Archive: June 2023

MetraPark Brings $110.7 million to Local Economy

19 June 2023
Evelyn Pyburn
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Activities and events at MetraPark generates $110.7 million annually to the local economy, according to a recent study commissioned by the MetraPark Advisory Board.   

The economic impact is the money spent by visitors attending MetraPark events at local businesses in Billings and Yellowstone County, most especially at motels and restaurants, gas stations and retail shops.

The economic impact of Metra Park is a relevant factor to the community as it considers the pros and cons of the cost to taxpayers in subsidizing the county-owned facility that hosts everything from rodeos and livestock shows to concerts, sports and tradeshows. Each year, MetraPark events draw thousands of visitors to Billings while being subsidized by a property tax mill levy to the tune of $2.5 million.

Mike Mayott, President of the MetraPark Advisory Board, who oversaw the study conducted by Circle Analytics, said that while he considers himself a fiscal conservative this is one expenditure of tax money he considers of value. “I would invest in most anything that returned $44 for every dollar invested,” he said. It seems to be the “greatest investment we can make,” he continued, “We are adding a lot to the economy.”  In fact, considering that Yellowstone County has a gross domestic product of over $11 billion, MetraPark contributes a full percentage point to the total annual production of the county.   

The research shows that in a comparison to figures from 2018 (the latest year in which all the metrics are the same and comparable) MetraPark improved in every category except one.  It also demonstrates that MetraPark has become multi-dimensional, said Mayott.

Mayott reported study results at the previous meeting of the MetraPark Advisory Board, explaining the value of the research that has been done by Circle Analytics. The company is highly regarded in what they do, he said, pointing out that one of their clients is SpaceX.

The MetraPark Advisory Board agreed to continue subscribing to Placer.AI for MetraPark attendance data, which will give MetraPark planners access to on-going current data and to seven years of past data, and to also continue getting analysis from Circle Analytics. Mayott explained that once MetraPark staff is trained in what the data means and how it can be used, it will become a valuable tool.  “It will tell us whether we are making the right decisions.”

“Hopefully, it will help to drive the subsidy down,” said Mayott, “to get it as low as possible.”

The cost for annual updates from Circle Analytics is $1500 annually and for on-going data from Placer.AI the cost is $14,000.

While the monetary impact of MetraPark to the local economy is substantial, it does not include the social or civic benefits that MetraPark contributes as a free venue for many youth, educational and non-profit events. Mayott further pointed out that MetraPark serves a broad base of interests in the community. Metra Park also partners with a wide variety of businesses and organizations that further add to the economic base of the community, such as with the Exchange Club that supports non-profits, or companies like Baskin Robbins and Fuddruckers and many other vendors who sell products at MetraPark.

“This is an opportunity to be able to say something good about government,” jested Mayott.

MetraPark Interm Manager Tim Goodridge and Big Sky Economic Development applied for and received a grant from NorthWestern Energy to fund the study.

According to the study, in 2022 more than 819,000 guests attended or participated in a tradeshow, sporting event, or other entertainment at MetraPark. It is estimated that 37.8 percent of those visitors were from out of the area, and that on average they spent $180 per day per visitor. Local attendees were estimated to spend $39 per day.

A summary of the various levels of economic impacts generated by MetraPark were included in the study. The economic impact of $110.7 million, that is annually retained in the local economy, is part of  $177.9 million in “Gross Economic Output” annually, which includes indirect and induced impacts. Direct impacts include MetraPark’s annual operating budget, estimated benefits from vendor revenues and the economic value of visitor spending. Indirect impacts of $124.7 million includes purchases that businesses must make in order to serve visitors who come to events at MetraPark (for example increased sales for linen supply firms who sell more linens to motels). Induced effects result from increased household spending from local earnings in the tourism and supporting sectors.

Some of the impacts estimated by business sector were $5,444,827 for “food and beverage stores”; $12,817,771 for “restaurants”; $18,105,583 for “Gasoline stations’; $19,195,826 for “Hotels and motels”;  $8,986,765 for “Miscellaneous store retailers”; and $24,811,945 for “Miscellaneous services”.

Other impacts:

—$68.3 million in Total Labor Income

—2,694 total jobs (full and part-time)

—$27.5 million in Capital Income (includes profits, rents, etc.)

