The Montana State University Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics and MSU Extension will host the 13th annual agricultural economics conference, “Managing Risk and Uncertainty in Agriculture” on Friday, Nov. 1. The conference is part of the College of Agriculture’s annual Celebrate Agriculture weekend. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Procrastinator Theater in the Strand Union Building, and the conference will run from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Register by phone at 406-994-3511 or online at www.ampc.montana.edu/fallconference/. More information can be found at www.agriculture.montana.edu/celebrateag.
Author: Press Room
Montana Chamber of Commerce
The Montana Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual conference on Oct. 30 at the Hilton Garden Inn Missoula. Keynote speaker will be Boeing Helena Director Reyna Cardenas. Cardenas will share how Boeing Helena crafted a successful talent pipeline. For details go to Montana Chamber of Commerce website.
Three CTA Architects Promoted to Associates
CTA | Cushing Terrell, an award-winning architecture, engineering, and interior design firm, announced that Alan Anseth, senior project manager; Dawn MacKenzie, senior interior designer; and Nick Bowers, AIA, NCARB, architect, have been promoted to associate. All three are based in the firm’s Billings office.
“Alan, Nick, and Dawn are talented and valuable members of our team who have been key in the growth and success of the firm,” said Scott Wilson, president at CTA | Cushing Terrell. “Each are passionate leaders who represent the culture and values the firm was founded more than 80 years ago, and we are thrilled to promote them to associate.”
Anseth, who has a degree in electrical technology and business management, has worked at CTA | Cushing Terrell for four years. He works with clients to implement energy-saving measures and projects. Anseth has served on the boards of the Billings Builders Exchange, Zoo Montana, the Montana chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association, and Moss Mansion.
Bowers has worked at CTA | Cushing Terrell for eight years. He works with clients in the California Bay Area and Austin, Texas, with a focus on the commercial design market and supporting tech clients such as Dell and Google.
MacKenzie leads the firm’s interior design service sector for Montana. She has worked at CTA | Cushing Terrell for 14 years and focuses on healthcare facility design.
Northern Plains Resource Council Names New Director
Olivia Stockman has assumed the role of Staff Director for the Northern Plains Resource Council, a political activist group focused on conservation and agriculture, founded in 1972. Teresa Erickson preceded Stockman in the role and has retired from the position after thirty-three years of leadership. The Staff Director is the “Chief of Staff” position at Northern Plains and is responsible for overseeing Northern Plains’ entire program, directing all other staff, coordinating the organization’s leadership model of member-controlled grassroots democracy, and seeing to Northern Plains’ financial and organizational health.
Before taking over as Staff Director, Stockman previously served as Northern Plains’ Director of Organizing and Campaigns. She joined the organization in 2008, directing a team of community organizers that has doubled since then. Prior to joining Northern Plains, Stockman brought extensive nonprofit experience having worked for the New Mexico League of Conservation Voters, Service Employees International Union, Montana League of Rural Voters, and the Western Organization of Resource Councils.
Erickson has officially retired as Staff Director but will continue to work part time for the organization managing the organization’s History Project, which aims to document and preserve Northern Plains’ legacy.
August 2019 Billings Newly Licensed Businesses
Billings Clinic/Jones Construction, Inc, 801 N 29th St, Com Addition, $4,000,000
Lai, Khoon Eng/Borders, Schyler – General Contractor, 3131 Iron Horse Trl, Com Fence/Roof/ Siding, $7,800
Stevenson, Carol J/Highsmith, Charlie – General Contractor, 2001 Lakehills Dr, Com New 3+ (Multi Family), $618,036
NA/V Properites Llp/Rasmussen, Brian – Service, 2111 4th Ave, Com New Other, $20,000
Kincaid Land Llc/Hale, Ben – Service, 2514 Shiloh Rd, Com New Other, $190,000
Tired Man Llc/Irish (Manager), Tyson – General Contractor, 1461 41st St W, Com New Other, $140,000
