MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• Your Montana Co-Op Community Jan 2026 Updates

  We are excited to be here with you in this year and look forward to all that it will bring for you and our cooperative community.

• Commerce Allocates Planning Grants to 14 Economic Development Organizations

  “Commerce’s ORE Planning Grants create good-paying jobs, promote long-term economic growth, retain and expand existing businesses and encourage workforce development for Montana residents,” said Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio.

• Montana Department of Commerce Weekly Roundup – Volume 3, Issue 5

  The Weekly Roundup is a summary of events, news and information important to Commerce’s constituents this week. Click on any topic for more information.

Northwestern Energy

• We have some great job opportunities at Northwestern Energy and we think you might be interested in them!

  You’ve Got Jobs! Check Them Out Below: Ground Worker Electric Northwestern Energy – Journeyman Lineman Northwestern Energy – West Yellowstone  – Ground Worker Electric Northwestern Energy – Butte  – Mobile Dispatcher Northwestern Energy – Butte – Technology Delivery Manager Northwestern Energy – Montana  – Operator Maintenance Journeyman Northwestern Energy – Great Falls  – Intern Hydro License Compliance Northwestern Energy – Helena  – Intern Fleet Operations Northwestern Energy – Butte

Flathead Valley Community College Montana

• Flathead Valley Community College Hosts Entrepreneurs Feb. 24

  Featured speakers include Marianne Smith, founder and CEO of Code Girls United, and Eric Fulton, venture partner at Two Bear Capital.

Great Falls Montana Development Alliance

• GFDA Upcoming Business Trainings and Events – 2026 Midwest Virtual Matchmaker: Connecting Businesses with Government Buyers! And MORE….

  Are you looking to sell to the government? The 2026 Midwest Virtual Matchmaker connects businesses with federal, state, and prime contractors to explore procurement opportunities and build relationships that can lead to contracts. One of the largest virtual procurement events in the region, this event brings businesses and government buyers together in a focused, online setting. Great Falls Regional APEX invites you to participate in the 2026 Midwest Virtual Matchmaker: Connecting Businesses with Government Buyers.

• GFDA Top Ten for 2-8-26 – Congratulations Jolene

  Congratulations to Jolene Schalper, GFDA’s Executive Vice President, on being chosen for the 2025 Athena Leadership Award! The Athena Leadership Award is given to a female community leader who has acheived the highest level of professional excellence, contributes time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community, and actively assists others, particularly women, in realizing their full leadership potential.

TechLink

• Montana’s TechLink – Thousands of technology commercialization opportunities developed in DOD and VA research labs nationwide.

  We help innovation-minded businesses tap into a $70 billion R&D budget with technology transfer.

Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative

• Montana Career Opportunity – Montana State University-Northern – Assistant Professor or Associate Professor of Biology (Biomedical)

  This position will be responsible for teaching courses for the Biology program, with emphasis in courses related to the program’s Biomedical Sciences and Human Health Track, such as Anatomy and Physiology, Genetics, and Microbiology among other courses. MSU-Northern’s program is growing, and as such, candidates that represent diverse areas of expertise in the biological sciences will be considered. The successful candidates will be responsible for the preparation and teaching of labs required for scheduled courses and will be encouraged to participate in an active undergraduate research program. Involvement in scholarship and service activities and assisting with student recruitment, retention, and…

Montana Business

• Rising Obesity Trends Pose Growing Health and Economic Stakes for Montana

  If obesity continues to rise, Montana families, employers, hospitals, and taxpayers could face higher health care costs, increased strain on clinics and hospitals, and reduced workforce productivity, particularly in communities that already struggle with limited medical resources.

• Wyoming And Montana Casino Boom Hides A Surprisingly Small Gambling Market

  Montana’s small “casinos” create the appearance of a huge gambling industry, but strict limits on machines, stakes, and licenses keep revenues relatively modest. Wyoming’s smaller — yet fast-growing — market is pushing lawmakers to consider tighter rules.

• Snowy Mountain Development Corporation gets grant to establish business incubator in Lewistown, Montana

  Entrepreneurs in the Lewistown area may soon have assistance through something known as a business incubator. A business incubator is an organization that helps startup companies by providing a wide range of services, including management training, office space, and even venture capital financing.

• Montana Career Opportunity – Network Operations Center (NOC) Technician II – Vision Net

  The selected candidate will play a crucial role in monitoring, maintaining, and troubleshooting Vision Net’s carrier and enterprise network infrastructure to ensure continuous, uninterrupted service for our clients.

• Montana West Economic Development Annual Report 2025

  Thank you to all of our members for supporting our work.
  For every $1 you supported us, $695 came back to our community.

• Mark Cuban just made a surprising anti‑AI investment. Experts say it could define 2026

  “Within the next 3 years, there will be so much AI, in particular AI video, people won’t know if what they see or hear is real. Which will lead to an explosion of f2f [face-to-face] engagement, events, and jobs.”  Mark Cuban

Regional Business News

• Ring Cameras can now help you find your lost dog even if you don’t have Ring

  Ring has announced that it is expanding its Search Party feature to help find lost dogs. Originally launched for Ring owners in the US, the service can now be used by anyone, even people who do not own a Ring camera. You will, however, still need to download the Ring app to file a report.

Montana’s American Prairie

• American Prairie Challenges BLM’s Proposed Revocation of Bison Grazing Permits

  The administration’s proposal sets a dangerous precedent on public land management, reversing longstanding practice. Tribes in multiple states have voiced strong opposition to the BLM’s proposed decision, citing unintended and negative consequences for tribal buffalo herds. According to COLT’s letter of protest, as the Proposed Decision is currently written, it is unlikely that any tribal government or tribal citizen buffalo herd would ever be eligible for BLM grazing leases.

Montana Energy and Transportation

• Montana Communities Could Improve Their Transportation Systems By Adopting AI Analytics Like This California Community

  While Montana cities are smaller and more spread out, the core issue is similar, residents depend on reliable transportation to get to work, school, medical appointments, and services, and even modest improvements can have outsized impacts in rural and small town settings where options are limited.

• Trump DOT Wants to Ban Free Buses

  The department wants to prevent cities that receive funds from the Federal Transit Administration from offering free transit fares

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

• Do you have “entreprecurious” students on your university campus and a ‘SkyDeck’ for them?

  The Berkeley Civic Engagement Challenge, a competition where, instead of students pitching startups, city staff pitch civic problems for students to solve. “Where Visionaries Take Flight.” According to PitchBook’s 2025 rankings, Berkeley now leads all universities in venture-backed startups founded by undergraduate alumni: 1,804 founders and 1,650 companies.

Privacy, Hacking and Virus Alerts Montana

• Why that Amazon product recall text is probably a scam

  Amazon Prime customers are the latest group of consumers to be targeted by scammers, cybersecurity experts say.

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