Montana Business

“We wanted to make available to the public an efficient and affordable way to heat their homes and businesses during the cold months by utilizing the power of the sun to help them lower their utility costs.”

Natural Baby Company was named innovator of the year; Autopilot Inc. founder and owner Matt McCune is entrepreneur of the year; Chris Naumann of the Downtown Bozeman Partnership was given the economic leadership award; and Simms Fishing Products was named business of the year.

TRG has officially opened its new Southwestern Montana location. After years of planning, this location will now serve as company headquarters. This expansion includes all Customs Bond, Marine Insurance and Direct Filing divisions.

“As a major company that employs more than 500 Montanans, we know that our Community Fund grants make our state a better place to live and work,” said Pete Simonich, vice president and chief operating officer of PPL Montana. “When we give money to community groups, we know we’re touching people — people we know — in towns across Montana.”

Montana’s "home-grown" electronics store has pulled off a major accomplishment, topping the heavy hitters of the on-line retail word in the latest rankings from Consumer Reports.

The next issue of Mamalode comes out next week 11/11/09. If you’d like a copy, please contact

The Cycling House, which provides fitness vacations and training camps for serious amateur and professional cyclists and triathletes, is a contender in a niche fitness market.

The business could have a ripple effect in Montana, opening doors for Montana companies to market their goods in Italy, such as Montana wheat, said Arnie Sherman, chief executive officer of the Montana World Trade Center. It has already resulted in an increased number of faculty and student exchanges between the two countries.

Suppose, though, it was possible to blend the best of timber’s earthy ambiance and regional authenticity with 21st–century efficiency and sustainability.

“This recognition and the exposure to the clean tech community will help us accelerate the development of our biodegradable chemicals, and advance the notion progressive chemistry.”