MATR Newsletter – September 11, 2025
The state with the best education wins!

Lauded Writers, Speakers, Thinkers to Visit UM for President’s Lecture Series – Robert Putnam Sept 15

Putnam has written 15 books, including “Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Italy” and “Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community,” both among the most cited and bestselling social science works in nearly a century. He also consulted for former presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Obama.

GFDA Top Ten for 9-9-25 – Sunset Magazine has recognized Great Falls, Montana, as one of only three towns selected across the entire West for their Best Small Towns in the West 2025 feature.

This national recognition didn’t happen by chance. GFDA and Great Falls Tourism teamed up with DVA on a strategic PR push to showcase our community’s incredible assets. Thanks to these efforts, Great Falls is now celebrated on a major stage for its unbeatable mix of outdoor adventure, rich history, and vibrant arts culture.

Today’s MATR Newsletter is sponsored by:

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

Amid deep funding cuts, MontanaPBS plans to expand in Eastern Montana
This August, the Federal Communications Commission approved the nearly final transaction of three commercial television stations in Miles City, Sidney and Glendive.
New ‘Child Connect’ program aims to ease child care search in Gallatin, Park Counties, Montana
So far, about half of the 105 licensed providers in Gallatin and Park counties have profiles on the site.
Rural community leaders invited to Montana State’s Reimagining Rural Roadshow Oct. 1-2 in Glasgow
This year’s program features an on-site tour of Glasgow’s revitalization projects, speakers from rural communities sharing success stories, and insights from resource leaders on topics such as housing and downtown redevelopment.
Voices of Montana Tourism Newsletter
The fall is a time when the travel and tourism industry invites partners together and network to share best practices as we support everyone’s success.

Big Sky Economic Development

Billings airport seeks community views for 20-year expansion plan
The plan will address infrastructure, including airfield taxiways and runway systems, commercial and private aircraft areas, terminals and parking space.

City of Bozeman Economic Development

Report outlines how population, housing trends could shape Bozeman
Bozeman’s population is 58,600 people, and Economic and Planning Systems, Inc. forecasts that Bozeman will gain 28,800 residents from 2025 to 2045.

Great Falls Development Alliance

GFDA Top Ten for 9-9-25 – Sunset Magazine has recognized Great Falls, Montana, as one of only three towns selected across the entire West for their Best Small Towns in the West 2025 feature.
This national recognition didn’t happen by chance. GFDA and Great Falls Tourism teamed up with DVA on a strategic PR push to showcase our community’s incredible assets. Thanks to these efforts, Great Falls is now celebrated on a major stage for its unbeatable mix of outdoor adventure, rich history, and vibrant arts culture.

Montana Technology Innovation Partnership

Innovator Spotlight, SBIR Reauthorization update, Innovate Here 2025 in two weeks, Opportunities to meet with NSF and DARPA, Partner Events and current SBIR solicitations – The MTIP September 2025 Newsletter!
MagDrive Technologies, based in Bozeman, Montana, is one of only seven small businesses in the nation that received Phase II contracts through the NASA SBIR Ignite initiative for their “E-Drive: Electromagnetic Zero-Emission Valve Drive” project. MagDrive’s leak-free cryogenic valves will have broad applications to aerospace and terrestrial markets.

Montana Business

Americans are drowning in auto loan delinquencies. Report says Congress needs to fix it.
The record number of defaults is a canary in the coal mine for large-scale economic problems, the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) warned.

Visit Montana

You can take Montana roadkill with a free permit
The permit is required only for deer, elk, moose, and antelope killed in a vehicle collision.

Funding and Building your Business

Building To Exit: What Separates Founders Who Exit For High Multiples
If you want to exit your company and earn ultimate freedom, there’s a systematic way to go about it. Here’s how founders who achieve legacy, leverage and liquidity think differently.

Regional Economic Development

Evanston, Wyoming Company Contracts With Army To Make Portable Nuclear Reactors
An Evanston-based nuclear manufacturer says it’s working with the U.S. Army to produce shipping container-sized reactors. They’re designed to outperform the Army’s current diesel generators.

City Club Missoula

City Club Missoula discusses energy prices
The power and funding of large data centers, which are growing in demand with the rollout of artificial intelligence, was also discussed at the meeting, with the biggest question surrounding who should fund them.

Energy and Transportation

In Defence of Vision Zero — a Traffic Engineer’s Perspective
Traffic engineers have long suffered the reputation that all we care about is moving cars. The reality could not be more different.
Missoula receives bronze designation for electric vehicle infrastructure
The city’s new EV infrastructure plan includes rules, applications and zoning guidelines to support the growing presence of electric vehicles.
Small Modular Reactors and the Big Questions of Cost & Waste
At the core of their economic analysis is the levelized cost of electricity, or LCOE.
Montana Launches Energy Task Force
According to a recent report from the Western Electricity Coordinating Council, the demand for electricity is projected to grow by 20 percent in the next ten years. The same report projected a 9 percent increase in demand only two years ago.
California’s first solar-covered canal is now fully online
The 1.6-MW pilot system is among a growing number of initiatives to put solar over waterways. The approach could generate gigawatts of power nationwide.
2026 Porsche Cayenne Electric introduces wireless EV charging for the first time in the US
Nothing could be easier than parking in the spot you already park in and leaving the car, no plugging in required. Sounds pretty good, right?
Energy Department Seeks Proposals for AI Data Centers, Energy Projects at Idaho National Laboratory
Idaho National Laboratory is one of four sites identified by the Department for AI infrastructure and generation projects on federal land. DOE’s Idaho Operations Office is now seeking proposals from U.S. companies to potentially enter into one or more long-term leasing agreements at the site that would be solely funded by the applicants.

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

Lauded Writers, Speakers, Thinkers to Visit UM for President’s Lecture Series – Robert Putnam Sept 15
Putnam has written 15 books, including “Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Italy” and “Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community,” both among the most cited and bestselling social science works in nearly a century. He also consulted for former presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Obama.
Reading Skills of 12th Graders Hit a New Low
“These results should galvanize all of us to take concerted and focused action to accelerate student learning.”

2025 Legislature and Politics

Report details how states can implement reliable, effective generative AI
Over the next few years, generative AI is expected to take over routine government functions — such as program eligibility determination or policy assessments — and improve employee and customer experience, according to a report released this week from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers.