Montana Business

"The cost of flying in and out of Missoula is the single biggest challenge that we face in building a growing business in Montana," he said.

Dawn Maddux wasn’t even in the industry eight years ago, and now she’s charged with selling a property that can only be considered by the very wealthiest individuals.

In case you’re not privy to world of casting, Montana Precision Products makes parts for jet engines and industrial equipment in a process that involves, among other things, molding, casting and (the best part) pouring liquid-hot metal.

The largest insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, is proposing an average 62 percent rate increase for its individual plans for 2017. Montana Health Co-op’s average requested increase is 22 percent, and PacificSource’s request is an average 20 percent jump.

Company spokesman John Doran told MTN News Friday the company’s incentive plan is tied to the overall performance of the company, and not just the financial bottom line.

"I think that it’s one of those moments parallel to sitting in a coffee shop in California in the early ’90s wondering what all the Internet fuss is all about," Beard said. "Five years from now, a dozen drones will pass in front of you and it will feel normal."

A new report from the University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research has found Montana’s economy is "evening out" geographically, meaning that the more populous western counties are finally catching up with the rural eastern counties that benefited from the oil and commodity boom.

"As far as national race go, 53 out of the 56 counties here in Montana are federally recognized as being underserved. So the fact that we’re able to graduate, residents, who then go into those rural and underserved areas is a great win for Montana," said Rivard

App-based transportation companies have taken the country by storm in the past several years, but are a new development in Montana.

"The Missoula Urban Farming Forum is an event geared toward strengthening community food networks while also raising funds to support AERO’s commitment to providing communities with resources for creating a sustainable Montana."