The Value of Higher Education by Dr. Jeremiah Shinn, President University of Montana and Dr. Brock Tessman, President Montana State University
You place a high level of trust in us to help Montana’s students achieve these goals and more. And in the spirit of this season of beginnings, we want reaffirm to our students, their families and our fellow citizens that our unique, dynamic and innovative campuses will continue working to ensure that you, your employers, your communities, and this incredible state we call home realize the dividends of the time, talent, and resources invested in Montana’s public colleges and universities.
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Forest Service Closes 23 Research Stations to Cut Costs and Consolidate
The U.S. Forest Service will close 23 research stations and relocate its headquarters to Salt Lake City as part of a major reorganization. This move aims to reduce expenses while maintaining key scientific activities and could impact Montana businesses through shifts in partnerships and resource allocation.
The New Ivies: 20 Great Employer-Friendly Colleges Embracing AI
The job market has already been hit by tremors from the artificial intelligence earthquake. These 20 colleges—10 public and 10 private—are preparing and graduating the talent that employers will seek in this new era. “So we’re really leaning in hard on this idea of you need good foundations in something and then we focus on creativity, curiosity, problem solving.”
Is Your Wealth Advisor Using AI to Give Her More Time to Work With You?
The growth of artificial intelligence has put the would-be dinosaurs of wealth management– who employ hundreds of thousands of financial advisors and are responsible for $330 plus trillion in assets–on notice. “The next gen cares about how wealth impacts their life and the way they spend their time,” she says. “I can very quickly put together something that is completely customized to that person, and I can do it at scale because of AI.”
21 Elite Colleges Where Middle Class Students Go For Free
Families earning up to $250,000 can qualify for free tuition as wealthy private schools up their grant-only aid and use it as a marketing tool to lure students scared off by a $100,000 annual tab.
It can’t be good when plastic companies write the lesson plans
The plastics industry is offering schools curricula that cast plastics as safe, recyclable, and a source of good jobs. Critics say it’s propaganda.
As family farms decline and the climate heats up, farmers weigh what to do with their land
The best way to protect his farmland was to restrict future development on it by entering into what’s called a conservation easement. He still owns the property, but he sold the future development rights of his 131 acres to the Little Traverse Conservancy, a nonprofit that acquires and protects land. The organization holds those rights even if Boyer transfers land to his kids or decides to sell to another owner down the line.
High Plains Financial
“High Plains Financial (HPF) is a Montana-based Certified Development Company and SBA 504 lender affiliated with the Great Falls Development Alliance (GFDA). HPF provides SBA 504 loans statewide, helping businesses access long-term, fixed-rate financing for…
Missoula, Montana Postal Machine Removal Threatens Mail Delivery Speed
The U.S. Postal Service plans to remove a key sorting machine at the Kent Avenue center, risking delays, job losses and impacts on the upcoming elections. Postal workers warn this could impact timely mail service across western Montana.
Has Your Community Had an Explanation of Data Center Development Like This? Are You Selling Your Children’s Future?
AI is not profitable, its not actually AI yet. Its all a fugazi.
Everything being sold is a lie until it might not be.
Story House Montana Lease Spaces Available in Missoula, Montana
Right now, we have 23 offices and suites available, from small private offices around 87 SF to larger 900+ SF spaces, plus much larger opportunities for companies that need room to build, make, manufacture, store things, or generally make some noise.
Federal Court Blocks BLM Order To Remove American Prairie Bison From Public Lands
“The court found that American Prairie’s bison qualify as livestock under the Act and that we have demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits. That is a significant finding, and we are grateful that the court has allowed the bison to remain in place while this case moves forward.”
Hellgate Venture Network – September Monthly Meet-Up with Michael Gardner Founder of True Penny- 9/17 – Missoula
Come join the networking and meet new contacts and learn about what’s going on in Missoula’s entrepreneurial community.
Global Seniors Outnumber Young Children for First Time Ever – The “Tipping Point”?
The world is witnessing a historic demographic shift as people aged 65 and older now outnumber children aged 5 and under. This change, driven by longer life expectancies and lower fertility rates, will have profound economic and social impacts worldwide, including in Montana.
