Author: Press Room

On a Whim: AAA Montana Reveals Last-Minute Travel Trends

22 October 2020
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Travelers who are comfortable taking a trip are making those plans at the last minute

As travelers begin to hit the roads again, many are making travel plans on a whim.

According to AAA.com hotel booking data, domestic travel bookings show September was the strongest month of the year, but still down 12% compared to 2019. AAA Montana travel data also reveals:

* 49% of hotel bookings are within three days of travel, up from 31% in 2019.

* 65% of hotel bookings are within seven days of departure, up from 45% in 2019.

“Travel destinations around the world have made enhancements to their operations with safety in mind,” Aldo Vazquez, spokesperson for AAA Montana, said. “Would-be travelers should work with a travel professional who can help them research their destination to help determine their level of comfort before booking.”

Shorter, closer trips to home appear to be the new trend as travelers determine for themselves what they are comfortable doing when venturing from home.

These are the top hotel destinations according to data from AAA Montana through September.

1. Las Vegas, NV            

2. San Diego, CA

3. Reno, NV

4. Flagstaff,  AZ             9

5. Sacramento, CA       

6. San Francisco, CA

7. Los Angeles, CA

8. Phoenix, AZ

9. Monterey, CA

10. Salt Lake City, UT

*This list includes data from a seven state region including Northern California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska.

AAA’s TripTik travel tool provides COVID-19 travel restrictions, including roadway checkpoints, border closures and confirmed cases at the state and county level. Travelers looking for hotel destinations can visit AAA.com/Hotels to search for lodgings with AAA’s Best of Housekeeping and Diamond designations.

 About AAA Montana AAA  is on a mission to create Members for life by unleashing the innovative spirit of 4,000 employees representing more than 6 million Members across Northern California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska. In addition to legendary roadside assistance, AAA offers home, auto and life insurance, travel, and home security service

MSUB Focuses Search on Stefani Hicswa

22 October 2020
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The MSU Billings Chancellor Search Committee has announced Stefani Hicswa, Ph.D., as the sole finalist for the MSUB Chancellor position. Hicswa currently serves as President of Northwest College in Powell, WY; a position she has held since 2013. Under her leadership, Northwest College has achieved the highest completion rate in its history, completed significant capital projects, and launched comprehensive strategic visioning, enrollment management, and facilities master plans. Prior to her service as President of Northwest College, she served for seven years as President of Miles Community College in Miles City, Montana.

“Stefani Hicswa is an outstanding finalist for this position,” said Deputy Commissioner of Higher Education Brock Tessman, who serves as chair of the Chancellor Search Advisory Committee. “She brings to the table a proven track record of stable and successful executive leadership, strong connections to Montana higher education, and a passion for connecting with students, employees, and the community.”

Hicswa holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, a M.Ed. in Adult, Community, and Higher Education from Montana State University Bozeman, and a B.A. in Organizational Communication from the University of Montana Missoula. She is deeply familiar with the higher education landscape in Montana, including her time as President of Miles Community College, work as a consultant to Helena College, Flathead Valley Community College, Miles Community College, and Great Falls College, and a term as the Lincoln County Campus Director for Flathead Valley Community College. She has also held leadership positions with the Flathead Valley Community College TRIO and Upward Bound programs. Beyond Montana, she has faculty experience with the University of Wyoming, National American University, and the University of Illinois.

More Funds for Unemployment Will Lower Rates for Employers

22 October 2020
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Doubling Montana Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund will provide significant relief for 43,000 Montana businesses

Montana’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund will receive an infusion of $200 million from federal Coronavirus Relief Funds, which effectively doubles the fund.

The increased funding will provide “significant relief for 43,000 Montana businesses,” said Governor Steve Bullock, since it will prevent an 85 percent spike in a tax rate that they would otherwise have to pay.

 “Montana businesses have already been hit hard once due to COVID-19 and its economic impacts. The last thing we want is to see them hit hard twice by significantly increasing unemployment insurance rates,” Bullock said. “Boosting the trust fund will have a real impact on the ground for tens of thousands of Montana businesses next year and for years to come and will play a key role in the state’s economic recovery.”

“Business owners in Montana are doing all they can to navigate the economic challenges presented by COVID-19,” Todd O’Hair, president and CEO of the Montana Chamber of Commerce, said. “Every bit of assistance helps, and this smart use of Coronavirus Relief Funds will bring some needed predictability to unemployment insurance rates as we emerge from the pandemic.”

How Lobbyists & Special Interests, Not the Poor, Will Benefit in Biden’s Climate Justice Plan

22 October 2020
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By Dr. David W. Kreutzer

The first two debates have been hard to watch at times. But then again, politics can be ugly.

