Trying to understand the behavior of some people is like trying to smell the color 9.

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• 2026 Montana Employer Workforce Satisfaction Survey

  This survey is intended to be taken by one representative from a business or organization, who has an understanding of their employee recruitment, readiness, and retention practices and experiences. We welcome responses from private/for profit business, public/government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

• “National parks remove reservation systems despite crowds and staffing concerns.”

  Glacier National Park, https://www.nps.gov/glac, has relied on vehicle reservations since 2021 to prevent dangerous backups along the Going to the Sun Road and to protect visitor safety at Logan Pass. Without reservations, Glacier will test a three hour parking limit at Logan Pass and pilot a ticketed shuttle system in hopes of balancing access with preservation.

• Montana’s wind energy potential ranks 2nd in nation. But can development survive?

  For the first time in the public hearing on proposed zoning meant to restrict wind farms, applause came from the audience. Previous testimony from those who had advocated for the wind farm had been met with silence.

• Polson Chamber of Commerce to take action. – Polson businesses learn strategies to boost year-round revenue at prosperity conference

  One key strategy discussed at the conference involves rethinking how customers find businesses online.

• Multiple Studies Suggest Emotionally Intelligent Leadership Is Critical for Success and Can Be Learned

  Numerous studies now suggest academic success alone may not be the best preparation for the 21st century workplace.

Flathead Valley Community College Montana

• Center for Digital Education – Montana High Schools, Colleges Prepare Students to Work with AI

  High schoolers are learning about AI through peer-to-peer work and after-school programming like Code Girls United, and higher education institutions in Montana are prioritizing introductory lessons in AI for students.

Montana Manufacturing Extension Center

• January 2026 Montana Manufacturing Extension Center News

  Manufacturing Success Story: Waffle Cookie Company adds a dash of automation to its recipe for success

Prospera Business Network

• Prospera – Upcoming Virtual Trainings

  Small business owners are constantly told to do more. More platforms. More posts. More tools. More trends. This seminar is about doing less, but doing it better. Smarter Marketing, Not More Marketing is a 90-minute, seminar-style training designed to help small business owners understand where marketing actually delivers value—and where it quietly drains time with little return. Instead of chasing every platform or tactic, this session focuses on building a clear, sustainable marketing foundation that fits your business, your audience, and your capacity. We’ll break down the top 10 marketing basics every small business should understand, with a strong emphasis…

Montana Business

• Montana Historical Society Receives $15,000 Gift from Stockman Bank for Education Endowment

  “Our roots are based in Montana and history is very important to us” said Bill Coffee, CEO of Stockman Bank. “We value learning from the past to focus on the future.”

• Thousands of CEOs just admitted AI had no impact on employment or productivity—and it has economists resurrecting a paradox from 40 years ago

  Nearly 90% of firms said AI has had no impact on employment or productivity over the last three years, the research noted.

Montana Housing

• Proposed seasonal employee housing development near Glacier National Park sparks outrage

  Pursuit, a global hospitality company, is proposing a roughly 25-acre construction project near the border of Glacier National Park to house some of its seasonal employees. But residents of West Glacier aren’t happy about the plans, which they say would disrupt wildlife habitat, huckleberries and water quality.

Funding and Building your Montana Business

• 3 Ways to Identify a Great New Business Idea

  What counts most is securing customers faster than your competitors.

YOUR MONTANA CAREER

• Montana Career Opportunities – Civil Rights Attorney, Office Manager – Disability Rights Montana (DRM)

  If you’ve ever thought about working in a place where your day‑to‑day efforts directly shape the future of disability rights in Montana… this is your moment.     This is not a generic nonprofit hiring push. This is an invitation to join one of the most unique, impactful civil rights organizations in the country – Disability Rights Montana  –  One that Congress empowered with investigative authority, legal muscle, and a statewide mandate to protect the rights of disabled Montanans. And we’re looking for people who want to take action, not just admire problems from a distance. – Disability Rights Montana…

Montana Energy and Transportation

• Atlanta to host first fully automated on-demand public transit system

  South Metro Atlanta is set to become home to a demonstration pilot for a publicly accessible automated transit network using autonomous electric vehicles on dedicated guideways. This system promises to end nail-biting traffic congestion, delivering a rail-like capacity at bus-fare prices without the traditional cost or construction timelines.

• Capturing the Sun – A fluid can store solar energy and then release it as heat months later

  Sunlight can cause a molecule to change structure, and then release heat later.

Montana’s 21st Century Education Initiative – “You Should Care…”

• Why were one-third of the high-school seniors tested in 2024 found not to have basic reading skills?

  If it was really true that the students couldn’t read, then it was up to me to put the books in their way and make them deal with them.

• 2026 Code Girls United Virtual App Challenge (we need 54 judges! and your support) – 4/25 – Virtual

  These girls are building real apps. Solving real problems. Thinking BIG. And over 350 MT girls are competing for scholarships that total over $17,500 each year. That’s right, you can support future innovators in our Minnow Tank environment. See them solve the problems they care about using technology! Please volunteer or Sponsor or both….

2025 Montana Legislature and Politics

• Ireland’s basic income for the arts scheme becomes permanent

  When piloted, initiative that provided €325 a week to eligible artists recouped more than its net cost, study shows

• A New Angle Podcast – A Montana Case Study in Bipartisanship

  In the spirit of ANA’s new tagline: “How we’re doing and where we’re going,” this week Justin speaks with Cascade County Commissioner Joe Briggs and Missoula County Commissioner Josh Slotnick. Though these two come from different political parties, they came together to work on improving Montana’s tax system. This collaboration shows us that cooperation across party lines is not only possible, but perhaps critical to our future.

Social Media, Connectivity & Communications in Montana

• Montana PBS purchases three TV stations in eastern Montana, allowing residents access to free public television for first time

  In October 2025, Montana PBS finalized purchase of KYUS-TV in Miles City, KXGN-TV in Glendive and K13IG-D (a translator relaying the KXGN signal) in Sidney. The PBS programming on the three stations went live in February.

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