Great Falls Development Alliance
“Anything Business – Think GFDA. The Great Falls trade area offers a strategic location, competitive operating costs, and strong industry advantages in food and agriculture, value-added processing, bioprocessing, energy, and advanced support services. As the…
Quantica Executives Fund Montana Politicians Before Data Center Proposal
Two Quantica leaders donated to nine Montana candidates before unveiling a large Yellowstone County data center. These contributions preceded legislative wins favoring data centers despite local opposition and a failed ballot initiative.
Brixtel Defense Evaporates From Glendive, Montana After Promising Jobs and Investment
Brixtel Defense opened a facility in Glendive in 2024 but abruptly closed it by early 2026, leaving the community with unfulfilled promises and economic uncertainty. Former employees and local officials describe the situation as a “short-lived dream,” with no public explanation for the withdrawal.
Nvidia’s Jensen Huang Thinks Young People Are Overlooking the Skill That Will Matter Most
While Huang believes AI will ultimately transform jobs, he says this ability will remain at the center of innovation.
From Liability Gap to 1500% ROI: Revolutionizing Workplace Safety with Missoula, Montana’s Gaize
In an era where recreational cannabis is legal in over half of U.S. states and novel substances like fentanyl and kratom are on the rise, traditional drug testing methods are leaving employers exposed. These tests detect past substance use but fail to identify *current* impairmen
Missoula, Montana’s CubCloud AI runs combined AI Foundations and Agentic AI workshop at Montana AI Summit
“We spent Thursday morning sharing tools and ideas with folk from education, government, business, and beyond. There’s one thing Montana is not short on: great people and great ideas,” said Rhines.
GFDA Celebrates 30 Years of Lending
It all started in 1996, when GFDA made its very first loan to help fill the financing gap needed to launch Pasta Montana. That first investment kicked off three decades of helping businesses, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and developers turn great ideas into reality across our region.
Great Falls Development Alliance
“Anything Business – Think GFDA. The Great Falls trade area offers a strategic location, competitive operating costs, and strong industry advantages in food and agriculture, value-added processing, bioprocessing, energy, and advanced support services. As the…
Missoula Economic Partnership Annual Meeting – 10/7 – St. Pat’s Hospital
We invite you to MEP’s Annual Meeting for a look at where our economy stands today and what’s ahead for Missoula. Join us as we elect new board members, reflect on the past year, look forward to the year ahead, and connect with business and community leaders in our region.
Career Opportunities at Northwestern Energy
You’ve Got Jobs! Check Them Out Below: Substation Electrician or Journeyman Lineman Northwestern Energy – Butte Read the full job description: CLICK HERE! Remittance Specialist Northwestern Energy – Butte Read the full job description: CLICK HERE! Project Engineering Supervisor…
Missoula, Montana’s Pathlabs wins the 2026 MarTech Breakthrough Award for Overall AdTech Solution of the Year for its people-first Media Execution Partnership.
In adtech, the answer is usually another product. Another platform. Another dashboard. Another promise to automate the hard parts. At Pathlabs, we have always believed the hardest parts still need people.
Frontier Angels WHAT’S NEXT?! Montana technology developments from August, 2026
August brought outside capital into Montana companies: a $42 million private fiber build between Billings and Bozeman, and a Pittsburgh private equity firm taking majority ownership of a Butte manufacturer. Here is what happened.
AI-Powered Smart Carts Boost Supermarket Spending by 32 Percent
A study of over 12,000 shopping sessions found that customers using AI-driven carts spent significantly more and stayed longer in stores. Retailers could benefit by encouraging smart cart use with incentives to increase sales and engagement.
Eventgroove Can Help You Maximize Your Fundraising Success For Giving Day – December 1.
Giving Tuesday lands on December 1 this year, and the organizations that reach their goal have their donation page live well before then. Here’s the setup worth doing in September, while there’s no deadline pressure.
Prospera Business Network
Prospera Business Network is the lead non-profit organization advancing and supporting community-centered economic development in southwest Montana. Our focus is helping people start and grow their business – in turn strengthening our region’s economy and…
Your Company Doesn’t Need a Keynote. Your Brand Ambassadors Can Do the Marketing Instead
Why pay for advertising when your customers can do it for you?