Among many statements, former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris both promised to rescue us with multi-trillion-dollar climate justice policies.  While novel sounding, it’s just a sad rerun of the failed promises made the last time Joe Biden was in office

Guess what?  The inspector general at the Department of Labor, as well as the analysts at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, evaluated both the stimulus plan’s job-training programs and the number of green jobs “created.” The programs were a dismal failure and the number of green jobs created was nowhere near the target. It turns out, these evaluations were so damning that further reports were cancelled under the guise of balancing the budget. 

To make matters worse, unconscionable grants and loan guarantees were given to the non-needy.  Financially and politically influential corporations like Chevron, Google, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, BP, Statoil were awarded billions.  

And that’s merely a glimpse of how lobbyists and special interests in Washington DC not only get rich, but richer.   

Since 1970, the inflation adjusted federal budget has grown by more than two-and-one-half times.  Along with that rise, the Washington, DC area has gotten much richer.  In 1970, three of the wealthiest counties in the country were suburbs of DC.  By 2019, the share grew to eight of twenty (nine if you count the independent city of Falls Church).  Over that same period, the entire Midwest went from six of the top 20 counties to zero.  No politician ever authored legislation whose title was “A Bill to Transfer Great Gobs of Money from the Heartland to the Capital.”  I suppose they’d say it was a coincidence that it worked out that way, that somehow the government – and Washington DC – magically grew and grew.

The big winners are the people who run the programs (and their consultants).  The wealthiest-county data are backed up by numbers on housing values.  From 1970 to 2018, the inflation-adjusted value the median house in the U.S. rose by slightly more than 100 percent.  Over that same stretch, the inflation-adjusted value of the median home in DC rose by more than 350 percent to $607,000.

Biden’s plan is to spend $2 trillion on his green-jobs plan.  There are 6.5 million families in poverty in the U.S.  If this spending were targeted at the poor, each of these families could receive more than $300,000.  They will not receive any significant portion of that amount.  That is not the way DC works.

One more factoid for those who doubt big spenders are focused on the poor.  Twenty-six of the top 27 richest congressional districts are represented by Democrats.

If ever-larger government programs are not the recipe for creating jobs, what is?  Cutting taxes, reducing unnecessary red tape, and unleashing bountiful, affordable energy seem to work pretty well.  Before the worldwide COVID19 pandemic cut the legs out from under the world economy, the U.S. employment picture was excellent.  The labor-force participation rate was growing, unemployment rates were falling to record low-levels for Hispanic and African-American workers.  Wages were rising and, for once, they were rising even faster for low-wage workers. And it sure wasn’t the government making this happen.

A multi-trillion-dollar green-jobs plan will tax productive economic activity and reward beggar-thy-neighbor political activity.  Experience shows this only enriches political cronies, but does not create good jobs.  A better strategy is to make investment pay by reining in bloated government and saying “no” to the swamp creatures.  Because when investment pays, investors pay workers. 

History offers little encouragement that Biden’s new green-jobs plan will be much different than it was in 2009.  Regardless of how high-minded and noble sounding may be the calls for legislation and justice, after the placard-carrying masses leave Washington DC to go campaign, the details are hammered out by the insiders – lobbyists and special interests.  Of course, the middleman takes his cut, too.

And that’s how lobbyists, instead of the poor, will benefit under Biden’s climate justice plan.

Dr. David Kreutzer is a senior economist at the Institute for Energy Research. A native of Fairfax County, Virginia, Kreutzer earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Virginia Tech and received the first Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University. He taught economics for 23 years at James Madison University and for three years before that at Ohio University. He has published in peer-reviewed journals such as The Journal of Political Economy, Climate Change Economics, The National Tax Journal, Economic Inquiry, and Applied Economics

Montana Highlights October 15, 2020

21 October 2020
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Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has created a dive team of six Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks employees who focus on controlling aquatic invasive species in the state’s waterways. Besides attempting to physically control AIS in lakes and streams the group also does education, detection and prevention. The team has inspected over 125,000 watercraft during 2020 with over 30 being detected carrying invasive species.

Nomad Global Communications builds specialty vehicles with mobile communication systems to assist rural firefighters and law enforcement. The company has been building these vehicles since 2002 in Columbia Falls. The COVID 19 outbreak has caused the business to focus on vehicles allowing medical personnel to bring their treatment regimes to rural areas and impacted urban areas. Nomad has also responded to the pandemic with adaptations in both its physical design and digital approach. Nomad’s most recent updates include low-touch features and increased software security.

