05/08/2026
We’d been crossing our fingers for a long time waiting to see if we would be awarded a portion of this grant and we are so happy to share the wait has paid off!!
The w**ery is going to come to life and be such a fun place for the community and a great place for other businesses to collaborate and thrive.. can’t wait to see everyone on opening day 🥂
Make sure you’re following all our socials so you can stay posted with that’s going on 😁
🎉 Two Williston Based Businesses Awarded Grants Under Destination Development Grant 🎉
Two Williston based businesses have been awarded grant funds through the North Dakota Dept. of Commerce's Destination Development Grant. The supports projects across the state that support new and expanding tourism experiences and help drive long-term economic growth.
The 2026 cycle brought in 103 applications from 61 communities, and each application was scored across more than 20 categories by five committee members who looked at the measurable increase in new visitors as a primary factor.
Dakota Sun Winery was awarded $75,000 to expand the existing w**ery with an outdoor patio, a multi-season event venue and three grain bin glamping units designed to create memorable overnight stays. They also plan to partner with local beef producers to feature locally sourced ingredients on its menu, while adding vineyard yoga, wellness programming and collaborations with regional artisans and food trucks.
Great Northern Events was awarded $550,000 to support the final phase of the build-out of their historic Main Street property, transforming the underground portion of the building into a unique lounge and converting the adjacent wash bay building into boutique lodging suites.
Congratulations to both businesses!
