“Emotional regulation under stress is one of the rarest and most respected leadership traits.”           Leila Hormozi

Montana Business

• Bonner, Montana Data Center Project Canceled After Massive Petition Campaign

  Nearly 50,000 signatures opposed the proposed data center over environmental concerns. The project’s withdrawal highlights rising local resistance to resource-heavy infrastructure developments.

• Aviation Mechanic Shortage Spurs Job Growth and High Salaries – Aviation Maintenance Technology – Helena College

  The Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics recently graduated 60 maintenance students, with nearly half securing jobs before graduation. Boeing forecasts a need for 123,000 maintenance technicians in North America through 2044, highlighting strong demand in the industry.

• Stu Brumbaugh Returns to Help Build Montana’s Film Industry

  After 30 years in Hollywood, Brumbaugh aims to create authentic Montana stories and career opportunities through Ladder 5 Films. His project Running Eagle honors the Blackfeet Tribe and plans include a film academy to nurture local talent.

• Missoula, Montana’s Silk Road Catering Develops Map of Montana Event Venues

  The Silk Road Catering team has catered over 2,000 special events since 2009, and has traveled to hundreds of public and private locations in Western Montana. Are there more we can add to the map?

• Missoula, Montana taekwondo team from Corbin’s Championship Training Gymnasium wins big on national stage

  “There are full-ride scholarships available,” Corbin said. “Fully funded athletes that are going to universities. Only two in the USA, but it’s building momentum, and my hope is in the next few years this will be something that athletes will be able to be fully funded for going to college.”

• What U.S. City Has The Most Marijuana Dispensaries Per Capita – Freezes New Marijuana Dispensary Licenses Until 2027

  The city council enacted a temporary ban to control rapid dispensary growth and address public health concerns. Existing dispensaries can relocate if compliant, while new licenses are halted to develop zoning standards.

• What it’s like to be a person of color in Montana: Two Great Falls business owners share their stories

  Two minority entrepreneurs in Great Falls share their experiences with microaggressions and social stigma in a predominantly white state. Their stories highlight the complex realities behind Montana’s 43 reported hate crimes from 2021 to 2023.

• North Dakota Nearing 100 Percent Fiber Connectivity – How is Your State Doing?

  In one of the most rural parts of the U.S., the Peace Garden State is close to being the first in the nation in which every home and business has (or will soon have) access to fiber service, the gold standard of Internet connectivity.

• Tour Operators:  Will ChatGPT Recommend Your Tours? Here’s How to Find Out

  Today, a growing share of those travelers ask ChatGPT or Gemini instead — and get back a short, confident answer naming two or three specific outfitters. If your company is one of them, great. If it isn’t, that family books with someone else, and you never see it happen. No lost click in your analytics. No drop in your rankings. Just a booking that quietly went elsewhere.

• Younger Entrepreneurs Drive Record SBA “Blue Collar” Business Acquisition Loans to Hedge Against Artificial Intelligence

  In 2025, SBA-backed loans for business acquisitions reached $8.17 billion, fueled by millennials buying blue collar firms. Buyers often evaluate hundreds of businesses before closing a deal, highlighting the complexity of these transactions.

• Montana Faces $16 Million SNAP Cost Sharing Starting 2027

  Montana’s SNAP error rate exceeded the federal 6% threshold, risking a $16 million charge based on current benefit distributions. State officials are working to reduce errors and possibly avoid or lessen this financial impact.

• Montana State University Wins $600K Grant to Fight Bacteria in Hydroponic Farms

  MSU researchers are developing nanoparticle technology to detect and remove harmful microorganisms from hydroponic systems. This innovation aims to protect year-round crop production and support Montana farmers adapting to harsh climates.

• Growth, Succession, or Exit? Find the Right Path for Your Business

  Every business must eventually decide whether to grow, transition to new leadership, or prepare for sale. This session clarifies the options and helps owners choose the right path.

Montana Housing

• Cities, including Missoula, Slash Parking Minimums to Boost Housing Affordability

  Since 2019, over a dozen states and more than 100 cities have reduced or removed parking minimums to lower development costs and ease housing shortages. Montana may face similar challenges balancing parking management with housing needs if it adopts these reforms.

• Missoula based BlueLine Development Plans 296 New Workforce Housing Units In Bozeman, Montana to Ease Shortage

  BlueLine Development’s Rocky Mountain Flats project aims to provide affordable housing for workers and families priced out of the market. This initiative supports economic growth by addressing structural housing deficits in the Gallatin Valley.

• In Missoula, Montana, a Museum Grows from Timber and Memory

  Designed by Leers Weinzapfel Associates, the National Museum of Forest Service History’s new hub transforms donated materials and expressive timber forms into a learning environment.

Visit Montana

• Biking the Historic Hiawatha Trail Through Montana’s Bitterroot Mountains

  The 15-mile Hiawatha Trail follows a former Milwaukee Railroad route, blending history with stunning nature. Riders experience the 1.66-mile St. Paul Pass Tunnel and scenic views while supporting local tourism and preservation efforts.

Regional Business News

• Will Europeans now start demanding air conditioning? It’s a cultural and architectural challenge

  “The question is how to provide it in a way that is efficient, equitable, and smart. Not by panic-buying inefficient, energy-intensive portable ACs.”

Tell Us Something

• Does Your Organization Have Leaders Who are Good Story Tellers? – Leaders Must Embrace Authentic Engagement to Build Trust and Credibility

  Senior leaders are moving away from polished messages toward authentic, consistent engagement. This shift helps leaders connect meaningfully and maintain trust in today’s digital and dispersed environments.

• Tell Us Something – The Pursuit of Happiness – 9/23 – University of Montana Dennison Theater

  Eight storytellers will share their true personal stories without notes on the theme: “Pursuit of Happiness”

YOUR MONTANA CAREER

• Missoula Public Library 5th Birthday Block Party – 7/17 – Main Street

  Come meet your neighbors.

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

• Montana State University strategic plan listening sessions planned for July in Kalispell, Great Falls, Helena, Butte and Bozeman

  All upcoming listening sessions are listed on MSU’s Strategic Plan website that will be updated with additional details as needed.

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