—$14.8 million in Indirect Business Taxes and Fees

Poll: Majority Say Feds Spend Tax Dollars Poorly

19 June 2023
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By Glenn Minnis, The Center Square

Precisely half the respondents polled in a new State Policy Network survey of 2,041 registered voters say the federal government is “failing or doing a poor job” at preventing internal corruption. That’s compared to only 23% of respondents who say the federal government is good or excellent at preventing corruption.

At the same time, well over half of all voters also give lawmakers in Washington D.C. an unsatisfactory mark when it comes to their handling of taxpayer dollars, with 54% agreeing the government deserves a poor or failing mark on the issue. Just 22% of respondents say the federal government does a good or excellent job at spending tax dollars.

      By comparison, only 36% of voters said they see state governments faring as poorly, with just 32% of respondents agreeing that they would give them a poor or failing grade.

“Very little of what happens at the federal level is focused on tangible benefits to people so voters rightly assume that the government is not working for them,” SPN messaging strategist Erin Norman told The Center Square in explaining how so many have come to have such varying views about branches of government.

“People also have experience watching government struggle to respond to urgent needs,” she added. “COVID-19 is a great example and spanned two very different administrations showing it’s more than political – it is problems with the very nature of the federal government.”

In addition, only 27% of voters feel the federal government is good or excellent at effectively getting things done, compared to 34% who say the same about their state government. Only 25% of those surveyed say the federal government is good or excellent at “serving people like me rather than special interest groups.” That’s compared to 37% who say the same about state government.

With just 45% of voters saying they feel the federal government’s performance is responsive to the needs of their community, Norman said lawmakers have much work to do to make more voters feel like government is truly at work for them.

“Work should be pushed down to the most local level of government possible where people are more likely to know people from their community involved in the work and see the tangible benefits to policy,” she said. “It is going to be very hard in today’s environment for people to see the federal government as serving them directly or for the federal government to pivot to more personal service.”

KOA  Purchases Billings Holiday and W Yellowstone Properties

19 June 2023
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Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) has purchased three KOA properties – Billings KOA Holiday in Billings, and Yellowstone Park/West Gate KOA Holiday and Yellowstone Park/Mountainside KOA Holiday located near West Yellowstone.  Billings KOA Holiday, opened in June of 1962, holds the designation as the first KOA campground among more than 500 KOA locations. All three properties were owned by the Marv and Carol Linde Family of Billings, Montana for 46 years.

Marv and Carol Linde purchased the Billings KOA Holiday in 1977. Over the next four decades, the family grew and updated the campground, making it one of the premiere KOAs in the United States. The campground currently features RV sites, including pull-thrus with KOA Patio, Camping and Deluxe Cabins and tent sites. A pool, custom playground, Kamp K9 dog park and mini-golf are available for guests.

 Opened in 1977 and 2013, the Yellowstone Park/West Gate KOA Holiday and Yellowstone Park/Mountainside KOA Holiday are the closest KOA properties to Yellowstone Park, located near the west entrance. All three campgrounds provide quality amenities and service, resulting in some of the highest guest satisfaction among KOAs.

 “For over four decades, the Linde family has been valued partners and friends,” said Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of Kampgrounds of America, Inc. “Marv, Carol – and sons Steve, Dave, and Brian – have been actively involved in our campground system, shaping many of our programs and overall approach to outdoor hospitality. We are honored they have entrusted us to carry their legacy forward. They will always remain a special part of our KOA family and history.”

Kampgrounds of America, Inc. has over 500 campgrounds across the U.S. and Canada. While the majority are franchised, over 40 locations are owned directly by the company. Owning campgrounds is a core component of Kampgrounds of America, Inc.’s business strategy and allows them to grow key operational knowledge that improves offerings across the system. 

Transferring ownership in early May, Kampgrounds of America, Inc. views the sale as a chance to continue the long legacy of outdoor hospitality fostered by the Linde family. It also created the opportunity for KOA, Inc. to own and operate the campground that laid the groundwork for the world’s largest system of privately-owned campgrounds in the hometown of company headquarters.

 The purchase of the three properties also coincides with the opening of a new company headquarters this summer. Currently being completed on the West End of Billings, the new office and the transfer of ownership of Billings KOA Holiday further strengthen Kampgrounds of America, Inc.’s 60-year connection to the city.

Greycliff Mill, a Traveler’s Oasis

19 June 2023
Evelyn Pyburn
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By Evelyn Pyburn

On Memorial Day, Greycliff Mill celebrated their second year in business.

