How does Montana, as an economic force, stack up against the competition?

It’s hardly thought of at all as a competitor, according to Mark Willis, Director of the Business & Industry Division of the Wyoming Business Council.

Economic development officials from neighboring states were guests at the annual meeting of the Big Sky Economic Development Corporation, (EDC). They were invited to analyze and respond to a recent report from Forbes Magazine that ranked Montana 38th as a desirable place in which to do business, while ranking all of its neighbors much higher.

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McClure said that Montana has lost prospective organizations because the executives said, "It doesn’t look like you support your schools." He noted that the state’s high school graduation rate is declining. Dropouts are leaving earlier, he said. He further pondered, "Why are we not adapting to the work places. Maybe K-12 needs to look at it. The kids are not feeling connected."

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