Author: Press Room

Unemployment Benefits Assessed: Montana Ranks 20th

25 January 2020
Press Room
No comments

Montana has the 20th best structured Unemployment Insurance (UI) tax in the nation, according to the Tax Foundation in its examination of the five major components of the 2020 State Business Tax Climate Index. Montana has hovered at about the same level over the past four years.

The states with the best-scoring UI tax systems are Oklahoma, Florida, Delaware, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arizona. The worst are Massachusetts, Kentucky, Idaho, Nevada, Alaska, and New Hampshire.

Unemployment insurance is a joint federal-state social insurance program that finances benefits for recently unemployed workers through taxes on employers. State UI tax systems are often quite complex, using variable-rate structures that impose different rates depending on how well-established a business is, its layoff history, and the health of the state’s UI trust fund, among other factors. All 50 states and the District of Columbia levy UI taxes, but some states structure their systems better than others.

States Cut Funding for Environmental Agencies

25 January 2020
Press Room
No comments

According to a new study of state budget records, 30 state governments cut funding for their environmental agencies’ pollution control programs and 40 reduced environmental agency staff size.

The nonpartisan Environmental Integrity Project’s report, “The Thin Green Line: Cuts to State Pollution Control Agencies Threaten Public Health,” examined spending and staffing in state pollution control programs in 48 U.S. states excluding Alaska and Hawaii over a 10-year period.

Twenty-five states imposed cuts of at least 10 percent on their environmental agencies; 16 reduced spending by more than 20 percent, when adjusted for inflation, according the report.

The states with the most cuts to environmental agency funding are Wisconsin, Texas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Delaware, New York, Arizona, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Mexico.

Twenty-one states cut their environmental workforce by at least 10 percent; nine cut their workforce by 20 percent or more.

The states with the most cuts to their environmental agency staff were Illinois, North Carolina, Arizona, Louisiana, New York, Tennessee, Michigan, Delaware, Florida and New Jersey.

Illinois cut the most environmental agency jobs between 2008 and 2018, by 38 percent, or the equivalent of 1,028 full-time positions.

Overall, states eliminated 4,400 positions at their environmental agencies.

State Governments Increase Spending $2 Trillion

25 January 2020
Press Room
No comments

State government spending in fiscal 2019 increased at the largest rate since the end of the Great Recession, according to the latest State Expenditure report from the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO).

Total state spending reached $2.1 trillion in fiscal 2019, rising from $2 trillion in fiscal 2018. Total state government spending rose 5.7 percent in fiscal 2019. The increased 2019 growth was slightly above the 33-year NASBO survey historical average of 5.6 percent (without adjusting for inflation).

Seven out of eight geographic regions reported an increase in total state spending in fiscal 2019, according to the report. Western states reported the largest increases; Southwestern states saw a slight decline.

Spending from states’ own funds (general funds and other state funds combined, excluding bonds) rose 5.9 percent in fiscal 2019, the highest annual growth rate since the last recession, NASBO found.

Much of the state spending increases were in transportation.

Rene Beyl Promoted

25 January 2020
Press Room
No comments

René Beyl has been named the Billings Chamber’s Operations and Engagement Manager. Beyl brings 12+ years of experience with the Billings Chamber of Commerce to her new position, which is responsible for daily operations, member data management, and assisting with employee and member engagement.

“René brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this position,” said Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Reiser. “Her overall commitment to our organization, her upbeat and outgoing personality, along with her detailed knowledge of our members, and willingness to meet new people and help them feel comfortable with our organization make her an excellent candidate for this new role.”

Online Advertising, Boon for Small Businesses

25 January 2020
Press Room
No comments

Online advertising is saving entrepreneurs and small business owners significant time and money, creating more efficiencies and effective uses for the limited capital they have on hand, and playing a positive role in driving new sales growth and revenues. These are the findings of a new survey conducted by TechnoMetrica for SBE Council in “The Digital Boost to Startups and Small Business: Online Advertising Delivers BIG Benefits.”

Moreover, for startups and new businesses, the availability of online advertising was identified by entrepreneurs as a key factor in launching their enterprises, with 80% agreeing that: “The ability to reach customers and potential customers was an important factor in starting my business.”

