Archive: January 2021

Billings Chamber Pushes to Protect Businesses from Liability

21 January 2021
Press Room
No comments

Among business organizations in Montana passing legislation that will provide liability protection for businesses, non-profits and other organizations is at the top of all their priority lists. The Billings Chamber of Commerce stands among them, according to Daniel Brooks, Billings Chamber’s business advocacy director.

Brooks is monitoring the 3000-plus bills that are waiting to be considered in the state legislature, working as much on defense as offense in dealing with issues that the Billings Chamber has identified as important. Chamber membership developed a policy statements a couple months ago that will guide Brooks advocacy efforts.

At the forefront of legislation dealing with providing liability protections is Senator Steve Fitzgerald’s bill SB65. Governor Greg Gianforte has declared that before he will lift the COVID mask mandate in the state he must have a bill to sign that will provide liability protection.

Brooks said that he will also be focused on a proposed change in  gaming license law, reducing the cost of doing business in  Montana and working on making broadband more available to communities. The latter is a most important issue given how much the COVID crisis has transitioned businesses to doing business much more business virtually. While the need for better connectivity throughout rural Montana, even in Billings with the providers there are, “we need more capacity,” said Brooks, “With everyone loading up the system we will drop a zoom call.” Adequate broadband is also necessary to attract more businesses.

Also identified as an important mission by Brooks is passage of the early childhood education for which he is working in collaboration with other organizations, including the Missoula Chamber of Commerce.

The top priorities identified in the Chamber’s policy guide include making the state more attractive to the “next generation” workforce;  invest in education; address gaps in equality of opportunity for minority populations; reduce the cost of doing business in Montana; diversify government revenue streams to alleviate dependence on property taxes; encourage economic development “tools.”

Billings Building Permits Commercial and New Residential 01-15-21

21 January 2021
Press Room
No comments

Commercial

Noraca Llc/Laughlin Construction Inc., 2701 1st Ave N, Com Remodel, $75,000

Boise Cascade Building Material/Lennick Bros. Roofing & Sheetmetal, 1240 S 29th St W, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $43,500

Askin Construction Llc/ Swenson, Randall D, 1736 Shiloh Rd, Demolition Permit Commercial, $13,500

Northwest Development Llc/Jares Fence Company, Inc, 536 Kathy Ln, Fence, $12,352

Friendship House Of Christian/Bradford Roof Management Inc, 3123 8th Ave S, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, 17,880 

Imperial Investments Llc/Beartooth Constructors,  810 Wicks Ln, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $89,000

Mic-Lyn LP/Beartooth Constructors, 810 Bench Blvd, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $89,000

Youth Dynamics Inc/ Wegner Homes, 2334 Lewis Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $24,000  

KMK LLC/ Wegner Homes, 902 Central Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $3,800

WDSS LLC/ Zane Merrell Construction LLC, 1410 38th St, Com Remodel, $22,000

SLM Properties LLC/Yellowstone Basin Construction, 1601 Central Ave, Com Remodel, $125,000

Yellowstone Bank/Hulteng, Inc., 2901 Millennium Cir, Com Remodel, $232,900

King McCall LLC/ Yellowstone Basin Construction, 2499 Gabel Rd, Com Remodel – Change In Use,   $58,000

932 Grand Avenue Llc/B & C Homebuilders, 923 Grand Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $4,800

Yellowstone County/Empire Roofing Inc, 3165 King Ave E, $69,279

JSC Properties Llc/S Bar S Supply Contractor, 1410 Central Ave, Com Remodel, $2,500

Fagg Family Properties Llc/Jones Construction, Inc, 235 N 32nd St, Com Remodel – Change In Use, $425,000

Comstock Real Estate Holdings/Empire Roofing Inc, 3175 Grand Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $179,43

Red Horse Rentals LLC/Big Sky Exterior Designs, Inc, 82 W Antelope Trl, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $24,418

Smith, David H/Big Sky Exterior Designs, Inc, 86 W Antelope Trl, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $30,923

1201 Yellowstone Ave Llc/Big Sky Exterior Designs, Inc, 1201 – 5 Yellowstone Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $52,483

Jones, David J & Kelly R/Big Exterior Designs, Inc, 1816 Grand Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $6,549

Trailhead Builders Of Montana LLC/Trailhead Builders Of Montana, 3131 Iron Horse Trl, Com New 3+ (Multi Family), $1,328,975