Located at Greycliff, Montana, just east of Big Timber, Greycliff Mill is something of an oasis for travelers along Interstate 90, offering a place to get a cup of coffee or a sandwich, stretch your legs, give the kids a chance to exercise, browse the wares in a unique shop featuring locally produced foods, crafts and art. It is also an opportunity to “get out of town” for an evening to enjoy a unique farm- to- table dinner.

Greycliff Mill is an extension of an 1800 acre farm that is owned by a group of individuals who have been operating it for the past 15 years. The roadside business features all-things Montana – from foods that are raised and prepared on the farm or on other farms and ranches in the area, as well as art and crafts produced by talented and skilled local artisans.

Assistant manager of Greycliff Mill, Daniel Saylor, explains that the pastries and breads featured in their restaurant are made from flour that is made from grain that is grown and milled at their own grist mill – a mill that was originally built in 1870 in upstate New York. It was disassembled piece by piece, and reassembled at Greycliff. Water from three scenic terraced ponds is used to turn the grist mill.

The ponds are part of the beautifully landscaped grounds that include a pavilion, gardens and grassy knolls that provide a great venue for events such as weddings or family reunions or civic celebrations. The setting sprawls beneath the towering cliffs that give the site its name.

According to Saylor, the cliffs are a former buffalo jump used by Native Americans.

Greycliff Mill has six cabins available for overnight visitors. Some are restored cabins moved from Roberts, Montana, and some are high end cabins in converted grain silos brought in from South Dakota.

There are no more plans to add additional buildings, but they do plan to expand the garden and park areas.

Everything on exhibit or for sale at Greycliff Mill is carefully selected, explained Saylor, to reflect the vision of its developers – “in keeping with rural Montana and a family environment they are trying to create.” Items from local farms or offered by local artisans are curated and thoughtfully selected to present whether it’s the beef or lamb served or the art featuring Montana wildlife and scenery,  taxidermy, basketry, leather work, iron work or wool work, or a wide array of gift items like locally-made soaps, jellies and jams.

Greycliff Mill has a cheese cave where they produce the cheese they serve and sell. They have gardens where they grow many of their own vegetables, while purchasing others from the gardens of neighbors or a greenhouse in Columbus. They also acquire their milk from local dairies.

Every other Saturday, a farm-to-table dinner, featuring several courses of various ethnic meals, are served to 60-80 guests. Reservations are required and a schedule of featured meals is available on the Greycliff Mill website.

Saylor said that it is surprising to see where the guests come from to partake of their special meals. About a fourth are from distant locations – from Washington to as far away as Florida. Apparently, guests in planning a trip visit the website take advantage of being able to include a visit to Greycliff Mill for a special meal.

The Greycliff compound includes several workshops, in which they plan to soon host local artists and instructors who will conduct scheduled classes on the how to make various craft items such as baskets, leather work, and other artistic skills.

Other features include horseback riding or a carriage ride or a special- planned chuck wagon group dinner complete with campfire back on the ranch.

Elisha Sherman is Manager of Greycliff Mill, which employs  six to ten people, with more to be hired as they head into the gardening season.

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ExxonMobil Becomes Par Montana with Closing

19 June 2023
Evelyn Pyburn
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Amid balloons, tents, ribbons, speakers, blue skies, and lots of food, hundreds of people marked what had been advertised as a historic day for Yellowstone County – – and it was, as Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. officially closed on the purchase of ExxonMobil Corporation’s refinery at Lockwood and other properties including two subsidiaries.

Not since the refinery’s opening in 1949 has the refinery drawn so much attention, said Dan Carter, Public Affairs director for the refinery. Carter explained how people in Billings embraced the new refinery as it was being built, traveling out in trucks and busses every day, to see what was happening and to watch it rise up from what was then wide open prairie.

It changed the landscape in the valley and for the economy, said Carter, “Now, 75 years later the refinery is undergoing another organic, seismic change.”

Commending the refinery’s employees and leadership for “eight long months” of preparation for this day, Will Monteleone, President of Par Pacific Holdings, said that they are honored to become a part of the “talented team” and to be part of Billings and Yellowstone County, adding that the overall logistics and operation of the refinery, aligns perfectly with that of Par Pacific.

The $310 million sale of the ExxonMobil properties was announced in October 2022.

