Montana Economic Development

“This is an opportunity to build and grow energy business in Montana and create more high paying jobs for workers in our state,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “I have been actively recruiting business to Montana from North American companies to European companies – both play a vital role in our economic development.”

It should go without saying that the focus of the Missoula Area Economic Development Corp. should be the Missoula area, and that the focus of the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority should be Ravalli County. And further, that any dealings between the two should be undertaken as equals.

Our annual MSU Extension Conference is scheduled for Oct. 19-22 in Bozeman. We will have many CD-related activities and sessions including our annual business meeting, presentations, and field tours.

For those living and working in areas with growing economies, it’s important that such growth not be simply taken for granted – a lesson that becomes clear in times like these, when the economy is in the midst of a major slowdown.

This grant is one of the five Green Job Training grants being offered.

I appreciate this opportunity to remind you of a good workforce training
program that has funds available right now:

"The bottom line is, Montana has increased its wind portfolio at the fastest rate in the country." Gov. Brian Schweitzer

The longer that Missoula waits to take bold steps to bolster its local economy, the greater the loss to this "brain drain."

In a contentious meeting Thursday with Ravalli County commissioners, Montana Commerce Director Tony Preite defended his department’s handling of a new federal and state stimulus program for the timber industry.

North Central Montana Transit begins service

August 24, Monday