 The Ponderosa Chalet at Snow Bear Chalets on Big Mountain has been selected as one of Vrbo’s ( vacation rental by owner) top 25 all-time favorite properties. The online vacation rental business selected 25 properties out of more than 2 million listings worldwide in order to celebrate its 25th year in business. The chalets opened in 2017 as the world’s first ski-in, ski-out tree houses.

A full liquor license and a beer and wine license are available in the Missoula area, according to the Montana Department of Revenue. The floater All-Liquor license is available for a minimum bid of $323,000 in a competitive bidding process, and is not eligible to offer gambling. A beer and wine license that can be located within Missoula or five miles of Missoula is available for a minimum bid of $42,000.

The Downtown Missoula Foundation will offer Heritage Trail Tours and Dinner at one of three fine dining restaurants in downtown Missoula. Offered on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in October, the Heritage Trail Dinner Tours will feature a 90-minute guided walking tour paired with a three-course dinner for $100 per person.

Yellowstone National Park has reported that it had the most-ever September visitors. The increase contrasts sharply with May, when visitation rates were 90% lower compared to the same month last year. The park recorded about 837,000 visits in September, a rate 21% higher than September 2019 and 15.6% higher than the park’s second-busiest September on record in 2018. Visitation rates through June were down 49% compared to numbers from the first six months of 2019. A rapid uptick saw an increase of 2% in visitation rates in July and an uptick in August of 7.5%.The national park’s peak season is typically from May through September. Tourism tends to taper off in September and October. Most lodges, restaurants, stores and other services close for the year in October, followed by all park roads in early November.

The Sky Shed, a ninth-floor rooftop bar and restaurant has opened in downtown Bozeman. with panoramic views of Bozeman. Situated on the roof of what’s now the tallest building in downtown Bozeman, the Sky Shed is essentially a glass restaurant that can be opened to combine the indoor and outdoor seating. Fireplaces dot the patio, surrounded by oversized furniture and tables.

University of Montana researchers have received a $21 million government contract, bringing more support and longevity to what has been a grassroots effort to build a better climate monitoring network across the state. The funding comes from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Heartland Forward published its annual report, “Most Dynamic Micropolitan Regions,” which ranks 515 micropolitans–regions whose populations range from 10,000 to 50,000–by their economic performance. Bozeman ranked sixth.  Pecos, Texas; Jackson, Wyo.-Idaho; and Summit Park, Utah, ranked as the first, second, and third most dynamic micropolitans, respectively. Tourism, energy, and robust entrepreneurship were the most common strengths among the top 30 places. The report offers a view of small cities’ economies heading into the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating which locations may be well positioned to capitalize on a potential exodus from large cities, and which may be most vulnerable to the economic impacts of the crisis.

The Old Faithful Snow Lodge closed 10 days early, October 13, after staff started being diagnosed with COVID-19. Over a dozen cases were reported during the last two weeks, after a summer with only a few cases. Normally the lodge would have closed on October 25.

Developers are planning to build a $19.1 million television and film studio in Missoula. A Montana-based company called Shadowcast Partners, LLC, is planning to purchase the county-owned land in the Missoula Technology Park, to build a large-scale television and film studio.

A Finland study shows that older people today are smarter, stronger and faster than 30 years ago. The study compared the physical and cognitive performance of a group of older people in 2017 with a similarly aged group three decades earlier. Improvements were seen in almost every test, suggesting progress has been made extending the number of healthy years a person lives

The Montana Chamber announced the hiring of Payton Dobbs as the organization’s Membership Relations Coordinator. Payton is responsible for member engagement, retention, and recruitment. Before starting her business selling insurance in 2018, Payton spent five years working in retail where her interest in business and entrepreneurship began.

On Nov. 5, the Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport will send off their first flight from their new B concourse terminal expansion. The expansion will add four new gates with the more than 75,000 square foot terminal area.  The $26.5 million new concourse will have food services and retail options.

Minimum Wage will Increase Jan. 1

21 October 2020
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The minimum wage is determined by taking the current minimum wage of $8.65 and increasing it by the CPI-U increase from August of 2019 to August 2020. The CPI-U increased by 1.31% (unadjusted) over the year ending August 2020. To keep the minimum wage at the same purchasing power as the prior year, the wage should increase by $0.11 per hour. However, since state statute requires the wage to rounded to the nearest 5 cents, the 2021 minimum wage rate will be $8.75. 

In 2020, the District of Columbia and 29 U.S. states, including Montana, have minimum wage rates that exceed the federal rate of $7.25 per hour.  

Metra Park Cancels Events thru Nov. 9

21 October 2020
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All events at Metra Park have been cancelled through November 9, according to a press release issued by Yellowstone County Commissioners on Tuesday.

