MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• Montana launches eStop portal to simplify business licensing

  The eStop portal allows business owners to apply for, renew and manage various licenses online through a single account. This eliminates the need to visit multiple state agency offices or websites.

• USDA Announces New Presidential Appointee to Serve Rural Montana

  U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced Bill Warden is appointed by President Donald Trump to serve as the USDA Rural Development State Director for the state of Montana.

• Trump Administration Doubles Down on Pulling Investment Away from Rural Internet Access

  The Department of Commerce has implemented yet more changes to the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program that will make internet access even harder for rural Americans.

• 8:30 Today  – Innovate Here 2025 is Thursday September 25! – Online

  Please spread the word and share with folks in your community who may benefit from attending or want to learn more about what’s going on in Montana. ​The 2025 Innovate Here Conference is a virtual event connecting early-stage technology startups specializing in AI-driven innovations critical to defense, life sciences, ag-tech, and other sectors. The conference is designed to provide a platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and collaboration among entrepreneurs, researchers, support organizations, and industry experts and to highlight federal investments in commercially viable innovations through America’s Seed Fund.

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

• Dorsey – New $100,000 H-1B Fee: Considerations for Employers and H-1B Beneficiaries 

  Questions remain surrounding the implementation of the proclamation on future H-1B petitions, but initial panic among H-1B holders and sponsoring employers was relieved by the clarifying statements provided by the White House and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Missoula Chamber of Commerce

• University of Montana Selling President’s Residence, a Historic Mansion in Missoula, After 50 Years

  The 1920s house, which also hosted many of the institution’s notable visitors, is asking nearly $3 million

• Community Spotlight: Missoula Chamber of Commerce annual banquet – 10/15 – Hilton Garden Inn

  The banquet features the presentation of the Circle of Excellence Award, recognition of the non-profit of the year, a celebration of the small business of the year, the presentation of the Kim Latrielle Scholarship Award and the presentation of the Steve Clawson Award. The keynote speaker will be Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Cory Swanson. It will be an evening filled with delicious food, refreshing libations, and plenty of time to socialize and connect with fellow community members.

• New podcast episode: Navigating Opportunity with the Missoula Economic Partnership

  Christine Littig, business development director at MEP, joined the commissioners this week to discuss local business trends and how entrepreneurs are responding creatively to the economic landscape.

Prospera Business Network

• Prospera Navigator Business Trainings and Networking Events

  Field & Stream’s first hotel is officially open here in Bozeman.

Montana Business

• Tight Wood Products Workforce in Montana Continues Despite Low Lumber Prices

  Even as sawmill production slows and wood manufacturing industry jobs decline in northwest Montana, managers are still struggling to fill positions at local mills

• Amazon opens new Butte center, promises faster deliveries and jobs

  This new delivery center is the fourth such facility in Montana, joining others in Missoula, Billings and Belgrade.

• New federal bill would mandate agencies study data centers’ rural impact

  The legislation would require several federal agencies to study their effects on energy supply, reliability and costs to consumers amid what is expected to be accelerating demand.

• Trump proposals would open vast public lands to industry

  “Even after Americans loudly rejected attempts to sell off public lands, the Trump administration is rolling forward with actions to transfer control of massive amounts of public lands for corporate profits,” said Drew McConville, Center for American Progress senior fellow and co-author of the report. “These efforts to unprotect and sell out public lands are wildly out of step with what the public wants.”

• Missoula Economic Partnership Indicator September 2025

  MEP Annual Meeting 2025: The Power of Collaboration

Housing

• 80 housing markets cross a critical line—why that’s good for homebuyers

  Among the nation’s 200 largest housing markets, these 80 metro areas now have active inventory above 2019 pre-pandemic levels.

YOUR CAREER

• Free program helps Montana students apply for colleges

  While this chapter of life is stressful for many students, one thing that can help is the Apply Montana portal, available through the Montana University System.

• This growing fungal disease outbreak spreads through dust and dirt in the Western United States

  Once limited to the Southwest, valley fever now threatens vast swaths of the U.S. It’s often misdiagnosed, and it can lead to terrible disease.