To now be known as Par Montana, the business joins that of Par Pacific, a market-leading energy, infrastructure and retail business, headquartered in Houston, Texas.  Par Pacific operates an integrated downstream network, throughout the Pacific Northwest, the Rockies, and Hawaii, including 218,000 bpd of combined refining capacity across four locations, related multimodal logistics systems and 121 retail locations.

Montana Lt. Governor Kristen Juras welcomed Par Pacific to the state, saying “This is a big deal. It is a great opportunity for Montana and Yellowstone County.” The “good paying jobs” it will create will aid in stopping “the export of our kids,” she said.

Bill Pate, CEO of Par Pacific Holdings said “We are going to grow Par Montana” with a focus on “how can we expand this company?”

He said that the success of Par Pacific has been in recognizing the importance of being part of the businesses they acquire. “We differentiate ourselves by immersing ourselves into the company, into the local connections and into the local community.”

Part of being local was to encourage the refinery employees to choose a new name for the refinery and a new logo, which was also unveiled on Thursday –simple clean lines representing the rims and the river running below them.

Par Montana will be the lynch pin, not just a refinery,” said Pate, noting that they have three refineries in other states. “This acquisition significantly enhances our scale and geographic diversification. We expect the transaction to be immediately accretive to our earnings and cash flow. It is about how do we take what we have today and add on to it renewables, and continue to do what they do just using other feed stocks.”

“The key element of our strategy here is actually getting our reliability up and getting more production,” Pate said. “The state of Montana, the states around Montana, they need more fuels. It’s a tight market.”

Kim Jakub, the refinery manager, said that the refinery team has shown courage and commitment in the transition process. She said that “Billings is the perfect complement to our future. We will continue to be a strong community partner.”

The Billings refinery is a 63,000 barrel-per-day (bpd), high-conversion, complex facility that processes low-cost Western Canadian and regional Rocky Mountain crude oil. The refinery converts crude into gasoline, distillate, asphalt and other products to serve regional demand.

It employs about 320 people and has 80-100 contractors on-site on any given day supporting operations.

Included in the Par Pacific transaction was  the wholly owned 70-mile, 55,000 bpd Silvertip Pipeline, a 40% interest in the 750-mile, 65,000 bpd Yellowstone refined products pipeline, and four wholly owned and three joint venture refined product terminals located in Montana and Washington. Total storage capacity across the refinery and logistics locations totals 4.1 million barrels. Further, Par Pacific will supply approximately 250 Exxon and Mobil branded retail locations as part of the arrangement with ExxonMobil.

When the Billings refinery was opened in 1949 by Carter Oil Co. it processed 20,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Exxon has operated the refinery since 1973.

In 1947, 500 acres was purchased and plotted for the current refinery operations for about $61,000.

Business Growth in Montana Continues

19 June 2023
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In 2022, a total of 53,655 new businesses were established according to the Montana business Economic Report, issued by Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen. Jacobsen also reported that 5,400 new businesses registered during the month of May.

New businesses created within the SOS Business Filing Portal saw a 7.4% increase from 2021. Also in 2022, the report shows 196,699 businesses renewed their filings with the Secretary of State — 20,379 more renewals than the previous year.

In contrast, the number of new trademarks registered in Montana declined by about 70, from 435 trademarks in 2021 to 365 trademarks in 2022.

The Secretary of announced that in 2024 Annual Report filing fees will be waived for all Montana businesses, which will  result in millions of dollars in savings for Montana businesses.

Secretary Jacobsen was recently recognized by the Mountain States Policy Center (MSPC) for her efforts in reducing red tape for Montana businesses. The MSPC awarded Secretary Jacobsen with the “Elevation Award,” which is the highest honor of the organization. It is “given to individual(s) who are committed to advancing and elevating free market principles and ideas. It is presented to a top innovator, business leader, or elected official in Idaho, Montana, and Washington,” according to the MSPC website.

Bills Advance Work-based Learning

19 June 2023
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Gov. Greg Gianforte recently expanded work-based learning opportunities for Montana students, signing three bills into law to support schools in offering internships, apprenticeships, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.

Advancing his pro-student, pro-parent, pro-teacher education agenda this legislative session, Gov. Gianforte delivered a series of wins which support classroom innovation.

First, the governor reformed the Advanced Opportunities Program to support schools in expanding work-based and personalized learning opportunities for students.