Swenson, Randall D/Beartooth Holding & Construction, 1736 Shiloh Rd, $881,705

School District #2/Star Service, Inc., 1801 Bench Blvd, Com Remodel, $200,000

The Billings Gazette/S Bar S Supply Contractor, 501 N 22nd St, Com Remodel, $60,000

Opportunity Bank Of Montana /Dick Anderson Construction, 1005 N 27th St, Com Remodel, $950,000

Witham, Robert J & Donna R/Lake Elmo Coin-Op, 1903 Grand Ave, Com Remodel – Change In Use, $95,000

Residential

Maul, Randy W & Susan M, 1503 12th St W, Res New Accessory Structure, $51,840

Oakland Built Homes Inc /Oakland Built Homes Inc, 904 Presidio Ln, Res New Single Family,     $174,422

Oakland Built Homes Inc/Oakland Built Homes Inc, 908 Presidio Ln, Res New Single Family, $174,984

Oakland Built Homes Inc/Oakland Built Homes Inc, 912 Presidio Ln, Res New Single Family, $174,422

Oakland Built Homes Inc/Oakland Built Homes Inc, 916 Presidio Ln, Res New Single Family, $172,860

Oakland Built Homes Inc/Oakland Built Homes Inc, 924 Presidio Ln, Res New Single Family, $167,668

Oakland Built Homes Inc/Oakland Built Homes Inc, 920 Presidio Ln, Res New Single Family, $174,984

Oakland Built Homes Inc/Oakland Built Homes Inc, 921 Presidio Ln, Res New Single Family, $172,270

Oakland Built Homes Inc/Oakland Built Homes Inc, 915 Presidio Ln, Res New Single Family, $167,668

Oakland Built Homes Inc/Oakland Built Homes Inc, 911 Presidio Ln, Res New Single Family, $174,984

Stordahl, David Michael & Amy/Wells Built Inc., 2107 S Stone Creek Trl, Res New Single Family, $831,105

Oakland Built Homes Inc/Oakland Built Homes Inc, 807 Presidio Ln, Res New Single Family, $172,270

Oakland Built Homes /Oakland Built Homes Inc, 803 Presidio Ln, Res New Single Family, $174,422

Legacy LLC/CDH, LLC, 5303 Rich Ln, Res New Single Family, $321,576

Neary, Richard & Marcee F/Mike’s Handyman Service, 1529 Avenue F, Res New Accessory Structure, $50,000

Houghton, Nels & Rochelle, 5873 Summerwood Cir, Res New Accessory Structure, $40,000

Big Sky Contractors/Big Sky Contractors LLC, 1111 Clark Ave, Res New Accessory Structure,      $11,700

Cox, Paul L & Rachel E, 716 N 31st St, Res New Accessory Structure, $46,464

Felton Associates Inc/Green Jeans Llc, 1322 Jean Ave, Res New Single Family, $254,686

Na /Trails West Homes Llc, 822 Grouse Berry St, Res New Single Family, $247,732

Trails West Homes Llc /Trails West Homes Llc, 804 Grouse Berry St, Res New Single Family,    $247,732

McCall Development Inc /McCall Development, 6109 Eva Marie Ln, Res New Single Family, $277,720

Cox, Paul L & Rachel/Jorden Construction, 716 N 31st St, Res New Two Family, $482,620

Wattles, Jeremy S & Danelle/Big Sky Custom Builders, 305 Sahara Dr, Res Addition Single/Duplex/Garage,  $11,000

McCall Development Inc/McCall Development, 6133 Farmstead Ave, Res New Accessory Structure, $25,344

Oakland Built Homes Inc/Oakland Built Homes Inc, 903 Presidio Ln, Res New Single Family,    $174,984

Oakland Built Homes Inc/Oakland Built Homes Inc, 907 Presidio Ln, Res New Single Family,     $172,860

High Sierra II Inc/Infinity Home LLC , 403 Montecito Ave, Res New Single Family, $198,150

HLL LLC/Yellowstone Property Solutions LLC, 5341 Amherst Dr, Res New Single Family, $250,446

Ochsner, Kalena/Cougar Construction, 5130 Clemson Dr, Res New Single Family,    $248,000

McCall Development Inc/McCall Development, 6133 Farmstead Ave, Res New Single Family,   $257,768

Lorenz Construction /Lorenz Construction, 3343 Pipestone Dr, Res New Single Family, $231,967

McCall Development Inc/McCall Development, 6103 Eva Marie Ln, Res New Single Family,     $251,904