Energy and Transportation

• Waymo Opens Up Special Service For Businesses

  Partnering with Waymo for Business can help you offer your employees, students, or guests a consistent and reliable way to get around.

• Top Heat Pump Water Heater Rebates Available Nationally

  With the federal tax credit for HPWHs (of up to $2,000) expiring at the end of the year, it’s the perfect time to take advantage of all the funding available to decrease your upfront cost and get your heat pump water heater on.

• Montana energy task force kicks off, Governor Gianforte calls for creativity, action

  The task force, a group of 20 industry representatives, energy experts, large consumers, and legislators, asked how much more energy generation Montana needs, how much transmission capacity is available, and how to turn the page on “negative press” about data centers.

• Trump Cancels Trail, Bike-Lane Grants Deemed ‘Hostile’ to Cars

  President Donald Trump has made no secret of his quest to undo the policies of Joe Biden, including rescinding funding for projects involving electric vehicle charging and clean energy.

• $55 Million EV Fast Charging Program For California Announced

  There are 15,639 public direct current fast chargers in California.

• Wyoming Leaders To Talk Self-Driving Vehicle Program With Tesla

  Wyoming legislators on Monday discussed the feasibility of a self-driving vehicle pilot program in the state’s government fleet. In the meantime, Sen. Chris Rothfuss emphasized, the state should pursue good laws on the topic.

• Water-Efficient Data Center Model That Started In Wyoming Is Expanding To Texas

  A low-water-use data center being developed in Evanston, Wyoming, by Prometheus Hyperscale is expanding to Texas. The data center in Evanston is still moving ahead as planned and will remain the company’s flagship.

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

• FCC plans end to school bus internet and library hotspot lending

  The FCC is expected to end a Biden-era rule change that allowed nearly 200,000 schools and libraries to loan out Wi-Fi hotspot devices.

• Germany’s schools teach “Kindness” as a subject – students grade each other on empathy and silence.

  It reflects a broader German philosophy that emotional intelligence is just as vital as academic success.

• “Cheyenne Creation Story” Montana State graduates’ senior film to screen at international Indigenous festival

  “I need to do this,” said Whiteman, who graduated in May with a degree in film and a minor in Native American studies. “If I don’t, who else will?”

• U.S. News & World Report: University of Montana Western ranks among top colleges in the West

  The 20-acre campus is an excellent place for students to benefit from the Experience One program, which emphasizes experiential learning and helps students build critical and creative thinking skills for real-world careers and graduate school. Montana Western’s commitment to engagement and support offers students a high-quality education at one of the most affordable tuition rates in the region.

• Montana youth civic organizations challenge unconstitutional laws that burden young voters

  Forward Montana and the Montana Public Interest Research Group (“MontPIRG”) have filed a lawsuit challenging two newly enacted laws that unconstitutionally burden young Montanans’ right to vote.

University of Montana & Montana State University Tech Transfer

• Montana State, industry, community partners celebrate opening of EngineWorks building

  The MSU Innovation Campus aims to create opportunities for companies to collaborate with MSU research, faculty and students, while helping those companies grow and raising Montana’s profile as national leader in entrepreneurship and innovation.

• Fungus among us: Bozeman scientists patent novel process for growing truffles in a lab

  The invention is significant for the wallets of truffle consumers, reducing the process of growing truffles from around 10 years to a matter of months and drastically increasing their affordability.  (Currently about $60 to $100 and ounce in Europe for top truffles)

2025 Legislature and Politics

• Montana lawmakers consider taxpayer funded emergency medical services

  State EMS and Trauma Systems Manager Shari Graham told lawmakers every county in the state has ambulance deserts. That means response times take longer than 25 minutes. Just a few minutes can be the difference between life and death.

• The dismantling of the Forest Service

  The Trump administration’s plans would remake the agency and public lands. The deadline to comment is Sept. 30.

Social Media, Connectivity & Communications

• First-Ever Mushroom Casket Burial in North America Could Signal Cultural Shift Toward More Planet-Friendly Traditions

  A company from the Netherlands has developed a casket made entirely of mycelium — the network of thread-like structures that make up mushroom roots — that biodegrades within 45 days of burial.

MATR Newsletter Supporters: