MONTANA

What it really seems to come down to, when you press developers hard enough about their clients’ motives, is that Montana remains relatively unpopulated. Never mind that the elbow-room sales pitch is quickly eliminating the very thing it’s selling.

Sen. Burns Secures Over $95 Million for Montana

With the plant, “we’re value-adding an agriculture product now being exported,” he said. “We’ll produce jobs … and a product will be developed that will bear the Montana name.” And the plant would be a model for robotic, self-cleaning Danish technology.

Another attraction was the movie-making incentive package that the Montana Legislature approved during the 2005 session.

Called the Big Sky on the Big Screen Act, the program provides state-sponsored incentives and rebates for film companies that work in the state.

"It encouraged our coming to film here," Parks said. "We would have done it anyway, but it greased the wheels."

To date, nearly 40 of the 90 wind turbines at Judith Gap are set to go. A few might have even been online today for the official dedication – except for a slight glitch.

"The idea is to spur business for Montana companies and find opportunities where they can work with large companies," said Jeff Garrard, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont.

According to Geoff Sutton, “Creative Enterprise elements can be found in all of Montana’s 56 counties. We will be focusing on rural economic development with this program. Montana’s artists and artisans are a great source of wealth and talent which can be used to create jobs and provide supplemental income for rural Montanans.”

The grants are designed to be matching funds for non-profit organizations involved in developing new annual events.

"The program assists Montana’s farmers, ranchers and agricultural entrepreneurs in developing new products and ideas to grow our state’s agricultural industry."