The Board of Commissioners stated, “In continuing to do all that we can to keep our community as safe as possible, and in light of the Health Officer Order of October 12, 2020 limiting group size to 25 individuals, the Board of County Commissioners has directed MetraPark staff to inform any and all vendors and promoters who have rented any portion of MetraPark grounds and buildings that all events have been canceled through at least November 9, 2020.”

“This decision was not made lightly and the Board understands the need for events and activities for our community. However, after consulting with County Attorney Scott Twito, it is clear that we cannot guarantee adherence to the Health Officer’s Order. Our health officials have asked for the help of our community and we must all rise to do our part.”

MEDA Announces 2020 Impact Winners

21 October 2020
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Each year the Montana Economic Developers Association recognizes economic development achievements through its 2020 MEDA Award Winners.

There are two categories of awards: Impact Awards and the Anthony J. Preite Champion of Economic Development Award. Impact Awards recognize member organizations that demonstrate valuable and effective approaches to regional economic and community development. The Anthony J. Preite Award recognizes an economic developer who has significantly contributed to the profession, to the association, their economic development organization, and to the communities they serve as a whole.

The seven MEDA 2020 Impact Award Winners include:

Southeastern Montana Development Corporation (SEMDC) Powder River County Bridge Disaster Recovery Effort: SEMDC and Great West Engineering lead a recovery team to assist Powder River County in receiving a $7 million dollar grant to replace and or upgrade four bridges and resurface 18 miles of roads for $8.75 million dollar disaster effort.

Anaconda Local Development Corporation launched a multi-pronged approach to mitigate the effects of the economic shutdown due to COVID-19. ALDC acted quickly with its partners to mitigate the effects of the shutdown on businesses and stood at the forefront of information for opportunities and resources for businesses to keep employees on the payroll. Ultimately, ALDC aided over 30 businesses to make it through the initial COVID closure and reopening. A second Impact Award is given to Anaconda Local Development Corporation for its Anaconda Historic Signs & App Project. Historic building plaques were mounted on over 20 downtown buildings to increase historic education and tourism. In addition, an accompanying app with Montana Historical Society’s Historic Montana website takes users on a virtual tour of selected buildings, neighborhoods, and cultural sites. The Historic Signs project has brought people to the heart of Anaconda to be educated in a whole new light about the culture and history within the central business district.

Big Sky Economic Development’s Space2Place program, created through its Community Development Department, offers micro-grants up to $5000 to individuals and community organizations for creative placemaking projects. The program emphasizes how individual and community efforts can create incremental changes that enhance the beauty, vibrancy, and activation of our spaces, transforming them into engaging places. Space2Place has assisted in the development of twenty-three unique and engaging community assets which has transformed ugly to attractive, underutilized to engaging, and bland to vibrant.

Big Sky Economic Development (BSED) Coulson Park Project is a second MEDA Impact Award for this organization. Big Sky Economic Development, collaborating with the City of Billings and community stakeholders, plan to design and develop Coulson Park which sits next to the Yellowstone River back dropped by the sandstone rimrocks. Through BSED’s hard work, grant writing, community participation and local and city leadership, Coulson Park has recently concluded a master plan and begun the funding process towards development. It was through many public outreach meetings, presentations, and conversations that the vision was not only identified, but passed on throughout the community.

The Choteau Area Port Authority (CAPA) has made great strides in community and economic development as a result of key partnerships, including holding a MEDA Community Review. As a result, CAPA has been able to assess, target, and implement economic development strategies for the community. Progress has been made in four key areas of focus: community enhancement, infrastructure, business support, and tourism and recreation. CAPA initiated the MEDA assessment and has been a supporter, facilitator, and driver of many projects and generated over $100,000 in grants for projects.

Great Falls Development Authority (GFDA) Bridge Financing Project is a prime example of economic development impact. Bridge financing is an effective way to make limited economic development loan capital create greater impact. In the ten years since GFDA’s bridge loan product, it has closed 11 bridge loan packages totaling $16,314,289 which has leveraged more than $121,617,469 in private investment in the Great Falls trade area. Every dollar of bridge loans has leveraged over $7 of investment. Because of their unique nature, each bridge loan project has required services of GFDA in business coaching, business development and lending staff to be involved, as well as a number of volunteer leaders. To date, no loan capital on bridge loans has been lost, and none of the current bridge loans are delinquent.

