Rural Communities

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Business-Pitch Competitions: A New Economic Development Strategy for Rural America 

Proponents of the events say they can attract young people interested in entrepreneurial endeavors and open up a possibility for broader community building. 

Zoning Stands in the Way of Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is cheap as ever, but zoning isn’t keeping up with the market.

USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Help Repair Affordable Rental Housing in Montana’s Rural Communities

Eligible applicants include town or county governments, public agencies, federally recognized Indian tribes, and nonprofit and faith-based organizations.

New movie ‘Montana Story’ captures the state’s landscape of loneliness

Choosing to shoot in Ringling feels integral to the idea of what “Montana Story” is trying to do. Ringling isn’t the soaring mountains of Glacier or the crystalline waters of the Blackfoot. It’s a small, middle-of-nowhere town. Ringling is one of those places people like to point to as the “real Montana,” a tiny speck of civilization dominated by the enormity of the landscape all around.

The Colstrip calamity: They got the gold, we get the shaft

Once again Montanans get to re-experience the all too well-known disaster of a major corporation operating an industrial facility, producing prodigious amounts of toxic and hazardous waste, and then declaring bankruptcy. After hundreds of millions of dollars in publicly funded cleanups at abandoned mines and industrial sites, one might wonder “When will our politicians learn their lesson and stop sticking Montanans with the outrageous cleanup costs?”

Montana Working Lands Internship Program gives students an insight into ranch life

This summer, 4 college students will be working at multiple ranches throughout Montana to attain a better understanding of what ranch life is all about and possible credit toward their degree.

We want to know about your remote work experience – Mission West Community Development

We value your comments, thoughts, and ideas and appreciate how you help us make better decisions and design better projects. You can help us improve by contributing your ideas and asking questions about our projects. We’re excited to hear from you!

Fundraising to Save Montana’s Farmland – Haskill Creek Farms and nonprofit Save Farmland

Haskill Creek Farms and nonprofit Save Farmland launched this year to conserve agriculture and promote regenerative and organic farming

Bye, Zoom: This smart new app is the future of online meetings

Switchboard brings a whole new approach to remote teamwork—and makes familiar videoconferencing seem archaic in comparison.

Lab-grown plant matter marks a step towards 3D-printable wood

Wood may be a renewable resource, but we’re using it up much faster than we’re replenishing it. Deforestation is having a drastic impact on wildlife and exacerbating the effects of climate change. Since our appetite for wooden products isn’t likely to change, our methods for obtaining it will have to.

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SBA 504 Loans offered statewide! Real estate and equipment, acquisitions, renovation, and new construction. Low, fixed-rates up to 25 years with as little as 10% down.

For over 25 years, Montana World Trade Center® has served Montana as a trusted business adviser.

Bozeman is a rapidly growing city with a high quality of life in part due to the easy access to the outdoors, burgeoning tech industry, and cultural experiences it offers.