A broken system is keeping California homes underinsured. Millions have no idea they’re at risk. What about YOUR State?

Montana Photonics & Quantum Alliance

• Chattanooga to establish nation’s first quantum tech center – Montana State’s QCORE advancing quantum particle research across the state

  EPB, the power utility that has already backed the city’s fiber network and has been a key player in Chattanooga’s push towards quantum technology, said it will jointly develop the center alongside quantum company IonQ to provide commercial access to quantum computing and quantum networking. It will be known as the EPB Quantum Center.

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• Montana Legislature frames media tax credits plan for coming years
  If the bill becomes law, companies that qualify for the tax credit could now receive 30% compensation of costs for each crew member who is a Montana or tribal resident, or a student at a Montana university. They could also get a 40% compensation for renting Montana facilities.
• Rural Community Builder Summit – 5/6 – Glendive, Montana

  Don’t miss this great day of learning with and from others who are working hard to make their rural communities the best they can be.  We had 40 folks at this event when we held it in Roundup last month and the reviews were so great.  People left inspired with great connections to help them tackle their next great project.

• Montana April 2025 Cooperative Update: Join Us in Strengthening Rural Cooperatives!

  Hear From Montana’s Credit Unions President and CEO Gerry Singleton How Co-Op Academy Came About and Why You Should Join Us!

• Montana’s Producer Partnership – The country’s first and only USDA federally inspected processing facility owned and operated by a nonprofit.

  Matt Pierson is at the forefront of Montana-based Producer Partnership, the country’s first and only USDA federally inspected processing facility owned and operated by a nonprofit. Through the program, ranchers can donate livestock they would otherwise cull, whether it be cattle, bison, pigs, sheep or goats. The animals are processed at no cost, and the protein is distributed to schools and food banks in Montana.

• The First 100 Days at the SBA: A Sprawling New Loan Portfolio Awaits

  There’s been a sea of change at the agency, including more fees for borrowers and tighter underwriting standards.

• ‘A year of unknowns’ for Montana tourism

  The impacts of a trade war and strained foreign relations, particularly with Canada, introduce uncertainty to western Montana’s tourism industry.

Missoula Chamber of Commerce

• UM Rodeo ready to saddle up and host Big Sky rodeo finale – 5/2-3 – Missoula

  University of Montana Rodeo is the last stop on the Big Sky Regional Rodeo Circuit. Your UM Rodeo Team will be competing against eight other schools across the Big Sky Region. All teams are vying for a chance to qualify at The College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, WY. Get your tickets now and watch some incredible college rodeo action.

Montana Business

• A broken system is keeping California homes underinsured. Millions have no idea they’re at risk. What about YOUR State?

  Using faulty algorithms and flawed processes, the state’s biggest insurance companies routinely underestimate what their clients will need to rebuild. For wildfire survivors, it’s a gut punch at the worst possible time. “Insurers lowball what it’s going to cost to put a dwelling back, because they want to close the deal and sell the policy at a price the person can afford.”

• Montana Has Been a Haven to Register Your Expensive Car. Not Anymore?

  Neighboring western states, led by Utah and California, are cracking down on the tax-dodging practice by their citizens.

Housing

• Costco building apartments above its stores to address the housing crisis.

  Affordable living and just an elevator ride from a $1.50 hot dog.

Visit Montana

• Calif. congressman: Trump admin wants to monetize, privatize national parks

  “It’s going to be difficult for any national park to make it through this summer with any semblance of, you know, the level of service and stewardship that we expect,” Huffman said. “[The Trump administration] wants to spin things off and privatize them and monetize them.

Funding and Building your Business

• Entrepreneurs, Increase Your Startup Success Rate: Exploit A Trending Niche In Large Markets

  The most successful entrepreneurs are the ones who have a zealous focus on either an industry niche or a customer niche.

• They’ve Bought and Sold Multimillion-Dollar Brands. Here’s Their Advice for Getting Acquired Now 

  Four successful acquisition case studies to internalize and replicate.

• How one community is changing the way they shop for clean products

  “We want people to know that we go and do the research, so they don’t have to take hours in the store to make sure their product is clean,” said Ashley Baity, who co-founded Toxic Freedom with her mother, Lori Jones.

Rural Communities

• Dismantling the Head Start Program Will Hurt Rural Families

  The White House plans to defund a federal program supporting over 3,000 childcare centers serving many rural families across the country. Over one million kids and their working parents could face hardship finding replacement care.

City Club Missoula

• City Club Missoula Presents: 2025 Legislative Session Review – 5/12 – Missoula Library

  Join City Club Missoula for a review of Montana’s 2025 legislative session. Panelists are TBD. Stay tuned for updates!

Nonprofit News

• April Newsletter – Montana Nonprofit Association

  This week marks the start of Give Big campaigns for many communities across the state. For those of you participating – good luck! We hope your communities respond to the moment with generosity and that when the dust settles you have a chance to rest. We’re sending the big money vibes your way.

Energy and Transportation

• The Office to Bring Together the Department of Transportation and the Department of Energy for EV charging is gone.

  The law that established it, called the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, designated billions of dollars for EV chargers, particularly along highways.

• End Human Sacrifices to the Demanding Gods of Automobile Dependency and Sprawl

  The U.S. has a much higher traffic fatality rate than peer countries largely due to automobile dependency and sprawl which force residents to drive more annual miles at higher speed than they would otherwise choose, resulting in tens of thousands of annual gruesome but preventable traffic deaths and disabilities.

• Popups to be held around the City of Belgrade, Montana to discuss future transportation safety plans

  The city is preparing for its second round of public engagement this week, where they will have conceptual designs of sidewalk connectivity, the downtown corridor, as well as the Jackrabbit area.

• Uber to prom? Company offers free rides for teens for milestone event. How to get one.

  The deal will allow teens to reserve two free rides up to 90 days in advance for their round trip to their prom-related event, according to Uber. Those arriving in a group of six or less have the option to reserve an UberXL.

• Washington State now bars cities with more than 30,000 residents from requiring excessive car storage outside homes, apartments, businesses, and other structures.

  Lawmakers in Washington State recently passed what advocates at the Sightline Institute are calling “one of the strongest parking reform packages attempted anywhere in the United States,

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

• Montana State students take top prizes at annual $100K Venture Competition

  The competition is open to all students, faculty, staff and recent graduates (2024) from MSU, University of Montana and Montana Tech. Several undergraduate and graduate students at MSU won top awards.

• Upcoming Events! Spanish Language Meet-up & Language Trivia Pop-Up!

  Imagine a Montana where every child and adult can communicate, connect, and thrive—through language.

2025 Legislature and Politics

• A running tally of Missoula City Council candidates

  Races for several seats on the Missoula City Council are already taking shape. Filing for council elections opened on April 17 and closes June 16. The municipal primary election is Sept. 9, and the general election is Nov. 4. Missoula city elections are non-partisan. Here’s who has filed to run so far.

• Montana lawmakers cut grants for organizations that didn’t present at January hearings as influential Republican criticizes how grants are awarded.

  As the debate has drawn on, Fitzpatrick drew criticism for not disclosing that his wife, Connie, is on the board of a grant recipient that got more money than originally proposed. St. Timothy’s Summer Music Festival in Anaconda had its grant increased from $5,000 to $12,600 as a result of the cut dollars being redistributed.

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