Montana Economic Development

"A lot of American business knows of the challenges and opportunities in Asia, but I don’t know that the American government has quite the same" appreciation, he said.

Preite said he and Schweitzer want to play a "major role in attracting out-of-state industry to Montana."

"People are taking their jobs to where they want to be," Harris said. "They figure out where they want to live, and find a way to make a living."

"Our university
system must continue to be an integral partner in successfully growing our
economy," Gibson added, "particularly in the areas of technology and workforce
skills."

Farm locally, think globally

One of the great challenges of her job was the limited amount of economic development incentives at the state and local level. "You try to keep companies or recruit new ones and sometime your hands are tied," she said.

As Democratic Gov.-elect Brian Schweitzer puts together his cabinet, at least one appointee of Republican Gov. Judy Martz is waiting to hear whether he might still have a job.

He said Montana has three reasons to be optimistic about its economy: jobs are growing, housing remains relatively inexpensive and the state offers quality of life.

"I’ve always said western Montana is the Switzerland of the United States and people are starting to find out," he said.

Mark your calendar for the 3rd annual
Ag Technology Show 2005. Cynthia Berst, show producer,
is preparing for another innovative farm & ranch
tradeshow that will be coming to Billings, Montana
January 13, 14 & 15, 2005 at the Holiday Inn Trade
Center.

The city also has gone wild with mandates, for instance, requiring that all downtown businesses have only retail or restaurants at street level. That’s absurd, but the real problem is that city and county officials are trying to stop suburban growth around the city by imposing Portland-style growth controls.