Brainstorming sessions scheduled Monday in Missoula in effort to use university system to support economy

Do you want Montana’s economy to be stronger? Think wages could be higher and per capita income beefier?

So do top state officers, and they want to talk to you about how to make those things happen.

By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian

http://missoulian.com/articles/2004/08/08/news/local/news03.txt

Bring your ideas, suggestions, concerns and comments to two community conversations hosted on Monday by Sheila Stearns, Montana commissioner of higher education and Dave Gibson, the governor’s top business officer.

The duo will be in Kalispell in the morning and Missoula in the afternoon to discuss ways in which the state’s university system can partner with public and private entities to bolster Montana’s economy.

What to expect?

"We aren’t trying to waste peoples’ time with ‘here’s a blank sheet of paper, tell us what you think,’ " Gibson said. "We are talking about honing six really big areas we have defined, and talking about how to implement them.

"I expect to have a lively discussion."

The conversations are part of an initiative formally called "Shared Leadership for a Stronger Montana Economy," which was first envisioned by John Mercer, chairman of the Montana Board of Regents.

When Mercer became a regent a few years ago, he believed Montana’s university system could play a more active role in pushing the state up from the bottom of national economic rankings. His fellow regents agreed.

In the past year, the regents, legislators, business leaders and government officials have met to discuss ways to make that happen, and in June, they began taking the concept to the public.

Kalispell and Montana mark the midway point of the 15 planned public conversations, which are focused on polishing the following topics:

n Improving work force training and education.

n Improving access to post-secondary education.

n Expanding distance learning.

n Developing partnerships between business and the university system.

n Building collaborations between the university system, state agencies and local agencies to solve Montana’s problems.

n Promoting Montana travel to university alumni.

If all goes as scheduled, Stearns and Gibson hope to present the regents with an action plan at their meeting in Butte on Sept. 23.

"We are trying to set something up that will give us short-term results and longer-range results," Stearns said. "We would like to have work plans – or strategy plans – in place in case some of the ideas we want to implement need supportive legislation and funding."

Gibson said he expects Montana will experience tangible, lasting results from the shared leadership initiative as early as 2009. He has no doubt that with an educated citizenry, a skilled work force and the ability to work with and develop new technologies, Montana’s economy will be rosier.

"This is the main event for sustained wage growth – or higher income per capita," Gibson said. "What we are tackling is really important."

So far, the community conversations have been productive, Gibson said.

"Everywhere we have gone, we have had one or two really dedicated folks come forward and say they want to be involved in the process," Gibson said. "That alone has been worth our effort."

To folks who haven’t yet had their chance to be involved with the process, know that your input is valued.

"If you have had a long-standing interest in the general welfare of the state, or in a particular position that impacts our economy, come to the community conversations," Stearns said. "Add your voice to the conversation as we go forward."

And know this: You may be put to work.

Reporter Betsy Cohen can be reached at 523-5253 or at [email protected]