Hopefully this brings a smile to you during these challenging times.

Worry does not take away tomorrow’s troubles, it takes away today’s peace.

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• Bozeman, Montana mayor discusses rental market affordability

  But the housing report indicates that Bozeman is becoming less affordable for many residents, with median-income renters only able to afford 85% of the median rent without becoming cost-burdened.

• Missoula after the storm

  Missoula is at the end of the rainbow.

• Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

  “For now, some advocates say it’s safe to assume that the open attack on the Neighborhood Access and Equity program signals that all federal money to reconnect communities is under threat — and it’s time to call your representatives to ask them to defend projects in their districts.”

• Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame 2025 – Larry H. Pirnie

  The untimely death of his four year old daughter served as a wakeup call and sent him wandering West to Montana.  He reached the following conclusion: “If you’re going to live your dream, there’s no guarantee you’re going to be around tomorrow to do it,” he said. “So, you’d better get to it.”

• Trump radically remade the US food system in just 100 days

  The people who grow and sell America’s food no longer trust the USDA. We made a timeline to show you what happened.

Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority

• Passenger rail remains a discussion point after Montana Legislative Session

  As the legislative session wrapped up, discussions around passenger rail in Montana continued to be a major focus. House Bill 848, aimed at providing funding for regional rail authorities, ultimately failed, but the conversation is far from over.

Great Falls Development Alliance

• GFDA Top Fifteen for 5-4-25

  Join GFDA’s investment committee! Help us secure the resources that power business expansion, job creation, and community transformation across North Central Montana. Contact Jenn at 1-406-781-9499 or [email protected].

Montana Business

• ‘Grounded’ podcast host Maritsa Georgiou weighs in on Mike Waltz, broadcasting funding and more

  Maritsa Georgiou, who hosts the podcast “Grounded” with former Sen. Jon Tester, talks about Mike Waltz’s Signal controversy and a brewing fight over federal broadcast funds.

• Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame Legacy Inductee – E Bar L Ranch, Established 1925

  The E Bar L Ranch, near Greenough, Montana, on the Blackfoot River is one of the oldest family-owned and operated guest ranches in Montana.

• RicoBarber Missoula, Montana – Awesome vintage straight razors, mugs and brushes that have been expertly restored and honed.

  High quality, rare item that my boyfriend loved! Seller was knowledgeable about the product and very friendly.

• Montana Career Opportunities – IT Integration Technician, Software Engineer, Sr. Project Manager and many more… – Nomad Communications

  Customers around the world in defense, public safety, emergency management, healthcare, and more rely on Nomad to keep them connected and operational when every minute matters. Their missions are critical and their challenges are complex. A career at Nomad truly benefits the greater good. Every role is essential.

• A small Montana town has thrived on federal jobs. Now come Trump’s cuts.

  If ignorance is bliss, then the people of Hamilton, MT, should be blissful. But they aren’t. They voted for Trump. They got Trump. Now, they are shocked to discover that Trump is doing exactly what he said he would do. And the town is losing a big slice of its economic base — federal government employees.

Housing

• This free design kit can help you add an extra apartment to your home

  If this type of adaptation happens widely, it could make a meaningful dent in the city’s housing shortage. According to ReHousing, if 30% of single-family homes in Toronto added one unit to their property, around 120,000 new units would be created. Now the nonprofit is in talks with other Canadian cities about expanding the tool to new locations.

• Montana lawmakers send second-home tax to governor

  Governor is likely to sign what has been his signature policy for offering property tax relief to homeowners and landlords.

Funding and Building your Business

• Want to Sell Your Business? 2025 May Be the Year to Do It

  Whether you imagine selling your company to a competitor, to a private equity firm, or to an individual looking to buy a business, there are steps you should take now to ensure you’re poised to explore and potentially close a sale, now or in the future.

• The real reason why so many managers don’t know how to manage

  Part of the reason so many people end up with a terrible manager is that as a society, we associate personality characteristics like charisma to mean someone has strong leadership skills. Instead, it’s often a sign of narcissism.

• Study Says Companies Still Hire Based on Gut Instincts and Vibes, Not Skills

  In an age of infinite data, the interview process could stay laser focused on a candidates’ job-related abilities, but a survey shows most feedback is about applicants’ personality traits.

Hellgate Venture Network

• HVN SAVE THE DATE: May 22nd Meet-up at MEP with Jon & Stephen Co-Founders of Remsight – Missoula

  Remsight is a technology applicator and service provider specializing in surface water management and analytics. We empower water providers and users with the tools and insights they need to achieve efficient and cost-effective water solutions. Founded in the Bitterroot Valley (Victor, Montana), Remsight integrates all its technology locally in Montana, and is a service-disabled Veteran-owned business. April Meet-up Recap Thanks to everyone who joined us for our April event. Thanks to Tylor and Gia of Main St. Realty for being with us. Sean Puckett drove down from Helena to be our presenter last week. Sean shared his entrepreneurial journey, from…

YOUR CAREER

• 11 red flags job recruiters never ignore

  Expert advice on how to avoid the most commonly made mistakes

Energy and Transportation

• Amazon-Owned Robotaxis to Begin Testing in LA

  Los Angeles will become the sixth city where Zoox is testing its autonomous vehicle technology.

• Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signs bills aimed at limiting state climate regulations

  Environmental groups say these changes weaken environmental protections and could land everyone back in court.

• Driverless freight trucks begin barreling through Texas

  The Pittsburgh-based autonomous vehicle tech startup has just launched its self-driving trucking service in Texas, starting with deliveries between Dallas and Houston. The company’s driverless tech suite has already covered more than 1,200 miles (1,930 km) on public roads.

• Introducing SPAN’s smart electrical panel can keep the lights on and save you money.

  Imagine a severe storm knocks out a neighborhood powerline; while most homes go dark, one homeowner seamlessly manages their backup energy, prioritizing critical appliances. This is not the future—it is happening now with SPAN’s smart electrical panel.

• Study: Montana has highest reckless driving fatality rate in country

  Montana had the highest rate of reckless driving fatalities, with a rate five times higher than the national average, from 2018 to 2022, according to a new study released by ValuePenguin, an national insurance locator company,

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

• How Kalispell Public School’s work-based learning program benefits local economy

  The potential loss of work-based opportunities could impact students’ access to high-paying jobs and connections with local businesses.

• Innovation Runs Through It – Navigating the Currents of Change in Education

  An education innovation symposium in the heart of Western Montana featuring artificial intelligence in education, proficiency-based education, EdReady, digital content accessibility, and blended and online learning.

2025 Legislature and Politics

• Kalispell Lawmaker’s ‘Right Back Act’ Delivers Relief to Taxpayers, Steadies Public Education Funding Model

  Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, R-Kalispell, said her signature property tax bill is projected to return an estimated $50–$60 million in statewide tax relief between fall 2025 and spring 2026 while stabilizing Montana’s education funding formula

• How the 2025 Legislature answered Montana’s big policy questions

  Lawmakers spend 85 days passing and voting down bills. Here’s how the major issues turned out.

• ‘All-out assault’: Trump proposes largest cuts in National Park Service history

  The park service would lose almost 40% of its funding, and some of its land, under Trump’s dream budget

• Psilocybin an effective treatment for repeated concussions, study suggests

  Harm caused by repeated concussions, especially in the context of sports, has gained attention in both research and the media. A new study has found that psilocybin, the psychedelic ingredient in magic mushrooms, could be an effective treatment because of its brain-healing properties.

• Missoula City Ward 3 Councilman Daniel Carlino: Psychedelic drugs lead to ‘way better outcomes’

  “If every politician had a psychedelic experience, I think we would be getting way better outcomes in this world,” Carlino said in the interview. “Part of the reason that I got into politics is just believing in myself through psychedelic experiences and thinking ‘Hey, I can change the world and step up to the plate to be in politics and be an activist.’ ”

VR/AR, Blockchain, Bitcoin, Artificial Intelligence and The Internet of Things

• TED Talk – How you could see inside your body — with an AI micro-robot

  AI could propel the biggest transformation in the history of medicine, says physician-scientist Eric Topol. He explains how sophisticated AI models can interpret medical images as well or better than human experts can — and, beyond that, even pick up things that human eyes can’t see. Learn all the ways AI is poised to make a difference for both patients and doctors.

• Early Parkinson’s diagnosis possible with simple, non-invasive eye scan

  Researchers have developed a simple, non-invasive method of diagnosing Parkinson’s disease early using an eye scan. It could mean treatment aimed at slowing the disease can start sooner or, alternatively, could be used to monitor the disease’s progression.

• TED Talk – The next computer? Your glasses

  Picture this: you’re wearing a normal-looking pair of glasses, but they give you the ability to quickly summarize a book, translate between languages or remember where you left your keys.

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