Month: January 2024
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Chamber Welcomes Staff
The Billings Chamber of Commerce welcomes Abbie Chvilicek and Sara Hollenbeck to its staff. Chvilicek fills the position of Member and Operations Specialist and Hollenbeck joins as the Marketing Specialist for Visit Southeast Montana, a tourism marketing arm managed by the Billings Chamber. Chvilicek is a born and raised Billings, who graduated in 2022 after…
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Cost of Regs Exceed Cost of Taxes
A new report from the Competitive Enterprise Institute tallies the huge and growing cost federal regulations impose on American businesses and families – $1.939 trillion annually – and offers a set of reforms aimed at making our government more accountable. “Rules made by federal agencies impose a cost of government that extends well beyond what…
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What is driving up the cost of drugs?
What is driving up the cost of drugs? The common answer is research and development? But increasingly the companies are shifting their attention from research and development to gaining the largest market share, which includes massive expenditures on advertising. The pervasive presence of pharmaceutical ads on air waves cannot be escaped and consumers are paying…
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Treasury Wants More Information
Ostensibly, to help prevent financial crimes the US Department of the Treasury is demanding more information from thousands of businesses in the US. As of January 1, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is requiring more information about companies considered to be reporting companies or limited liability companies (LLCs), corporations,…
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TDS Services Montana Communities
TDS Telecommunications LLC (TDS) has now launched broadband internet service in each Montana community where the company is building an all-fiber, high-speed internet network. TDS has projects under construction in Billings, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, Helana Valley, and Missoula. Built in phases, customers can access TDS services as work is completed in their neighborhood. The…
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Schools Push for 4-Day Week
The push is on in Montana for four –day school weeks as Montana schools struggle to find staff amid a teacher shortage in the state. School Districts are finding that four-day weeks relieve the stress on over-burdened teachers who are employed, reduces absents, and the need for emergency authorizations. Last year 222 Montana Schools went…
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Schimke, Ag Officer
Alex Schimke recently joined Stockman Bank as Ag Loan Officer for the Stockman Bank King Avenue location. His responsibilities include developing and servicing agricultural loans and assisting customers with their lending and credit needs. Schimke brings an extensive background in agriculture and business, which will be an asset to Stockman Bank and the Billings community.…
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Montana’s Role in Country’s Energy Transition, Economic Future, and National Security
Todd O’Hair, President/CEO Montana Chamber of Commerce Advancement in technology is rapidly changing the world we live in, the careers we pursue, and undoubtedly affecting nearly every aspect of our lives. Traditional “big iron” companies like John Deere and GM have become “technology companies”. Electric vehicles, medical devices, military innovation, energy production and storage, are…
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Montana Tax Changes Effective January 1, 2024
* In 2021, Montana passed Senate Bill 399 which made several changes to the state’s tax code effective in 2024. The law consolidated the state’s seven tax brackets for individual income into two and reduced the top marginal rate from 6.75 percent to 6.5 percent. In 2023, the legislature further reduced this rate to 5.9…
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Metric Wrench Makes Move to Heights
The Metric Wrench has moved to a new location and is adopting a new name. Formerly located at 2424 Sixth Ave. North, the automotive business that specializes in servicing European vehicles, has moved to 470 Lake Elmo Drive and is also changing its name to Metric Plus. Metric Plus, owned by Glenn Fournier, opened at…