With entrepreneurship lagging in recent years, tools and strategies that lower risks and strengthen affordable access to markets and customers are vital to enabling startup activity. Of the startups surveyed in the report, 90% agree that “Online advertising has provided my business with an affordable option to launch and/or grow my business,” and 86% agree that the method is “important to my business survival and growth.” Technology, obviously, has become an entrepreneur’s best friend. New innovations continue to produce cutting-edge tools for entrepreneurs to launch and grow their businesses. Thanks to the internet and cost-effective methods that help entrepreneurs target and reach potential customers, small business owners are experiencing very positive returns through online advertising. They are also shifting savings from this affordable option to other important needs within their businesses, which in turn supports their competitiveness and growth.

SBE Council has found each new wave of technological innovation and the tools spawned by big innovations has created big benefits for small businesses. For example, in tracking the emergence and then explosion of mobile devices and apps in 2014, the adoption of these new technologies by small business owners added up to big savings – with mobile apps saving businesses almost 600 million hours annually and mobile devices nearly 2 billion in hours. In total, SBE Council estimated that the use of these technologies saved America’s small business owners a staggering $67.5 billion a year.

According to estimates, the savings for small businesses run even higher when it comes to online advertising, nearly $163 billion annually.

One In, Two Out

25 January 2020
Press Room
No comments

The Trump administration has issued its fiscal year 2019 status update on one-in, two-out –“Regulatory Reform Results for Fiscal Year 2019.”

According to the administration, agencies issued 61 “significant deregulatory actions,” and 35 significant regulatory ones, for a ratio of 1.7 to 1.

“Close to one-in, two-out, but not quite,” commented the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

The fiscal year-end 2018 update  showed 57 significant deregulatory actions and 14 significant regulatory actions were completed, for a ratio of four to one.

In any event, the leading edge of the one-in, two-out is the capping of spending rather than the ratio of cuts to addition. In the new accounting for 2019, the administration claims to have eliminated $13.5 billion in overall regulatory costs across the government, and over $50 billion in overall regulatory costs since 2017. Using different methodologies, the Council of Economic Advisers estimates far more.

Criticisms notwithstanding, other presidents have not implemented a program as ambitious as Trump’s.

Oil Video

25 January 2020
Press Room
No comments

A new video being promoted by the American Petroleum Institute (API), the nation’s largest oil and gas trade association, and a fact sheet put out by the Western Energy Alliance refute claims about natural gas production made by Democratic presidential candidates who vow to ban fracking.

API’s video points to how domestic natural gas production is essential for U.S. energy security.  https://youtu.be/ALEY2lqAOGU

Newly Licensed Businesses – November 2019

25 January 2020
Press Room
No comments

Bulletproof Fabrication, 2104 E Maryland Ln, Laurel 59044, 671-7167, Spencer Powell, service

Sandy Taylor, 803 Lewis Ave Apt 5, 59101, 272-0118, Sandy Taylor, service

Rollin’ Express LLC, 1700 Lockwood Rd, 59101, 534-2670, Jill Hinman, service

Jigsaw Consulting, 4325 Lone Eagle Dr, 59106, 661-3247, Jo Swain, service

Double AA Builders, 624 N 13th St, 59101, 384-8011, Andrew Nelson, general contractor

TWM, 1303 Bitterroot Trail, 59105, 591-3709, Trever McFarren, general contractor

Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, 12 Avanta Way, Ste 2, 59102, 272-8369, Jennifer Schwartz, bank/loan agencies

Molly Adair LMT, 27 Shiloh Rd Ste 7, 59102, 208-7166, Molly Adair, service

A&A Auto Repair, 470 Lake Elmo Dr, 59105, 850-0946, Andrea & Anthony Garza, auto business

Buzzer Home repair, 7029 Lance Street, Shepherd 59079, 696-2878, John Strahan, service

Petroleum Consultants Inc, 2812 1st Ave N Ste 434, 59101, 490-7560, Darren Gollehon/Doug Rubick/Cody Danielson, service