Peterson Quality Office/Irish (Manager), Tyson – General Contractor, 504 N 32nd St, Com New Other, $140,000
Kincaid Land Llc/Hale, Ben – Service, 2514 Shiloh Rd, Com New Warehouse/Storage, $60,000
Tired Man Llc/Irish (Manager), Tyson – General Contractor, 1461 41st St W, Com New Warehouse/Storage, $60,000
Peterson Quality Office/Irish (Manager), Tyson – General Contractor, 504 N 32nd St, Com New Warehouse/Storage, $60,000
Lowe, Barbara L/Lapin, Mitchell S – General Contractor, 2747 Enterprise Ave, Com Remodel, $145,000
Windmill Properties Llc/King, Charles D – General Contractor, 1540 13th St W, Com Remodel, $20,000
RC Property Holdings Llc/Pinnacle Remodeling, 4007 Avenue B, Com Remodel, $15,000
NA/V Properties Llp/Rasmussen, Brian – Service, 2111 4th Ave, Com Remodel, $20,000
Watson, Gerald W/Irish (Manager), Tyson – General Contractor, 1005 Main St, Com Remodel, $20,000
Sisters Of Charith Of Leavenwo/Alberts (Sr Vp/Cfo), Dave – General Contractor, 1233 N 30th St, Com Remodel, $45,000
Underriner, William B/Freyenhagen Construction, Inc., 104 N 28th St, Com Remodel, $45,000
Prospect Investment Llc/Prospect Investment, 670 King Park Dr, Com Remodel – Change In Use, $15,500
MC Real Estate Holdings Inc/Roberts/Clemons, Misty/James – General Contractor, 5875 Whispering Woods Dr, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $75,000
River Otter Properties Llc/Roberts/Clemons, Misty/James – General Contractor, 284 Westchester Sq N, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $9,700
Johnson, Kristin K & Scott E/Ray E, Mehrer – General Contractor, 1502 Miles Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $12,000
Link Properties, Llc/Empire Roofing Inc – Roofing Contractor, 2041 Harnish Blvd, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $53,000
Homestead House Inc/Harvey, Brian L – Service, 450 S 20th St W, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $2,400
Homestead House Inc/Harvey, Brian L – Service, 450 S 20th St W, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $7,800
Homestead House Inc/Harvey, Brian L – Service, 450 S 20th St W, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $5,100
Homestead House Inc/Harvey, Brian L – Service, 450 S 20th St W, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $7,400
Homestead House Inc/Harvey, Brian L – Service, 450 S 20th St W, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $10,700
Homestead House Inc/Harvey, Brian L – Service, 450 S 20th St W, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $4,800
Homestead House Inc/Harvey, Brian L – Service, 450 S 20th St W, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $7,500
Homestead House Inc/Harvey, Brian L – Service, 450 S 20th St W, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $5,600
Homestead House Inc/Harvey, Brian L – Service, 450 S 20th St W, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $6,000
Homestead House Inc/Harvey, Brian L – Service, 450 S 20th St W, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $13,500
Lnd & M Family Limited Partners/Hiroberts Roofing, 337 Quaking Aspen, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $24,000
Lnd & M Family Limited Partners/Hiroberts Roofing, 338 Quaking Aspen, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $24,000
City Of Billings/Knife River-Billings – General Contractor, 260 Stewart Park Rd, Com New Other, $230,000
Bach Land And Development Llc/McLaughlin, James – General Contractor, 3040 Central Ave, Com New Other, $14,280
GMD Development Homeword/Thornton, Orion – Service, 230 Starner Ln, Com New Other, $208,400
City Of Billings (Airport)/Sletten Construction Companies, 1901 Terminal Cir, Com Remodel, $25,000
15th Street Investors LLC/Magic City Custom Taping, 1500 Broadwater Ave, Com Remodel, $8,000
Kevin Cremer/Cucancic Construction Inc., 316 S 24th St W, Com Remodel, $150,000
Himmelberger, Dennis L/Rambur, Dale – General Contractor, 225 E Airport Rd, Com Remodel – Change In Use, $153,000
J & S Properties Inc/Cayton Excavation Inc – General Contractor, 1617 1st Ave N, Demolition Permit Commercial, $180,000
Johnson, Kristin K & Scott E/Ray E, Mehrer – General Contractor, 1502 Miles Ave, Com Remodel, $8,000
Erving Properties LlC/Furlong, Steve – General Contractor, 1525 1st Ave N, Com Fence/Roof/Siding/$4,200
Moducs LLC/Kohlman Lennie – General Contractor, 2823 6th Ave N, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $70,000
Trail Creek Properties LLC/Lennick Bros. Roofing & Sheetmetal, 302 N 11th St, Com Fence/Roof/Siding/$5,500