The Advanced Opportunities Program provides $4 million annually to schools for programs that advance students’ career and educational success.

House Bill 257 doubles the amount of funding individual elementary, high school, and K-12 districts may receive through the program while increasing the percentage of funding that goes directly to students.

Second, the governor signed House Bill 458, sponsored by Rep. Fred Anderson, R-Great Falls, to get career coaches into more Montana schools to support students in their educational and career endeavors.

Lastly, the governor signed House Bill 382, to triple funding for Career and Technology Student Organizations (CTSO) in Montana.

Billings City College Gets Funds To Expand Nursing Program

19 June 2023
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City College at Montana State University Billings has been awarded a five-year, $1.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration Nursing Expansion Program to diversify and expand the nursing workforce in rural Montana.

The Nursing Expansion Grant Program will allow City College to grow the existing Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse workforce in rural eastern and south-central Montana, creating the Rural Eastern Montana Nursing Expansion Program. Through this funding, City College will be able to accept additional students into both nursing programs and will be able to respond to shortages in the rural health care workforce through recruiting, training, and graduating rural Montana students who are likely to return to their hometowns to work.

“I am excited that this grant will allow us to expand our partnerships with eastern Montana to better meet the critical health care needs in rural areas,” says City College Dean Vicki Trier. With over 90 percent of RN and LPN program graduates passing the NCLEX exam on their first attempt, City College offers high quality nursing degrees; this funding will allow the project to serve a total of 300 participants from rural and low-income backgrounds from eastern and south-central Montana over the grant period; will establish or strengthen relationships with rural hospitals, increasing available preceptorships and clinical sites; and will increase City College’s training capacity by 25 percent.

The LPN program will increase from 15 students to 22 per year while the RN program will increase from 40 students to 56 per year. “This grant will increase our simulation facilities and provide funding for recruitment and assistance to potential students in rural areas of Montana,” says Susan Floyd, director of nursing at City College. “We are excited to be able to help with the crucial nursing needs in rural areas of Montana.”

The Rural Eastern Montana Nursing Expansion Program encompasses twenty-four counties and over 63,000 square miles. Counties to be served include Sheridan, Daniels, Valley, Roosevelt, Fergus, Petroleum, Garfield, McCone, Richland, Dawson, Prairie, Wibaux, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Treasure, Rosebud, Custer, Fallon, Stillwater, Carbon, Yellowstone, Big Horn, Powder River, and Carter. Partners within these counties will be the key to the program’s success as they will provide a range of services including participant referrals, supportive services to participants, educational services, employment services, and clinical sites.

The Nursing Expansion Grant Program is designed to improve the nation’s healthcare system through diversifying the pipeline of the nursing field through training people from historically marginalized and underrepresented populations. City College is one of 25 public-private partnerships within 17 states awarded funding through the Nursing Expansion Grant Program.

“The increase in our capacity to train nursing students made possible through the Nursing Expansion Grant Program is part of a planned growth in nursing and other health programs at MSU Billings, with a clear focus on meeting the workforce needs of Billings and Montana,” notes MSUB Provost Sep Eskandari. “Over the next five years, the university will work intentionally to significantly increase the enrollment capacity of LPN and RN offerings at City College as well as the RN to BSN Degree Completion Program offered by the College of Health Professions and Science.”

Billings Building Permits – June 15, 2023

19 June 2023
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Commercial

Swaim, Jeremy S & Kaylinn M/ Neal Sivertson Construction LLC, 3385 Granger Ave S, Com Fence/Roof/Siding $36,000

Swaim, Jeremy S & Kaylinn/ Neal Sivertson Construction LLC, 3385 Granger Ave, S, Com Fence/Roof/Siding 4,000

Sibley, David H/ Wegner Homes, 41 Broadwater Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding $2,952

Costco Wholesale Corporation/ Lydig Construction Inc, 3880 Zoo Dr, Com Footing/Foundation, $3,454,905

City Of Billings, 760 Lake Elmo Dr, Com Remodel, $100,000

Scott Mason Wovek Inc, 2601 Phyllis Ln, Com Remodel, $10,000

Mak Properties LLC/ Dunmore LLC, 2046 Grand Ave, Com Remodel, $39,000

Fuel 406/ Riverbend Construction LLC, 4110 Montana Sapphire Dr, Com Remodel, $40,000

