MATR Newsletter – July 31, 2020
The state with the best education wins!

Corona Virus Information

• Governor Bullock Announces Grants to Safeguard Access to Health Care

  “By helping small primary care and safety net providers find and assist uninsured Montanans, we’re making sure Montanans who need affordable health care coverage can get it and can keep themselves and their families safe.” Governor Bullock

Montana Department of Commerce

• Montana Department of Commerce Connect – Business Adaptability Grant Program Expands

  Total funding available is $20 million.

Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development

• Montana Tourism Industry Unites for ‘Montana Aware’ Campaign

  17 CVBs, 6 tourism regions to participate in statewide effort to promote safety measures

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• ‘Great urban exodus’ heads West to rural communities

  This week’s Best of the West roundup explores the “great urban exodus” that has seen urbanites leaving cities behind in favor of rural western communities.

• Most Public Engagement is Worthless

  More often than not, it is a mechanism to wrap a veneer of legitimacy around the large policy objectives of influential people.

• Uptown Butte focuses on enhancing historical beauty

  Butte is toughening up on vacant building ordinances in an effort to enhance Uptown’s historical beauty.

The Telecommuting and Gig Workforce in Montana

• Will Telework Provide Economic Boosts to Smaller Local Areas?

  Cox also sees the shift to telework as something that was in the cards anyway. COVID-19 simply accelerated the change.

Montana Businesses Seeking Investment or For Sale

• Riverfront Triangle developers shift real estate listing in hopes of finding partner for exceptional Missoula property

  The listing describes the property as a high profile development site that serves as the gateway to downtown Missoula, the business district and its “bustling restaurant and retail scene, nationally renowned arts district, Missoula’s office employment core, and multiple new hotels.”

Gov. Steve Bullock

• Blackfeet Reservation businesses ask Montana Governor Bullock for help

  The tourism-dependent businesses say their location on a reservation that has closed the east entrances to Glacier National Park makes them uniquely vulnerable.

Montana Economic Development

• Please Help Support the Montana Passenger Rail Summit on Sept. 17. All Aboard!

  Restoring passenger rail service throughout Montana is a partnership effort. Donations are accepted in any amount and each sponsorship level has some benefit. Contributions are for the Montana Passenger Rail Summit on Sept. 17, 2020 as well as ongoing efforts to restore passenger rail service through southern Montana. If you are interested in becoming a…

Visit Montana

• Montana fire lookouts: Alone on a peak to watch for wildfires

  “People envy that I have this job,” “I don’t think I’ll ever give it up.”

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

• Rural Students Are Less Likely to Go to College. Will the Pandemic Make Things Even Tougher?

  Covid-19 has complicated everything about college — applications, classes, living arrangements, and extracurricular activities. Some administrators are trying to help rural students succeed in a rapidly changing educational environment.

2020 Montana Politics

• Montana Candidate for Governor Mike Cooney releases economic plan: clean energy jobs, workforce training, buy Montana – Keep Montana Working!

  “We must ensure that Montana businesses have access to a pipeline of skilled workers for high-demand, good paying jobs,” Cooney said. “The renewable energy industry in Montana has so much potential. Montana has the opportunity to be a leader in the transition toward the clean energy economy.”

• Time for Montana to adopt automatic voter registration

  Whenever someone gets or renews their MT drivers license or MT state ID, they would be automatically registered to vote, unless they choose to opt-out (registration would not be compulsory).

Transportation

• Top Mayors Pledge to Build 15-Minute Cities – The End of Carcatecture

  Mayors from the U.S. largest cities are focusing on building neighborhoods where anyone can meet her basic needs without getting in a car.

• Britain Is Creating a Government Organization Devoted to Biking and Walking

  The new push to promote and fund active travel is as much about improving health as it is about curbing pollution.

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