Montana Economic Development

For far too long, Missoula has allowed its economy to blow around like a leaf on the wind instead of steering its own financial future. Our future. And it’s time we decided to do something about it.

"We’re currently monitoring as many as 50 projects … and they are very much dependent on what we are able to do in providing new transmission lines or upgrading current transmission lines," said Chantel McCormick, senior energy development specialist for the Montana Department of Commerce.

And so ends the battle over the Last Best Place, with the popular phrase ending up pretty much where it began – in the hands of all the people of Montana.

Nearly 3,200 students did not graduate from Montana’s high schools in 2008; the lost lifetime earnings in Montana for that class of dropouts alone total
nearly $830 million.

A new program invites innkeepers to make subtle pitches for small sums that will help pay landowners who sign conservation easements — binding agreements that limit property development.

Its overall mission is to provide information that will help the industry make informed decisions about planning, promotion and management. Thus, the research conducted is designed to assist both private firms and public agencies who provide facilities and services to visitors.

“Montana needs creative ways to get financing to businesses right now, and this Great Falls-Missoula partnership is a good model.”

At the economic forum last week, which attracted hundreds of community leaders, business representatives and concerned citizens, Missoula’s educational community was absent.

“When Jane Karas asked for a show of hands in the audience to see what sector of the community they represented, there was not a single educator in the room,” Ametsbichler said. “I thought it was pretty gutsy of her to do that – and the room looked around and duly noted the absence of our university and educational professionals.”

Missoula has the potential to become stronger by joining up its educational forces, but the challenge is bringing everyone to the same table.

According to Travel Montana, a test group was not put off by the unusual statement that Montana has nothing. Potential visitors understood the irony when accompanied by artwork showing spectacular views of the state.