City Of Billings/Empire Roofing Inc – Roofing Contractors, 2251 Belknap Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $59,868
City Of Billings/Sunleaf, Steve – General Contractor, 1601 St Andrews Dr, Com New Other, $21,407
Waggoner Real Estate, LLC/Knife River-Billings – General Contractor, 5220 Midland Rd, Com New Parking Lot/Non-Building Structure, $135,050
Corning Companies/Langlas & Assoc., Inc., l711 Henry Chapple St, Com New Store/Strip Center, $1,754,584
GDM Development/Murphy (General Manager), Beverly – General Contractor, 230 Starner Ln, Com New warehouse/Storage, $16,000
Mazabuka Llc/Reddi Electric, Inc. – Electrical Contractor, 310 N 13th St, Com Remodel, $6,000
Weber Properties LLC/Sunset Construction Llc – General Contractor, 3335 Conrad Rd, Com Remodel, $16,498
Beatrice Food Company/Dietz, Troy L – General Contractor, 109 S 28th St, Com Remodel, $8,500
Peterson, Jeffrey J & Pamela K/Horizon Retail Construction, 1645 Parkhill Dr, Com Remodel, $26,000
Shiloh Crossing Partners Llc/Jones Construction, Inc, 851 Shiloh Crossing Blvd, Com Remodel, $30,480
Charter Communications Inc/Jones Construction, Inc, 1860 Monad Rd, Com Remodel, $45,000
Big Sky Floral Supply Llc/Bonini Enterprises Llc, 3024 2nd Ave N, Com Remodel – Change In Use, $125,709
Residential
Pritchard Family Revocable Trust, 185 Annandale Rd, Res New Single Family, $275,788
Big Time Construction/Langford, Aaron – General Contractor, 5301 Clemson Dr, Res New Single Family, $219,582
Big Time Construction/Langford, Aaron – General Contractor, 5307 Clemson Dr, Res New Single Family, $224,63
Hellekson, Douglas/Hill, Jeff & Tammy – General Contractor, 362 Cherry Hills Rd, Res New Single Family, $420,212
McCall Development/Mccall James, – General Contractor, 6101 Norma Jean Ln, Res New Single Family, $353,727
Felton Associates Inc/Parks, Trenton – General Contractor, 1509 Columbine Dr, Res New Two Family, $363,330
Trent Parks/Parks, Trenton – General Contractor, 1513 Columbine Dr, Res New Two Family, $363,330
Classic Design Homes Inc/Classic Design Homes, 1030 Yellowstone Ave, Res New Two Family, $265,800 Hagstrom, Daniel F, 932 N 22nd St, Res New Accessory Structure, $27,648
Oakland Built Homes, Inc/Leep (Vice President), Landy – Service, 1440 Rancho Vista Ave, Res New Single Family, $207,240
Oakland Built Homes, Inc./Leep (Vice President), Landy – Service, 1448 Rancho Vista Ave, Res New Single Family, $194,836
South Pine Design/Blatchford, Kevin – General Contractor, 2513 Strapper Ln, Res New Single Family, $301,266
South Pine Design/Blatchford, Kevin – General Contractor, 2705 Hanover Cir, Res New Single Family, $208,942
Harold Larson/Thompson, William – General Contractor, 1363 Watson Peak Rd, Res New Single Family, $240,020
Diverse Construction/Hill, Brendon – General Contractor, 2245 Gleneagles Blvd, Res New Single Family, $204,970
Tom & Kathy Meszaros/Hill, Jeff & Tammy – General Contractor, 981 Siesta Ave, Res New Single Family, $363,971
Coppock, David G & Renee L/Dirk Arnold Construction, 641 Beverly Hill Blvd, Res New Single Family, $366,990
Huck, Dale M, 3932 1st Ave S, Res New Accessory Structure, $126,192
James E & Lavaun Marie Black L/Brocklebank Dan – General Contractor, 933 Delphinium Dr, Res New Accessory, Structure, $50,000
Montana’s Outdoor Recreation Industry Does Well
Montana leads the nation in the growth of its outdoor recreation business, exceeded only by Hawaii.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reports that the U.S. outdoor recreation economy accounted for 2.2 percent ($427.2 billion) of current-dollar gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017.
The Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account (ORSA) also shows that GDP for the outdoor recreation economy grew by 3.9 percent in 2017, faster than the 2.4 percent growth of the overall U.S. economy. Real gross output, compensation, and employment all grew faster in outdoor recreation than for the economy as a whole.
In Montana the sector grew at 5.1 percent of its GDP, the second highest percentage of total state production in the nation, except for Hawaii which grew 5.4 percent. They were followed by Wyoming, then Utah and Colorado.
Activities included in the three outdoor recreation categories are conventional core activities (such as camping, hiking, boating, and hunting); other core activities (such as gardening and outdoor concerts); and supporting activities (such as construction, travel and tourism, local trips, and government expenditures).
