Public forum on economic development planned for Aug. 30 in Bozeman

A forum on how to better involve the Montana University System in improving the state’s economy will be held in Bozeman on Monday, Aug. 30, from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M. in the third floor Club Room of the Bobcat Stadium south of the Montana State University campus.

The event is open to the public, and questions and comments are welcome.

from the MSU News Service

http://www.montana.edu/commserv/csnews/nwview.php?article=1863

“Finding out how our university system can help economic development in Montana is extremely important, but we need the involvement of citizens and businesses throughout the state to determine our highest priorities,” Commissioner of Higher Education Sheila Stearns said. Stearns and Dave Gibson, the Governor’s Chief Business Officer, will lead the discussion.

“The University System is a tremendous asset and a critical partner in our ability to successfully create more good-paying jobs in Montana,” Gibson said.

The meeting will focus on ways the university system can better support worker training in Montana; improve distance (on-line) learning opportunities for rural citizens; build stronger university – business partnerships; remove barriers to postsecondary education for all Montanans; encourage better problem-solving collaboration between the university system and government leaders; and better promote the state as a tourist and business relocation opportunity to university-system alumni.

The Montana University System Board of Regents identified these areas as ways to implement a program for shared leadership to improve the Montana economy. A copy of the full report may be found at http://www.montana.edu/wwwbor/SharedLeadInfo.htm.