Montana Tech launches new nuclear energy programs
“Montana is at an energy crossroads,” Lance Energy Chair Bob Morris said in a press release. “We’ve been a net energy exporter for 50 years, but as coal comes offline, we risk no longer producing enough energy for ourselves.”
IRS Audit Staff Cuts Slash Tax Enforcement Revenue by 35 Percent
The IRS’s 27% reduction in auditing staff caused a dramatic drop in tax enforcement revenue, with billions in unpaid taxes going uncollected. This weakening of IRS capacity could indirectly impact Montana businesses by encouraging aggressive tax strategies and complicating local tax administration.
5 Technology Questions You Need to Ask About Your Company Before a Buyer Does
Buyers now treat technology documentation the way they treat financial statements: as information that helps determine the price.
Most States Lack Clear AI Cheating Policies Despite Widespread Teen Use
Over 70% of teens use AI for schoolwork, yet many states avoid concrete measures to prevent AI-enabled cheating. Educators nationwide struggle with academic integrity amid limited administrative support and inconsistent policies.
Global warming will exceed limit, U.N. says in a report that maps path to get back below danger zone
“If we act now we can limit overshoot,” the report said. “Not a safe world, but safer than remaining above” 1.5 degrees for the long term.
Prospera Business Network
Prospera Business Network is the lead non-profit organization advancing and supporting community-centered economic development in southwest Montana. Our focus is helping people start and grow their business – in turn strengthening our region’s economy and…
Waymo and Zoox Expand Robotaxi Services Across U.S. Cities
Waymo now operates over 4,000 vehicles in 14 cities, offering more than 500,000 rides weekly. Zoox is beginning supervised testing in Houston and San Diego, intensifying competition in autonomous ride-hailing.
AI Startups Must Strengthen Financial Foundations to Secure Funding
Investors now demand clear revenue models, margin improvement, governance, and risk management from AI companies. Founders should prepare robust financial infrastructure to meet these heightened expectations and avoid pitfalls like insolvency.
Montana’s Prospect 811 – Sales intelligence for medical sales reps
Prospect 811 turns 535 million Medicare billing and industry-payment records (procedures, equipment, prescriptions, hospital case volumes, and manufacturer payments) into a ranked call list of the providers in your territory who actually bill for what you sell.
The Frontier Learning Lab (FLL) is Montana Digital Academy’s new statewide learning lab for teachers and students
Anchored in the values of expanded access, strong privacy, and solid learning science, the Lab serves as a central hub that curates tools, surfaces best practices, and sparks practical innovation in every corner of the state, from bustling city schools to the most remote one-room classrooms.
Beyond the Crowds: What’s Shaping Missoula’s Business Climate – Missoula Economic Partnership
The Business of Being Busy:
Lessons from Missoula’s Summer Season
CIOs Must Make Generative AI a Core Team Collaborator
The new HBR Guide urges CIOs to embed generative AI into workflows to transform collaboration. Despite rising daily use, only a small fraction of managers involve AI in team activities, highlighting untapped potential.
University of Montana College of Business
Make Your Future in the College of Business The College of Business at the University of Montana is a special place focused on making students feel engaged, supported and connected. Students receive access to opportunities…
A.I. Is to Be Banned in N.Y.C. Elementary and Middle Schools
When New York City public schoolchildren return to the classroom next week, younger students will be barred from using artificial intelligence. No individual screens will be allowed until third grade. And teachers will not be able to ask A.I. to grade assignments.
Private Equity Owns 130 Rural Hospitals Raising Access Concerns. It’s Coming For More
Private equity firms have rapidly acquired rural healthcare providers, driving up costs without improving care quality. This trend threatens healthcare access and community stability in vulnerable rural areas, prompting calls for increased oversight and transparency.
University of Montana Hosts First Summit on AI’s Community Impact
The University of Montana convened the state’s inaugural AI summit to explore how artificial intelligence might influence Montana’s social and economic landscape. This event marks an initial step in opening dialogue about AI’s future role in the region’s development.
Quantica Plans Deep Aquifer Water Use for Broadview, Montana Data Center
Quantica will draw 20,000 gallons daily from a deep Madison Group Aquifer for cooling its Broadview data center. The project aims to protect local water resources while addressing community concerns about large-scale water and power use.






