Conventional outdoor recreation accounted for 30.6 percent of the outdoor recreation economy nationwide in 2017, other recreation accounted for 19.3 percent, and the remaining 50.1 percent was supporting activities.
The industry grew least in Washington C at 1.2 percent and in Connecticut at 1.4 percent.
Other value added by industry highlights reported upon by the BIA include the following:
* Retail trade had the second largest sector contribution to outdoor recreation nationally, accounting for $95.7 billion of current-dollar value added. Retail trade was the largest contributor to outdoor recreation value added in 17 states, including Texas ($8.5 billion), Washington ($2.8 billion), and Ohio ($2.7 billion).
* Manufacturing contributed $51.7 billion nationally to the outdoor recreation economy in 2017 and was the third largest outdoor recreation sector. At the state level, manufacturing was the largest sector for outdoor recreation value added in Indiana ($4.7 billion), Wisconsin ($2.0 billion), Louisiana ($1.6 billion), and Kansas ($684.2 million).
Montana Highlights October 1 2019
Montana State University announced that its newest residence hall will open in fall 2020, to be named Hyalite Hall. Construction on the $50 million project began in May 2018. Hyalite Hall will house up to 510 students. It is being funded by student room and board fees; no taxpayer dollars are being used.
A Columbia Falls company started a year ago making bikes specifically for use in Montana mountains. Called Esker Cycles the company is owned by Tim Krueger. The bike features a dual link suspension and the frames are made in Taiwan and then assembled at the warehouse in Columbia Falls. Most of the bikes go to dealers, but the company also sells direct to consumers.
Kalispell economic developers are optimistic about the potential for properties that have been vacated by major businesses in the community. The unincorporated area of Evergreen near Kalispell was home to Shopko and Kmart, Green Hyundai and OfficeMax, but recent closings and relocations have left large vacant spaces. But located as it is along the highly trafficked U.S. Highway 2, Montana West Economic Development President Jerry Meerkatz says interest in the area is sure to materialize. According to U.S. Census data, Evergreen’s population was 7,552 in 2017, up from 6,283 in 2013.
Only 2.7% of Gallatin County’s employees work in agriculture, according to a 2019 Prospera Business Network report.
The state of Montana received $19 million from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to support a statewide health information exchange that will give providers access to patient data in real time. Governor Bullock tasked the Governor’s Council on Health Care Innovation in 2015 with looking for ways to establish a statewide health data center to improve patient care, save time and resources, and reduce costs. A coalition established the nonprofit organization Big Sky Care Connect to develop and administer the information exchange, to begin operation in 2020. The system will connect records from pharmacies, labs and imaging, urgent care, specialists, doctor offices and hospitals and other providers such as dentists and optometrists. The funding is provided through a 90/10 federal match. CMS provided $19 million and the state’s 10 percent share is comprised of an appropriation from the 2019 legislature and private funds Big Sky Care Connect has raised. Big Sky Care Connect is working with data privacy and security experts to select a technology vendor that specializes in creating secure systems to manage health care data.
American Airlines plans to add a direct flight to Philadelphia on Saturdays, making it Bozeman’s 18th nonstop destination. Along with Philadelphia, the airline will add flights to New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Saturdays and Los Angeles daily, for the summer 2020 season. American will operate flights to Los Angeles using a 76-seat Embraer E175 aircraft from June 4, 2020 through Sept. 8, 2020. New York and Philadelphia flights will operate with 160-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft on Saturdays from June 6, 2020 through Sept. 5, 2020.
Because of the critical shortage of outbound crude oil pipelines in Canada, Enbridge Inc. is proposing an expansion of its older Express Pipeline. The current pipeline runs 731 miles from Hardisty, Alberta to Casper, WY, and then connects to the Platte Pipeline. Built in 1997, the pipeline now carries 193,000 BOPD, and has enough capacity to increase shipments to 280,000 BOPD. (From Oil Patch Hot Line)
Montana State University is experiencing its highest graduation and retention rates in a generation — a stark contrast from the University of Montana – which continues to see a drop in enrollment. This year, with 16,766 students studying at the university, MSU has the second-most number of students that have ever been enrolled in a single university at one time in Montana (second only to last year’s enrolled students). It’s been Montana largest university for the past six years. The University of Montana has experienced about a 30% drop in fall enrollment since it peaked in 2011.
