Helena area economic development: Why don’t we have more big-name retailers?

Kohl’s, Trader Joe’s, Cabela’s—why can’t Helena seem to get big-name retailers like these? There are a combination of factors, including how population is counted to state-level incentives, that lead retailers to skip over Montana’s capital city when deciding where to locate.

The Montana Business Assistance Connection—or MBAC—provides community and economic development assistance in the Helena Area. Executive director Brian Obert said population is one of the roadblocks they encounter when trying to get retailers interested in the city.