Muster Cluster LLC, 2812 1st Ave N, 59101, 490-7560, Darren Gollehon/Doug Rubick/Cody Danielson/Kris Mindrum, service

Oildigger resources LLC, 2812 1st Ave N, 59101, 490-7560, Darren Gollehon/Doug Rubick service

Biker Betty, 836 Cook Ave, 599102, Jacqueline Brown, retail sales

Diana Marcecla Merrifield, 2240 Monad Rd Apt 3, 59102, 591-0328, Diana Merrifield, service

Coffee Date Counseling Services LLC, 1925 Grand Ave Ste 141, 59102, 690-6875, Michelle Pinnow, service

Wood Be Creative, 764 Antelope Pl, 59101, 208-406-8473, Brittany Coulson, misc

J&J excavating and trucking Inc, 1004 Eastside Hwy, Corvallis 59828, 961-1511, Jake King, service

Stompin Grounds, 510 N 28th St, 59101, 619-495-6551, Cynthia Johnson, restaurant

Patrick Onstad Fencing, 520 O’Malley Dr, 59102, 697-2784, Patrick Onstad,  general contractor

EDH Builders, 712 St John’s Ave, 59101, 690-1225, Erik Hamilton, general contractor

 Precise Heating and Air Conditioning, 712 Oasis Dr, 59105, 281-0746, Justin Lewis, service

CBD American Shaman, 937 Grand Ave, 59102, 435-414-3945, Vee Etre, retail sales

Magic City low Voltage, 2227 bench Blvd, 59105, 672-2491, Jeremy Cartwright, service

Ann Lewis, LMT, 4209 Audubon Way, 59106, 970-0588, Ann Lewis, service

True North Family Therapy, 1643 24th St W Ste 310, 59102, Janna North, service

Casey’s Dream LLC, 411 24th St W Ste 113, 59102, Brittany Curl, service

Clark Consulting, 307 S. Billings Blvd #69, 59101, 662-347-8022, Charles Clark, service

406 P.A.L.S. 316 Lewis Ave, 59101, 855-9952, Brian Steele, service

Chau Kitchen, 225 E Airport Rd, 59105, 969-1136, Phil Chau, restaurants

B&L Welding Services, 2793 N 26 Rd, Worden 59088, 200-1074, Bo Fish, service

The Windy Mill Press, 1500 Poly Dr Ste 113, 59102, 698-9000, retail sales

Mountain Mudd Espresso, 509 24th St W, 59102, 321-2090, Tanya Weinreis, retail sales

Hickory Farms, 1749 Main St 59105, 307-262-9667, Cordell Wistisen, retail sales

A&J Properties, 135 Rolling Meadows Dr, 59101, 860-7700, Aaron Johnson, service

Foxy G Enterprises, 923 US Hwy 87 E, 59101, 672-1705, L. Michelle Gabaldon, retail sales

CBD Releaf, 1313 Grand Ave Ste 8B, 59102, 694-6166, Andrew Baker, retail sales

Jammie J Pilgram, 1739 Avenue B 59102, 839-7868, Jammie J Pilgram, general contractor

Rachel Bahre, 635 Burlington Ave, 59101, 970-980-5143, Rachel Bahre, service

Thomas Hofer Construction, 3815 Avenue F, 59102, 605-660-2122, Thomas Hofer, general contractor

Timeless Blooms LLC, 610 Lake Elmo Dr, Apt 11, 59105, 647-2482, Sierra Brooke Whittemore, service

Sutton Heating & Cooling Inc, 1925 Grand Ave, 59102, 777-4326, Brent Sutton, service

Accurate Exteriors, 4522 Stone St, 59101, 697-0054, Matthew Boyd, general contractor

Bedroc Inspection Services LLC, 2905 Lynwood Circle, 59102, 927-9018, Rocci Lamantia, service

Ferreira Construction Company, 214 3rd St N, Huntley 59037, 913-638-3218, Antonio Ferreira, general contractor

Immortal Design & Everything Art, 1615 Alderson Ave, 59102, 860-5055, Dustin Flynn, service

Ebon Coffee Collective LLC, 3024 2nd Ave N, 59101, 839-2030, Jaxi & Nathan Howes, restaurants