The MEDA Anthony J. Preite Champion of Economic Development Award is intended for a Montanan who has practiced economic development full-time who has significantly contributed to the profession, to the association, their economic development organization, and to their communities as a whole. MEDA announced the Anthony J. Preite Champion of Economic Development for 2020 is Jim Atchison, Executive Director, Southeastern Montana Development Corporation, located in Colstrip. Atchison has served in economic development for over 20 years and thrived through challenges of boom, bust, fire, flood, and pandemic. In making the 700 mile round trip to Helena to testify on key issues, Atchison will now have this very special award to add to his renown “tool box” for Montana economic development.

Letters to the Editor

21 October 2020
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Letters to the Editor – Webb

Extreme Kathleen a campaign finance hypocrite

If you’ve ever heard Extreme Kathleen Williams speak, you have heard her decry the influence of outside money in politics, and even claim to lead by example on the issue of campaign finance. Unfortunately, her record shows she fails to practice what she preaches.

Her campaign is being supported by over $2 million in outside money from Nancy Pelosi and national Democrat groups – and is even bankrolling her campaign with money from radical groups who are pushing to defund the police!

While Extreme Kathleen touts the need for campaign finance reform, what she means is forcing taxpayers to foot the bill for her political campaign – to the tune of up to $5 million. She has vocally supported a bill before Congress to do just that.

This is coming from the same person that pays herself a salary from her campaign, lining her own pockets despite telling her campaign contributors that “every dollar donated goes right back to the campaign.”

From scamming her own donors, to wanting to use your tax dollars to fund her political aspirations, to accepting money from the very dark money groups she decries, it is clear Extreme Kathleen isn’t independent—she’s just another self-serving politician.

Representative Peggy Webb

House District 43

Billings, MT

Letter to the Editor – O’Leary

Montana cannot afford

Kathleen Williams

With our economy still reeling from COVID-19 and the ensuing shutdown, it is critical our lone voice in the U.S. House of Representative be someone with a proven record of supporting pro-growth policies that will get our economy moving again and get Montanans back to work. After examining her record, it is clear that is not Kathleen Williams.

Extreme Kathleen is a liberal tax-and-spend politician who thinks she knows how to spend your money better than you do. She supports slapping a massive, new tax on retirement accounts and pension plans and wants to repeal the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, which would mean a tax hike of over $2,200 for the average Montana family.

During her time in the Montana legislature, she had a disastrous record when it came to taxes. Extreme Kathleen voted against 10 major tax cut bills totaling over $1 billion in much needed tax relief for Montanans, even voting against an income tax cut for Montana’s poorest citizens.

Electing Extreme Kathleen to Congress would mean more government and higher taxes for Montana families and small businesses, at a time when we can afford it least. I urge all Montanans to reject her radical agenda.

Brandon O’Leary

Helena, MT

Letter to the Editor – Voigtlander

Williams doesn’t support law enforcement 

At a time when violent attacks against law enforcement are on the rise, our police deserve to know they have the support of our elected leaders. Therefore, it is deeply troubling that despite repeated calls to do so, Extreme Kathleen Williams has refused to say she supports Montana law enforcement.

You see, Extreme Kathleen is bankrolling her campaign with donations from radical groups pushing to defund the police. No wonder as cities across our nation burned and dangerous movements to defund the police began to grow in Helena, Bozeman, and Missoula – she has continued to remain silent.

Radical activists have bought her silence, but make no mistake Extreme Kathleen would vote in lockstep with Nancy Pelosi and far-left Democrats to strip funding from our police departments. Her willingness to pander to far-left ideologies is a slap in the face to our police and puts public safety at risk.

Montana law enforcement deserves better. This once again proves why Matt Rosendale is the best choice to represent us in Congress. Matt unabashedly backs the blue, and he has spoken out strongly against these irresponsible efforts to defund police. I encourage all Montanans to join me in supporting Matt Rosendale for Congress. 

Kyle Voigtlander, Bozeman, MT

County Commissioners Reject Cherry Creek Zone Change

21 October 2020
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County Commissioners rejected the request for a zone change by Cherry Creek Estates in the Heights, following extensive testimony from residents opposed to the change, which would have enabled the proposed development of 33 two –family townhomes.

“My strongest opposition is that it would de-value properties,” said Commissioner Don Jones. His motion to deny was seconded by Commissioner John Ostlund, who said he agreed.

Commissioner Denis Pitman said he opposed the request because it would increase density, which would impact transportation and contribute to school overcrowding, and because the developers do not plan to build walking trails.

The request was to change the zoning from “Public” to “R-80”, by Cherry Island, LLC, which is managed by the Jock Clause  family who developed and managed the adjacent development of Cherry Creek Manufactured Home Park in 2001.

Those testifying in opposition said that the earlier development is today a source of much public criticism regarding how it is maintained and managed. It is seen as a source of much crime in the area.