Yellowstone County/ Olympus Technical Services, 2550 3rd Ave N, Demolition Permit Commercial, $424,457

Donahue, Toni M/ Donahue Roofing & Siding LLC, 24 31st St W, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $39,309

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 1849 Annafeld Pkwy W, Com New Townhome Shell, $350,000

McCall Development Inc/, McCall Development, 6212 Norma Jean Sq S, Com New Townhome Shell $350,000

T & CB Properties LLC/ Bradford Roof Management Inc, 501 Bernard St, Com New Warehouse/Storage, $117,105

Elevation Church Billings, Inc/ Ralph Dupea Contracting, 711 4th Ave N, Com Remodel, $12,000

St Lukes Episcopal Church/ Final Step Construction LLC, 119 N 33rd St, Com Remodel, $10,500

Reichenbach Properties, LLC/ Kay Homebuilders LLC, 1038 Main St, Com Remodel – Change In Use $50,000

Fraternal Order of Eagles/ Limitless Construction, 526 Laurie Ln, Com Addition $3,000

Donahue, Toni M/ Donahue Roofing & Siding LLC, 24 31st St W,  Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $39,309

WR Properties LLP/ WR Properties LLP, 3211 1st Ave S, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $50,000

Big Timber Properties LLC/ Bespoke Of Montana LLC, 1690 Rimrock Rd, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $15,000

City Of Billings/ Dick Anderson Construction, 316 N 26th St, Com Remodel, $8,678,558

Intertech Ltd./ Dick Anderson Construction, 1830 Harnish Blvd, Com Remodel, $3,000,000

Pincolini Holdings LLC, 1145 Grand Ave, Com Remodel, $40,000

Residential

Trails West Homes LLC/ Trails West Homes LLC, 5719 Bear Track Trl, Res New Single Family, $247,732

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 1840 St Paul Ln, Res New Single Family, $131,684

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 1842 St Paul Ln, Res New Single Family, $131,684

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 1844 St Paul Ln, Res New Single Family, $131,684

Infinity Homes/ Infinity Home LLC, 2474 W Bonito LP, Res New Single Family, $242,671

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 6159 Norma Jean Ln, Res New Single Family, $152,284

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 6153 Norma Jean Ln, Res New Single Family, $217,658

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 1849 Annafeld Pkwy W, Res New Townhome, $0.00

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 1851 Annafeld Pkwy W, Res New Townhome, $0.00

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 6212 Norma Jean Sq S, Res New Townhome, $0.00

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 6210 Norma Jean Sq S, Res New Townhome, $0.00

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 1841 Norma Jean Sq E, Res New Single Family, $159,682

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 1845 Norma Jean Sq E, Res New Single Family, $159,607

Billings Best Builders LLC/ Billings Best Builders LLC, 3573 Rachelle Cir, Res New Single Family, $250,000.

Montana Highlights June 1, 2023

19 June 2023
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Billings businessman, Skip King, who owns all the local Ace Hardware stores, has opened another Ace Hardware in Sidney. It will be managed by Reece Gairrett. The store has had a ‘soft opening’ in order to embrace the growing season. Although not quite fully stocked it is fully staff and close to having a grand opening.

For the third consecutive year, the Montana Department of Justice’s Forensic Science Division (FSD) is among only 14 laboratories, worldwide, to earn the Foresight Maximus Award from the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors. FSD, most commonly referred to as the State Crime Lab, houses Montana’s forensic science laboratories and medical examiner system and is the sole source of forensic services for law enforcement in the state. The Foresight Maximus Award is presented to forensic laboratories operating at 90 percent or better of peak efficiency as evidenced by Foresight business metrics during 2022. 

Western Montana Mental Health Center, Missoula, has not renewed its contract with Levi Anderson, who has been CEO for the past five years. Anderson’s last day was May 19. Western has contracted with Cascadia Management Group to help with the administrative transition for the next two to three months. The president of that group, Colleen Rudio, is overseeing Western as the interim executive administrator.

To protect Montanans’ personal, private, and sensitive data and information from intelligence gathering by the Chinese Communist Party, Governor Greg Gianforte has signed a bill that bans TikTok from operating in Montana. He also directed the state’s chief information officer and executive agency directors to prohibit the use of all social media applications tied to foreign adversaries on state equipment and for state business in Montana. The governor signed Senate Bill 419, making Montana the first state in the nation to ban TikTok and prohibit mobile application stores from offering TikTok within the state.