High Sierra II Inc/Infinity Home LLC, 1531 Rancho Vista Ave, Res New Single Family ,   $194,306

LC Custom Homes Inc/LC Custom Homes, 6173 Masters Blvd, Res New Single Family,    $376,706

DCL Ventures LLC/Infinity Home LLC, 5440 Riesling Ln, Res New Single Family, $354,780

Veitor Properties Llc/Sureshot Construction, 608 Avenue F, Res New Accessory Structure,  $34,944

Zweegman, Brian, 1119  Pepper Ln, Res New Accessory Structure, $50,000

NMTP 002 Llc/Better Building Technologies Llc, 6328 Ridge Stone Dr, Res New Single Family, $207,549

Trailhead Builders Of MT/Trailhead Builders Inc, 1413 Carson Way, Res New Single Family, $255,761

Copper Ridge West Inc/Infinity Home LLC, 7032 Shiny Penny Way, Res New Single Family, $242,671

Are small business owners losing hope?

21 January 2021
Evelyn Pyburn
No comments

The latest survey of their membership from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) indicate that they are, according to a recent release from Montana NFIB Director Ronda Wiggers. “This latest report shows that Main Street businesses are losing hope,” said Wiggers.

NFIB’s Small Business Economic Trends reports that in its monthly Optimism Index, nine of the 10 Optimism Index components declined and only one improved. Owners expecting better business conditions over the next six months declined 24 points to a net negative 16%.

NFIB chief economist Bill Dunkelberg said, “This month’s drop in small business optimism is historically very large, and most of the decline was due to the outlook of sales and business conditions in 2021. Small businesses are concerned about potential new economic policy in the new administration and the increased spread of COVID-19 that is causing renewed government-mandated business closures across the nation.”

The state director for Montana’s leading small-business association suggested that one thing the State Legislature could do to help ameliorate the grim news is pass legislation that will provide liability protections for small businesses. “The recently opened second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans will help, but states can do their part by alleviating the worries of higher taxes and more regulations, and, as Senate Bill 65 seeks to do in Montana, provide some liability protection from frivolous lawsuits,” said Wiggers.

An earlier survey of Montana NFIB members revealed that 96.8 percent of small business owners said protection from lawsuits due to COVID-19 should be a top legislative priority. NFIB regularly surveys membership regarding policies and business trends. The organization is unique among business organizations in that only business owners are allowed to determine policies and respond to surveys.

Wiggers explained they are concerned about frivolous lawsuits putting more businesses out of business. It doesn’t matter if a business prevails in any court proceedings, just the legal costs of the process and the distraction away from managing their business  is enough, to put out of business, businesses already weakened by COVID restrictions. “It isn’t about winning or losing, you can’t afford a retainer fee to get an attorney,” she said.

Wiggers noted that in that earlier survey one out of four businesses said they would not make it for six more months if the COVID shutdowns continued.

Given the second round of PPP loans being made available by Congress, “We are expecting about half of businesses will take advantage of PPP loans. Montana businesses and lenders participated pretty heavily in the first round.”

Wiggers said that during the state legislature she will primarily be monitoring the bills in a “defensive mode” – opposing those that appear harmful to Montana business. She will be tracking about 200 bills.

In following NFIB membership-set policy they  hope to see the business equipment tax reduced or totally eliminated. They will oppose any family-leave legislation, the addition of more regulations on businesses, and hope to see some beneficial tax changes.

Wiggers said that 71.9 percent of NFIB members in their surveys have said they oppose local option taxes.

The NFIB Research Center has collected Small Business Economic Trends data with quarterly surveys since the 4th quarter of 1973 and monthly surveys since 1986. Survey respondents are drawn from a random sample of NFIB’s membership. The report is released on the second Tuesday of each month. This survey was conducted in December 2020. For more information about NFIB, please visit NFIB.com.

The SBET’s primary value is anticipating short-run fluctuations in economic activity. An additional value of the SBET is its measurement of small business activities and concerns over time. The benefit of a longitudinal data set offers an invaluable perspective on how policies and business cycles impact small businesses over time.  The SBET is one of the few archival data sets on small business, particularly when research questions address business operations rather than opinions. Today, it’s the largest, longest-running data set on small business economic conditions available.

Acting Provost

21 January 2021
Press Room
No comments

Dr. Susan Balter-Reitz, professor of communications, has been named Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs while the college conducts a search for permanent Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Balter-Reitz has held various positions at MSU Billings during her 18-year tenure.