The Brokerage LLC, 3203 3rd Ave N, 59101, 671-6160, Keith Hart, service

Montana hemp Boys LLC, 741 Conway St, 59105, 672-1074, Brian Bowers, office only

Norbury Drywall Paint & Repair, 146 Stillwater Ln, 59105, 208-4489, Michael Norbury, general contractor

Safety Colorz, 249 Coburn Rd, 794 5803, Rita Gausen, retail sales

Body by Scotty, 1409 Avenue E, 59102, 690-6301, Scott Reidy, service

BTU Buster, 23 Monroe St #2, 59101, 861-7701, Trent Currie, service

Multifacetid Design Inc, 1939 Colton Blvd, 59102, 259-3103, Jason Prigge, service

Thrift N Things, 608 Ray Rd, Lavina 59046, 320-2601, Rebecca Haaland, retail sales

Natalie Enterprise Inc, 2500 Grand Ave Unit N, 59102, 403-8991, Shanni a Moulton, service

Tevlin Consulting LLC, 2404 Quinn Haven Dr, 59102, 670-5883, James Tevlin, service

Arete Consulting LLC, (Investments) 2223 Montana Ave Ste 103, 59101, 894-2121, Lyndon Scheveck, service

Arete Consulting LLC, (Entertainment) 2223 Montana Ave Ste 103, 59101, 894-2121, Lyndon Scheveck, service

Speedy Wrecker Service, 12885 Medicine Man Trail, Molt 59057, 669-3254, Darlene Howard, service

Northwest Tower LLC, 9760 Summit Dr, Missoula 59808, 728-0988, Mike McCue, service

Smith & Company Construction, 1220 Weil St Ste 3, 59101, 259-9229, Cory & Rose Smith, general contractor

Shaylah Tokar LMT, 27 Shiloh Rd Ste 7, 59106, 201-7353, Shaylah Tokar, service

Redstone Wildlife Studio, 5231 King Ave W Ste C-1, 59106, 200-5031, Scott Adamson, service

Iron Oil Operating LLC, 2507 Montana Ave, 59101, 318-8018, Mitch Thompson (mgr), service

MSU B Changes Names of Colleges

25 January 2020
Press Room
No comments

Montana State University Billings recently received board of regents approval to rename and restructure two of their colleges. The College of Allied Health Professions’ new name will be the College of Health Professions & Science, and the College of Arts & Sciences will change to the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences.

This shift assists in the development of pathways to more effectively serve students interested in health professions and the sciences.

“Restructuring the College of Health Professions & Science will provide more opportunities to collaborate with the health service industry to develop career pathways to meet our community and regional needs,” said Kurt Toenjes, acting dean of the College of Allied Health Professions.

More Workers Earning 6 Figure Salaries

25 January 2020
Press Room
No comments

From The Center Square

Earning a salary of $100,000 a year is a major financial milestone for many Americans. The good news is that with steadily rising wages and increasing demand for skilled jobs, the goal of earning a six-figure salary is more attainable than ever before.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the percentage of individuals with a total income of $100,000 or more per year (in 2018 dollars) has increased dramatically. While only 3.5 percent of earners in 1980 had the equivalent of a six-figure salary, that number rose to over 11 percent in 2018. This upward trend closely follows the trend in mean individual income over the same period. Nationwide, the mean annual income was $50,413 in 2018 for all individuals ages 15 and over.

The share of high-paying jobs is expected to increase significantly over the next 10 years, especially due to increased demand in the healthcare, management, and technology industries. The average projected employment growth rate across all occupations for the period 2018-2028 is 5.2 percent, but occupations with a mean annual pay of $100,000 or more are expected to increase twice as fast, at almost 10 percent. High-paying healthcare jobs, in particular, will expand rapidly as an aging population requires increased medical care.

Jobs that are most frequently attaining this goal are CEO’s, college health specialties teachers,  Health Specialties Teachers, marketing managers, construction managers, administrative services managers, pharmacists, medical and health services managers, sales managers, computer and information systems managers, financial managers, lawyers, physicians and surgeons, software developers and programmers, general and operations managers.