Reclamation announces lifting the closure of Reclamation lands on and adjacent to Joe’s Island on the south side of the Yellowstone River in Dawson County, 15 miles north of Glendive, Montana. The temporary closure was in place to ensure public safety during the construction of the Lower Yellowstone Fish Passage Project. Construction of the fish passage project was recently completed, and the land closure is no longer needed.

Of the three metro areas in Montana, Great Falls has the lowest housing costs. According to the EPI’s Family Budget Calculator, a modest two-bedroom rental in the metro area will cost an estimated $9,696 in 2022, including utilities. The statewide average cost of a comparable apartment is estimated at $10,972. Rent prices often reflect the overall real estate market in a given area, and this pattern appears to hold in Great Falls. Just as rents in the area are lower than the statewide average, so too, are home values.

With the world facing helium shortages, news that Montana has helium resources that mining companies are exploring is good news for the economies of some of the state’s most remote areas. Two helium drilling companies are drilling wells in the areas of Toole, Hill and Liberty counties. The activity is an extension of helium drilling that is occurring just across the Canadian border. Helium is the radioactive decay of uranium and thorium, and while it can be found everywhere, it is rare that it is found in geological formations that are capable of capturing and holding it in pockets large enough to make recovery feasible. The  lighter-than-air element that gives balloons their buoyancy also powers vital medical diagnostic machines, enables the operation of superconducting magnets, and is vital to the military.

Brinkman Real Estate, a Colorado-based multifamily investment company with expertise in Intermountain West markets, closed on the acquisition of The Highline Apartments in Columbia Falls. This purchase marks their third acquisition in Montana and the largest to date with 180 Class A units across six buildings. The company also owns properties in Billings and Missoula. Brinkman Real Estate’s capital markets team, in partnership with CBRE’s Institutional Debt and Restructured Finance team comprised of Brady O’Donnell, Jeff Halsey, Jill Haug, and Alex Scott

The fastest growing city in Montana is the Missoula metro area. Its population grew by 11.3% from 2010 to 2020 to 121,630 residents. During that same time, the population of Montana grew by 9.2%. The Missoula metro area has a median annual household income of $57,347, slightly above Montana’s median of $57,153.

The fastest shrinking county in Montana is Fergus County. The county’s population declined by 4.2% from 2010 to 2020. The population of Montana overall increased by 9.2% during that same time period, and the U.S. population increased by 6.7%. Fergus County’s population declined by 486 people during the decade, from 11,590 in 2010 to 11,104 in 2020. This is due in part to negative net migration as 88 more people moved away from the county than moved to it during that decade.

Quinn Pacini, vice president and general manager at KBZK in Bozeman, and KXLF in Butte, has been named vice president of broadcast operations for Scripps Sports. Jon Saunders, a vice president of Local Media operations, will serve as interim general manager at both stations while The E.W. Scripps Company searches for Pacini’s replacement.

Montana Highlights  June 1, 2023

Downtown Bigfork has a new space, The Nook, where artists and wellness practitioners can interact and mingle. The Nook offers Aiology Works, an acoustic and vibral studio and Bluebird and Honeybee, a mercantile offering local artisan gifts and goods. The mercantile stocks products including wellness apothecary and kitchen items. The Nook offers over 40 local artisans. Not only does the brick-and-mortar space allow them to local goods, it also provides the opportunity for art and wellness workshops.

Cenate, a Norwegian battery company, is considering Butte and two other sites for a manufacturing plant. Tax incentives will be a factor in its decision. Two of Butte’s largest employers and two economic development organizations are backing the Norwegian company’s request for millions of dollars in tax abatements. Officials with the Butte Local Development Corp., St. James Healthcare, the Montana Carpenters Union and Northwestern Energy spoke in favor of the abatements. The company is developing silicon-based materials for higher-density batteries with faster and longer-lasting charges.

Dave’s Sushi in Bozeman reopened recently after a month long closure following a severe food poisoning outbreak that sickened dozens and has been linked to two deaths.

Backers of a multibillion-dollar proposal to build a giant reservoir for energy storage in rural south-central South Dakota are no longer pursuing the project. The two entities involved, MidAmerican Energy and Missouri River Energy Services, said the decision not to pursue the project was made following their evaluation process.