrain of this
semi-arid region.
Many climatic conditions that represent a threat to growing crops such
as high winds, hail, heavy rainfalls, and tornadoes rarely victimize the
Powell Valley. Powell's relatively low elevation of 4,365 feet compared
to the rest of Wyoming is responsible, in part, for the fact that the
growing seasons are among the longest in the state despite the proximity
to the northern border with Montana. The sun shines almost every day,
with completely clear days the norm. The mean monthly temperature is 22.7
degrees in January and 74.7 degrees in July. The average annual wind velocity
in Powell is 9.2 mph, precipitation 6.46miches, and snowfall 14.1 inches.
The principal crops grown in the Powell Valley are sugar beets, dry edible
beans, both commercial and seed, malting and feed barley, alfalfa, and
silage corn. Minor crops that have shown success in the area are oats,
cabbage, sweet corn (sold locally), spring wheat, mint and a variety of
grass seeds.
Retail
Other
Businesses & Services
Several printing firms and an office supply store, located in Powell,
offer complete lines of business stationery, booklet-form production and
full line office supplies.
Additionally located in Powell are Toyota, Chevrolet, Subaru, Buick, Lincoln/
Mercury, Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth, Ford, and GMC Truck dealerships, all
of which provide factory authorized parts and service. There are 5 motels
with a total of 142 units and convention facilities accommodating from
250 to 280 persons available.
Nineteen restaurants offer a variety of cuisines including, Chinese, Italian
and Mexican dishes. Powell has both a drive-in and a walk-in movie theatre.
In 1994 a Wall Street firm, Fitch Investment Service Bond Rating Company
relocated its database processing center to Powell.
The City of Powell and Park County is on a 911 emergency telephone system.
Powell enjoys a very low serious crime rate.
Union
Activities
Wyoming is a Right-to-Work state and has a history of a good labor supply
with a good work ethic. Dave Reetz, former Dean of Administrative Services
at Northwest College and now Marketing/ Economic Development Officer at
First National Bank, speaks of his experience with the local labor force:
I can certainly understand why Powell is art attractive location for business
and industry. In addition to providing a rich quality of life, Powell
has impressed me greatly as a community with a strong work ethic and a
prevailing commitment to a job well done." Part of that good work ethic
can be attributed to the pioneering and independent spirit that brought
the parents and grandparents of the current work force to this area.
This spirit is reflected in the absence of any active union organization
in the Powell area. The last active union was involved with a gas plant
in the Elk Basin Oil Field, north of Powell, and was voted out of existence
in January of 1986. The Powell area is a prime example of how well labor
and management can cooperate toward the common goal of good productivity
and higher profits, ensuring future employment growth.
This strong work force, combined with an affordable wage structure, makes
the Powell Valley a desirable location to do business.
Employment/Labor
Analysis
- Radius of labor drawing area (miles):
25
- Available workforce: 9,188
- Unemployment (1993) annual average:
4.8%
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