Montana Community Development Gets SBA PRIME Grant
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that the Montana Community Development Corporation (“MoFi”) has been awarded a $187,270 SBA PRIME grant to help low-income entrepreneurs gain access to capital to establish and expand their small businesses through the Program for Investment in Micro-Entrepreneurs PRIME. The 2019 PRIME Grant will help MoFi offer training and technical assistance to strengthen economically disadvantaged businesses, particularly those that service entrepreneurs in Opportunity Zones, rural areas, and HUBZones.
“Montana has achieved a great amount of national attention for its innovative outreach efforts to rural communities and high-tech businesses,” said SBA Montana District Director Wayne Gardella. “This PRIME grant to MoFi will allow the organization to focus its lending outreach energies on mostly rural areas across Big Sky Country.”
“Entrepreneurs in rural areas face a unique set of obstacles when it comes to starting or growing a business,” said MoFi President and CEO David Glazer. “The SBA PRIME award will enable MoFi to help even more of its borrowers overcome these challenges. This includes assistance with things like accounting and financial management, legal assistance, and marketing. We know that these support services can make all the difference between a struggling business and a successful one-particularly in a remote location. We’re grateful for our longstanding partnership with the SBA, and look forward to our continuing collaboration to help rural businesses thrive.”
Foundation Weighs in on Firearm Case
Mountain States Legal Foundation (MSLF) presented oral argument in a federal appellate court in a case that has broad implications for the ability of city governments to restrict firearm ownership.
The case, Caldara v. City of Boulder, originated in May 2018, when MSLF sued the City of Boulder on behalf of Boulder residents, a local nonprofit, and a small business, after city council members raised the age of legal gun ownership in the city from 18 to 21. Council members also banned some of the most commonly owned firearms in the United States, as well as standard capacity magazines.
Plaintiffs include Jon Caldara, a well-known pillar of the community, the Boulder Rifle Club, Bison Tactical, a small business, and Tyler Faye, a member of the University of Colorado shooting team, and Mark Ringer, a part-time law enforcement officer and law student. MSLF’s clients seek to defend their rights and the rights of their fellow Boulder residents against the unconstitutional and discriminatory actions of the City of Boulder.
In a decision issued in August 2018, Judge Marcia S. Krieger of the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado put an indefinite halt to the case. Instead of addressing the relevant federal constitutional issues, the court held that the State of Colorado should first decide, solely under Colorado law, whether the City of Boulder had the authority to enact sweeping new firearm and magazine regulations.
“The Tenth Circuit was particularly interested in the chilling effect that Boulder’s Ordinance may have on the exercise of Boulder residents’ fundamental rights,” said Cody Wisniewski, MSLF’s lead attorney on the case. ”We are hopeful that the Tenth Circuit will follow the Supreme Court’s refusal to abstain in cases such as this one and will allow us to have our day in court.”
Given recent opinions in Illinois and California, the outlook for courts stepping in to guard citizens’ fundamental right to keep and bear arms is looking favorable. MSLF is hopeful that the 10th Circuit will soon join this trend and vindicate Boulder residents’ constitutionally protected rights.
Mountain States Legal Foundation is a nonprofit, public-interest legal foundation dedicated to individual liberty, the right to own and use property, limited and ethical government, and the free enterprise system.
Farm Bureau Quick Ratification of Trade Agreement
The Montana Farm Bureau is urging Congress to ratify the U.S. Mexico-Canada Trade agreement. The trade relationship with Canada and Mexico is critical to American farmers. In 2018, food and agricultural exports to Canada were $20.6 billion, and $19 billion to Mexico. This makes Canada and Mexico the top two food and agricultural export markets for the United States.
“President Trump and his Administration have done a great job updating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to be beneficial,” said MFBF President Hans McPherson. “The USMCA will benefit agriculture exponentially. The U.S. exported $40 billion worth of farm goods to Canada and Mexico last year.”
McPherson noted the top Montana agricultural exports to USMCA countries include $80 million oilseeds and grains; $66 million, cattle; and $19 million grain and oilseed milling products. It’s been estimated the U.S. Mexico-Canada Agreement would likely raise U.S. GDP by $68.2 billion annually, increase agricultural and food exports by $2.2 billion annually; and expand market access into Canada and Mexico.
“Canada and Mexico are not only in the top five of our trading partners, but they are our neighbors. Let’s not let partisan politics hurt this trade agreement,” McPherson said.
The American Farm Bureau has been working hard to see the USMCA ratified. American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall added, “The farm economy is reeling from the trade war combined with weather challenges and six years of lower farm income. Farmers want and need a better trade outlook and passing USMCA is a great step forward.”
