Office of Economic Development Weekly Newsletter

In this Issue…

– Gibson Addresses the PPL Montana, MEDA, and MT Certified Communities Fall Conference and Encourages a Collaborative Effort

– Connecting Montana Businesses through Technology

– Wind Generation: Montana is Ready

– Upcoming Events

Gibson Addresses the PPL Montana, MEDA, and MT Certified Communities Fall Conference and Encourages a Collaborative Effort

Last Thursday, Dave Gibson, Montana’s Chief Business Officer, spoke to an audience attending the PPL Montana, MEDA, and MT Certified Communities fall conference in Great Falls. The audience consisted of local economic developers from across the state as well as representatives from the state and federal government, including Montana’s federal delegation.

“Strong local economic development is critical,” Gibson told the audience. Stressing the importance of working together to move Montana’s economy forward, Gibson highlighted the lack of a diversified economy as a primary factor inhibiting economic growth in Montana and the importance of supporting industries in the state that will increase economic opportunity. He went on to encourage the group to continue working together and not to accept an economy that ranks near the bottom in national statistics. “Other states are doing a good job,” Gibson said. “We cannot be left behind, but we must work together to get things done.”

A large portion of the discussion centered on the Office of Economic Opportunity’s Cluster Initiative. “No silver bullet exists,” said Gibson. But encouraging our existing businesses to grow and prosper by working with like-minded businesses through clustering is “low-hanging fruit” that will move Montana forward in the next 5 years. The Cluster Initiative recognizes that many businesses providing high paying jobs tend to locate near other, similar businesses. In fact, successful businesses must have access to a highly trained workforce, markets & capital, suppliers, research and development facilities and educational institutions. The initiative seeks to better understand and support networks of growing businesses in identified industry clusters and allow Montana to focus our limited resources on attaining world-class technology, worker skill training, and promotion activities — necessary ingredients for creating sustainable high paying jobs and true economic improvement.

Connecting Montana Businesses through Technology

Creating an environment for collaboration –the goal of the Office of Economic Opportunity’s latest project.

Montana businesses face many challenges. Chief among those challenges is the large distance Montana firms must travel to reach potential customers and/or suppliers. As a result, many Montana businesses struggle with getting their message to market. In addition, consumers and other businesses looking to utilize services from Montana-based firms have limited means to find the information they need. As a result, potential exists to spur Montana’s economy by enhancing business-to-business relationships through technology.

“The first step to competing in the global economy is getting businesses connected to each other in meaningful ways. With this solution, we will ensure that every registered business within the state is given an online presence and is enabled with the opportunity to communicate their business message to state, regional, national and international markets,” said Jason Hanson, Technology Officer for the Office of Economic Opportunity. “Not only are we going to give every business an online presence, we will allow those businesses to easily update their online information – ensuring the solution is flexible enough for today’s ever-changing business environment.” Extensive search capabilities will also be included, enabling consumers in their efforts to find providers and optimizing business-to-business opportunities. Businesses may be searched by name, keyword, industry category, SIC code, NAIC code, city or county.

“We have worked for several months on the project and are on the verge of releasing this solution – expected completion date being the end of January,” said Hanson. “We are extremely excited to deliver this tool to the Montana business community.”

Newsletter Wind Generation: Montana is Ready

Mark Lindberg, Agriculture and Energy Officer in the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, testified in front of the Public Service Commission last week on behalf of a potential wind generation project, the Navitas wind proposal project. “The proposed Navitas project is about more than just energy,” Lindberg said. “It could potentially be a critical step in the creation of an economic sector in Montana based upon wind generation.”

In his presentation, Lindberg noted that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory has ranked the State of Montana as one of the top five most favorable states for the development of wind generation on private and state lands. In addition, all of our bordering states, excluding Idaho, have embraced wind generation. “The timing is right; we have a willing developer, and an emerging market demand for this renewable resource,” said Lindberg.

Lindberg pointed to several benefits of wind generation to Montana ratepayers. The renewable, nonpolluting source of energy is good for the environment. Montana’s economy will benefit in the form of new jobs from the single Navitas project, a 50 million dollar plus investment. New manufacturing facilities, more construction jobs and potential expansion will ultimately benefit the state’s economy. Montana’s farmers will also benefit from the expansion of wind generation projects in the form of value added income—$2,000 per acre in some cases.

The Jefferson County wind generation project has exciting potential. As technology improves and energy self-reliance becomes increasingly more important to our nation, wind energy will be a part of our utility portfolio in the future. Montana is ready now.

Upcoming Events

MEDA Annual Combined Fall Conference

Dave Gibson, Quinn Ness and Jason Hanson will attend the annual MEDA Annual Combined Fall Conference. Dave Gibson will address MEDA and update the group on state-led economic development efforts.

Where: Holiday Inn Great Falls, Great Falls, MT

When: November 20 – 22

**************

Bozeman Chronicle Editorial Board

Dave Gibson will visit the Bozeman Chronicle Editorial Board to discuss economic development and the business environment in Monana

Where: Bozeman

When: November 25

************

Berg in the Morning Show – Billings

Dave Gibson will make a guest appearance on the Berg in the Morning Show to discuss economic development strategies that will move Montana’s economy forward.

Where: Billings

When: November 26

For more information, contact the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity at (406) 444 – 5634 or email us at [email protected]

The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity’s mission is to provide a vision and a direction through the development of strategies and initiatives to ensure that the expansion of the state’s economy takes place in an efficient and orderly manner.