MATR Newsletter – September 30, 2020
The state with the best education wins!

Come Home Montana

• Choteau, Montana Strong

  “We are all friends we are all neighbors and we are all family and when this is all said and done we are still going to be that way and regardless of personal beliefs we will sit down together have a cup of coffee at the local coffee shop or at the golf course or where ever have a cup of coffee and have a conversation about our community, civilly, properly and see what we can do to help each other out,” said Chris Hindoien, Mayor, City of Choteau

• Montana Career Opportunities – Communications Director – ACLU Montana

  The ACLU of Montana Foundation (“ACLU of Montana”) seeks a passionate, energetic, and committed Communications Director to lead its Communications Department. ​This is an opportunity for a visionary professional to build on the success of the premier civil liberties and civil rights organization in Montana.

• Montana Career Opportunity – Chief Accounting Officer – First Interstate Bank

  The Chief Accounting Officer of the Company is responsible for overseeing daily Accounting and  Financial Planning and Analytics activities, supporting Investor Relations activities, providing support to effectively execute the financial strategies and scenarios set forth by Executive Management, and ensuring compliance with the Bank policies and procedures for First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

• Montana Career Opportunity – Vice President of Communications – Montana State University Alumni Foundation

  The Vice President of Communications (“Vice President”) at the Montana State University Alumni Foundation (“Alumni Foundation”) develops and directs the Alumni Foundation’s brand(s), communication and marketing strategies, messaging and print/digital production.

Big Sky Economic Development

• Does the State of Montana Buy what you Sell? – 10/7 and 10/21

  The State of Montana purchases a wide array of products and services from private businesses each year. Procurement staff from the State of Montana will be presenting on how to do business with the State of Montana.

Great Falls Development Authority

• Resources and Tools to Help Small Businesses Succeed – GFDA

  Great Falls Development Authority has been and continues to be a valuable partner. From business coaching and business loans to cleanup and redevelopment, I turn to GFDA at every step of the way.”

  – Raegan Breeden, owner, Play N Learn

• GFDA’s Top 10

  Here is our Top 16 for last week celebrating work and successes to grow and strengthen the Great Falls regional economy — Montana’s Golden Triangle. And, sharing business resources and skill-building opportunities to empower your success.

MEDA -Montana Economic Developers Association

• Missoula to see new pod-style housing development

  Such “pod-style” housing is growing popular across the nation as cities look to address the affordability of housing.

Next Generation Broadband in Montana

• COVID Relief Helps Tribes Bring Broadband To Some Montana Reservations

  Reese says the tribes’ wireless network will allow public school and college students to fully participate in online education and give residents access to telehealth visits with providers. It will even deliver connectivity into tribal police vehicles.

• West Virginia Quickly Builds Statewide Network for Students – What Has Your State Done?

  As students and their families wait for better Internet at home, West Virginia has deployed hundreds of new Wi-Fi access points in facilities across all of its counties that any student can use.

Montana Economic Development

• Montana Selling Bonds As Part Of Infrastructure Funding Package

  The money will fund projects like the Romney Hall renovation at Montana State University, an expansion of the Great Falls College Dental Hygiene Clinic and a new Montana history museum in Helena.

Montana Business

• Bozeman Business Boom: How one new business is looking to start booming with a spin on backpacking food – Gastro Gnome Meals
  Inspiration can come from anywhere and for Shannon Waters, owner of Gastro Gnome Meals, it came from an adventure out in Big Sky Country three years ago.

Regional Business News

• New York Outdoor Dining, Open Streets Programs Now Permanent

  New York City will now be measurably less car-centric for the indefinite future.

• Wall Street Wagering on a Permanent Suburban Renter Class

  Expectations that the economic downturn of the COVID-19 pandemic will create a wave of homeowners leaving the market, whether by choice or necessity, are driving big acquisitions by private equity firms and Wall Street investors.

• Over One-Third of 2020 Net Farm Income Is Expected to Be Government Payments

  Looking to the next farm bill that is slated for 2022, we think it is reasonable to believe that the $37.2 billion annual cost we see for this year will not be available for legislators to work with in designing the next farm program.

Wyoming Business

• Wyoming’s economy slammed by pandemic, new report shows

  Not only did the state’s unemployment rate climb to almost 9%, but taxable sales fell nearly 13% during the second quarter, compared to the same period last year.

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

• 2020 University of Montana Mansfield Dialogues Schedule Announcement

  Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the Mansfield Center continues to serve our global community by fostering globally-minded leaders of integrity and facilitating discussion on compelling global issues.

2020 Montana Politics

• Governor’s race: How will Cooney, Gianforte drive the Montana economy?

  Editor’s note: This is the first of a three-part series on where the major-party gubernatorial candidates stand, and differ, on the major issues. Today’s article focuses on the economy and tax/budget policy.

• An Assessment of the Market and Tax Revenue Potential of Recreational Cannabis in Montana – Video

  This report presents the findings of research intended to quantify the potential size of the recreational cannabis marketplace in Montana, and the potential tax revenue that could be collected in the event that recreational cannabis achieves legal status as envisioned in initiatives CI-118 and I-190 on the November ballot.

Government News & Events

• Will the CDC ever rise again?

  I am angry, frustrated, and disappointed.

Government Technology

• Why Your City Doesn’t Map Its Worst Car Crashes

  The idea of a “High Injury Network” isn’t new. But a surprising number of cities don’t bother to map it.

Miscellaneous Ramblings

• “Big Sky’ + David E. Kelley – nuff said. Stay tuned 11/17

  “Be afraid…   things are about to take an ugly turn.”

Transportation

• Parking, Reimagined: How 3 Cities are Changing Parking as we Know It

  Digital technology has changed how people live, move and do everyday tasks. The cities of Portland, Maine, Buffalo, New York and Omaha, Nebraska, share a common vision—a future where parking is no longer a burden for city leaders or the communities they serve.

Privacy, Hacking and Virus Alerts

• Washington State Agencies Battle Large Phishing Campaign

  A large campaign launched by a single hacking group has managed to infiltrate multiple agencies within the Washington state government, according to reports. Ransomware does not appear to be involved, officials say.

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