MATR Newsletter – October 25, 2019
The state with the best education wins!

“We don’t know of anything bigger than $400 million investment. That’s a pretty sizable commitment,” said Steve Simonson, economic development director of Joliet-based Beartooth Resource Conservation & Development

Come Home Montana

• 5 Reasons People Are Leaving Bozeman, Montana

  According to the U.S Census Bureau, while 9,000 people moved to Gallatin County over a 5-year period, over 6,600 people moved away.

Montana West Economic Development

• Montana West Economic Development Updates – Your Business Is Our Business

  Finance Seminar In collaboration with our valued Member, JCCS, we will be holding a seminar designed to key-up finance and management leaders on ways to prepare and stay on track for 2020.

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• The Western Governors’ Association will host the webinar, Broadband Data & Mapping: Federal Action & Developments, on Nov. 15.

  The Chairman’s Initiative is examining challenges and opportunities in rural economic development, including a strong focus on promoting digital connectivity to rural communities.

• Belgrade, Montana anticipates rapid growth within next decade

  You see the limitations are the first things; roadways, schools, things that need expanded immediately that are overpowering pressures that are obvious,”

• Study: Sprawl Costs Local Governments More

  Even when fewer people live in sprawling suburban communities than dense urban communities, one of these settlement types has the benefit of being much cheaper to serve.

• NeighborWorks & Wells Fargo to launch Montana-wide multi-million dollar affordable housing program

  The program has $3.4 million going towards housing down payment grants that are worth over $10,000 each for eligible home buyers.

• The Montana SHRM has a free resource to assist HR professionals, hiring managers, business owners, and supervisors implement successful veterans hiring programs. 

  The Montana SHRM State Council receives $10K grant to promote a free program specifically designed to promote Veterans hiring.

• “There’s this Party” – the 16th Annual Missoula Tourism Awards Celebration! – 10/29

  We will be celebrating our accomplishments from the past year as well as Missoula Women in Music!

The Telecommuting and Gig Workforce in Montana

• Small startup Geniuslink (with deep Missoula roots) solves big e-commerce problems and grabs a bigger Kit to add to toolbox

  Geniuslink is leveraging a proven ability to boost conversions by providing tools to marketers that give their shoppers a choice via Geniuslink Choice Pages.

Next Generation Broadband in Montana

• Investing in Digital Equity: The Case for Broadband Expansion

  With society rapidly digitizing and high-speed Internet access fast becoming a vital utility, government must work to balance the needs of underserved populations with financial realities.

Montana Businesses For Sale

• Ready to Sell Your Business? Your Employees Might Be the Best Buyers–Here’s Why

  When it’s time to move on, your best buyers may be the very ones you’ve already hired.

Montana Business

• Sen. Jon Tester Grills Media Executives on Failure to Bring Local Broadcasting to Montana Markets

  Senator: “Two of the twelve media markets that cannot get local broadcasts are in Montana…can you commit to providing service to those markets?”

• Missoula, Montana’s GeoData Services – Assisting Rural Communities Build GIS Capacity For Next Generation 9-1-1

  While our specialty is Next Generation 9-1-1, we also conduct geospatial analysis ranging from simple to complex.

• Next-gen wind farm near Columbus, Montana argues for prices on par with gas, coal

  For Columbus, the Beaver Creek projects present job creation and a significant increase in tax revenue for Stillwater and Sweet Grass counties.

Visit Montana

• How-to guide for CWD (chronic wasting disease) testing in Montana
  With hunting season nearly upon us, hunters need to be aware of chronic wasting disease in parts of Montana.
• Glacier National Park’s Sperry Chalet rebuild from the fire is complete and ready for next year’s guests.

  “It’s beautiful,” said Kevin Warrington of Belton Chalets Inc., the concessionaire that operates the chalet for the Park Service. “It very much keeps the style and character of the old building, but it’s shiny and new.”

Funding and Building your Business

• A New Study Reveals Hiring Effective Female Leaders May Be the Best Thing for Your Company’s Success

  Female leadership inspires belief in company goals better than male leadership, according to a survey of 60,000 employees.

Idaho News & Events

• Idaho business proposes medical debt bill to legislators

  VanderSloot said they have heard from numerous people who were told they didn’t have to show up to court, or that it would cost them more to fight the bill than to pay it, or who were never given the paperwork for their original bill.

Rural Communities

• Colorado Town of 55 Succeeds with Novel Approach to Water Treatment

  Faced with an inadequate filtration system and a $1.2 million estimate to fix it, the community of 55 people got creative. And it paid off.

2020 Montana Politics

• TIF-taking donors support anti-TIF candidates in Montana

  Some funders of a divisive political mailer supporting Missoula City Council candidates opposed to the use of tax increment financing have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in TIF funds for their business projects.

Government News & Events

• Join Sen. Tester for a Town Hall in Butte on Friday 10/25 at noon

  Join Senator Jon Tester in Butte Friday for his 7th in person town hall this year.

Government Technology

• TruFactor, Partners Bring Marketing-Type Data to Government

  It collects not just counts of people, but sometimes age, income, gender, home zip code, and other intelligence that can be helpful for small local governments making tactical budgetary or policy decisions.

City Club Missoula

• City Club Missoula (1st Monday – 11AM Start)- Commercial Sexual Exploitation: Identifying and Addressing Human Trafficking in Montana – 11/4

  Detective Guy Baker will discuss current trends involving the crime of sex trafficking and efforts by law enforcement to address the issue in our community.

Transportation

• Missoula surpasses Billings in air traffic

  Commercial airline travel is flying higher than ever before in Montana, but there’s been a subtle shift between east and west.

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