Great Falls selected to host Montana’s first full-distance IRONMAN race – 8/15/27

Montana sheds more than 5,000 jobs in September – first job loss since 2020

Montana lost 5,300 jobs in the past year, reflecting broader national shifts. The state may find new opportunities if manufacturing investments like those in South Carolina arrive.

Prospera – Mentees and Mentors Still Needed For Women’s Mentorship Programs

Are you interested in giving back and supporting the next generation of Montana, women-owned businesses? If yes, apply to 56Strong as a mentor!

Eventgroove in Montana

• What Are Payment Tokens? Why Nonprofits Should Own Their Stripe Account
  What is a Payment Token?

Montana Talent Available

• The Traditional Resume Is Dead. Here Is What Founders Should Look For Instead

  Big firms like McKinsey and Google are dropping degree requirements in the AI era. Here is how startup founders can use their agility to win the war for top talent.

• Prospera – Mentees and Mentors Still Needed For Women’s Mentorship Programs

  Are you interested in giving back and supporting the next generation of Montana, women-owned businesses? If yes, apply to 56Strong as a mentor!

Great Falls Development Alliance

• GFDA Quarter Index 2026Q3

  Numbers to Celebrate

Montana Business

• Montana sheds more than 5,000 jobs in September – first job loss since 2020

  Montana lost 5,300 jobs in the past year, reflecting broader national shifts. The state may find new opportunities if manufacturing investments like those in South Carolina arrive.

• Montana Launches $8.5 Million Grants to Boost Childcare Services

  Montana’s Early Childhood Account is awarding grants to support childcare providers with workforce training and expanding infant care. Providers will use funds for staff raises, equipment, and facility upgrades to improve service availability statewide.

• Great Falls selected to host Montana’s first full-distance IRONMAN race – 8/15/27

  The event will bring athletes from around the world to north-central Montana and put Great Falls on an international stage. General registration for IRONMAN Montana opens Oct. 29, 2026, with the first race scheduled for Aug. 15, 2027.

• TEDx event at Montana State University set for Nov. 4

  TEDxMontanaStateUniversity is a spin-off of the nationally acclaimed TED Talks program, where influential speakers share educational and innovative ideas with an audience in short talks often under 15 minutes. Notable people who have delivered TED Talks include Bill Gates, Al Gore and Temple Grandin.

• Forest Business News – Building History: The New Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library

  I encourage you to make your way to Medora and see for yourself. I believe you’ll be as moved and renewed by Roosevelt’s legacy and work as I was, and you’ll tour a truly exceptional mass timber building while at it. The North Dakota Badlands will be the icing on the cake.

• Manufacturing extension at Montana State awarded $840,000 to enable the center to continue assisting manufacturers across the state

  MSU’s MMEC helps Montana manufacturers improve productivity, develop their workforces, strengthen their competitiveness and adopt new technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and 3D printing.

• Scientists Create 3D-Printed Living Knee Replacements

  Biomedical engineers developed a biologically living knee implant that mimics natural motion and could regenerate arthritic knees. This breakthrough may transform orthopedic treatments by enabling damaged knees to heal themselves rather than relying on traditional prosthetics.

• Why don’t we carpool to Montana conferences?

  Have you heard anyone recommend a specific carpool/rideshare element that we could promote for conference organizers?   We think it could be a great addition to every conference announcement.

• Applications Open for Commerce’s Opportunities in Rural Economies Planning Grant Program

  “Commerce’s ORE Planning Grant Program creates good-paying jobs for Montana residents by promoting long-term stable economic growth, retaining or expanding existing businesses and supporting workforce development across the state,” said Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio.

Montana Housing

• US single-family housing starts plunge; building permits hit 3-1/2-year low

  Permits for future single-family homebuilding tumble 4.0%

• In San Francisco, a Family Earning $325,000 Qualifies for Government Aid

  With the A.I. boom driving up prices, the city is subsidizing child care for households with high incomes. Even with the help, families say they are struggling.

• Cheaper manufactured homes could be having a moment, is Montana catching up?

  The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act removes the steel chassis requirement, enabling more affordable, stackable manufactured homes. Montana must update its laws by 2027 to benefit from these cost savings and expand housing options.

Visit Montana

• Yellowstone National Park and Tallgrass Launch $105 Million Conservation Fund

  The Tallgrass WYld Yellowstone Initiative will fund infrastructure upgrades and conservation projects, including a new visitor center. This historic private gift aims to address deferred maintenance and boost visitor engagement across Yellowstone’s vast landscape.

Regional Economic Development

• Wyoming Business Council Launches Search for Interim CEO

  The Wyoming Business Council (WBC) Board of Directors today announced it is seeking an experienced executive to serve as interim chief executive officer, providing steady leadership while the Board prepares for a permanent CEO search and the state enters a period of significant transition.

Regional Business News

• Idaho falls…..

  From childbirth to miscarriages, women’s health care in the state has become increasingly dangerous.

Montana’s American Prairie

• Montana’s American Prairie preserving what was and still remains

  Every year, more people flock to north central Montana to experience a rare and unspoiled prairie environment. American Prairie also remodeled a building in downtown Lewistown into a wonderful visitor center. Since American Prairie opened its doors, population has increased and unemployment has decreased in this economically depressed area.

YOUR MONTANA CAREER

• University of Montana Graduates First Women Leaders in Educational Administration

  “As educators, we ultimately need to prepare kids to enter the world,” Baldwin said. “The Women in Educational Leadership program gave me important knowledge, frameworks and exposure to the many different parts of leadership. Perhaps the most important thing it made me do was figure out what kind of leader I want to be.”highlighting the program’s impact on female representation in education leadership.

Montana Energy and Transportation

• Oakland School Buses Power 1,000 Homes and Boost Grid Revenue

  A fleet of 74 electric school buses equipped with vehicle-to-grid chargers has returned 1.7 gigawatt-hours of energy over two years, demonstrating how fleet electrification can stabilize the grid and create new revenue streams.

• Montana Clean Energy Summit – 11/10 – Bozeman

  Bringing Montana’s clean energy industry, policymakers, utilities, workforce leaders, and communities together.

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

• Writers’ Fall Opus Fundraiser Auction & Tasting – 10/23 – Missoula County Fairgrounds

  Join the Missoula Writing Collaborative for an unforgettable evening at the Writers’ Fall Opus Fundraiser Auction & Tasting in the Home Arts Building at the Missoula County Fairgrounds! Enjoy a tasting of fine beverages, delicious food from Silk Road Catering, and an amazing collection of auction items while supporting the Missoula Writing Collaborative.

• Blue & Gold News from Montana State University President Tessman

  It has been a beautiful, busy fall here on campus, and there are many activities yet to come! Thanks to all of you who joined us for Homecoming, and to all of you who are planning to come to Parent and Family Weekend on Oct. 23-24: we can’t wait to have you on campus.

• University of Montana Launches First Human-Centered AI Career Certificate

  The new nine-credit program equips students with skills to lead ethically in an AI-driven world. Courses emphasize critical thinking and keeping humans in control of technology.

University of Montana & Montana State University Tech Transfer

• MSU event to showcase research resources and partnership opportunities for regional industries, scholars – 11/9 –

  Alison Harmon, MSU’s vice president for research and economic development, said the event is designed to raise regional awareness of potential partnership opportunities available at MSU.

MATR Newsletter Supporters: