Author: Press Room

Emergency Fund for Businesses

23 June 2020
Press Room
No comments

Drawing upon the $1.5 billion that the federal CARES Act extended to Montana to deal with COVID-19 crisis impacts, the state has established a $123 million emergency grant program for small businesses, non-profits and individual impacted by the shutdowns and safety protocols.

The Governor announced nine programs that will be available to businesses, social service nonprofits, farms and ranches, emergency housing and food bank assistance, telework and seniors.

The grants addresses needs identified by the state Coronavirus Relief Fund Advisory Group, which was appointed by the Governor.

Organizations that haven’t yet received federal relief loans will be given priority by the Department of Commerce which is administrating the program.

Businesses and non-profits should prepare tax ID, proof of business registration, a brief description of the proposed project and covid-19 impacts.

The Montana Business Stabilization Grant program will provide working capital for Montana-owned small businesses with 50 or fewer employees that have sustained a loss of revenue due to COVID 19. Current funding available is $50 million, the maximum award amount per business is $10,000.

• The Montana Innovation Grant program is intended to help companies scale up, improve capabilities, or drive expanded distribution of products or services developed in response to COVID-19. Non-profit and for-profit businesses of less than 150 employees with primary operations in Montana that have created an innovative product or service intended to directly confront the COVID-19 emergency can apply for grants of up to $25,000. Current funding available is $5 million.

• Montana Food and Agriculture Adaptability Program grants are available to food and agriculture businesses to help increase community resilience amid the economic disruptions. Current funding available is $500,000, with a maximum grant award of $10,000.

• Emergency Housing Assistance Program will provide rent, security deposit, mortgage payment, and/or hazard insurance assistance as-needed for Montanans who have lost a job or substantial income loss of the economic shutdown. Initial payments may include up to three months assistance where the eligible household can demonstrate arrears for April and May, with continuing inability to make their June payment. Montana Housing will pay the difference between 30 percent of the household’s current gross monthly income and their eligible housing assistance costs, up to $2,000 a month. Household income limits range from $75,000-$125,000 based on family size. Montanans receiving other forms of housing assistance are not eligible. Total funding available is $50 million.

• Public Health Grants are available to local and tribal health departments and urban tribal clinics and to meet the needs of their communities. Each organization is eligible to apply for funding. Current funding available is $5 million.

• Stay Connected Grants ranging from $500-$2,000 per applicant are available to reduce social isolation among Montana’s seniors. Eligible applicants include area agencies on aging, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and tribal elder services. Grant funds can be used to fund technologies and other efforts to encourage physically distant forms of social interaction for elderly Montanans. Current funding available is $400,000.

• Food Bank and Food Pantry Assistance of up to $50,000 per applicant are available to increase food security for Montanans. Eligible applicants include community organizations providing food assistance to Montanans with limited resources, food banks, food pantries, community cupboards, and entities with infrastructures already in place to begin new food distribution programs. Current funding available is $2 million.

• Social Services Nonprofit Grants of up to $10,000 per applicant are available for nonprofit organizations impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency to retain existing programs and services, employees, or organizational viability for provision of future services and operations. Eligible applicants are registered, Montana-based social service nonprofits that were operating prior to February 15, 2020. Current funding available is $10 million.

• Telework Assistance Grants of up to $1,000 per individual will go towards purchasing equipment to assist Montanans with disabilities access telework equipment. DPHHS will partner with a local non-profit organization to assess and support assistive technology needs of individuals with disabilities. This assistance will help people with disabilities have the equipment needed to adapt to the change in working environment due to required protocols. Current funding available is $650,000.

Economic Update Scheduled

23 June 2020
Press Room
No comments

The annual mid-year economic projections for Montana sponsored by the Montana Chamber of Commerce will be held in Billings on Tuesday, July 28 at the Northern Hotel, 7 am.

Across the globe, businesses are faced with uncertainty, creating critical challenges. More than 100,000 American small businesses have already closed their doors permanently. An estimated 7.5 million more are at risk of permanent closure. Retail companies on bankruptcy watch lists are growing daily. Some claim this as the worst economic crisis since the 1930’s depression. The business community is closely watching global markets in a quest for answers; to alleviate some of the uncertainty.

Economic insight regarding the issues that prevail will be given by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana, with brief The event is presented in multiple cities each year. The program lasts approximately one-and-a-half hours.

The program will also be presented on July 28 in Bozeman, 12 pm at the GranTree; and in Butte at 4 pm at NorthWestern Energy.

It will be presented on July 29 in Helena, 8 am, at the Great Northern; and at 12 pm in Great Falls 12 pm at Montana electric Cooperatives Association.

On  July 30 it will be held in Missoula, 8 am, at the Holiday Inn Downtown; and in Kalispell at 2 pm at the Hilton Garden Inn.

For details and to register go to : www.montanachamber.com/ events/ economic- outlook- seminar/

Associations Collaborate to Fill Education-to-Industry

23 June 2020
Press Room
No comments

The Montana Contractors Association, MCA Education Foundation and the Montana Equipment Dealers Association have developed a joint action plan and strategy, Build Montana, to address the immediate and long-term workforce challenges of the construction industry. Build Montana is a strategy to create a bridge between workforce and industry, and to increase the pipeline of people entering the construction industry.

“Interest and awareness of the strong career paths available in the industry is at a point where many young people are either unaware or discouraged from a construction trade career path,“ said MCA President Bob Warren (Schellinger Construction). “In order to change these perceptions and misunderstandings, it will require industry to actively engage with schools, teachers, administrators, parents and their communities.“

This program is being created as the result of several factors that have impacted hiring and workforce sourcing in the construction industry over the past few decades. In addition, the events surrounding COVID-19 resulted in construction being declared an essential service, and thereby creates opportunities for adults who want to change careers.

“We intend to aggressively build awareness among Montana youth about rewarding careers in the construction industry, focusing on Montana youth, families, teachers and school administrators,” said Adam Gilbertson, MEDA President (RDO Equipment Co.). “We will also focus on onsite internships that give high school students real-life exposure to careers. Finally, we want to fill the pipeline to Montana’s 2- and 4-year technical degree programs.”

Build Montana has developed an implementation strategy which includes:

1. Contract with an individual or firm to build relationships with students, teachers and administrators. The individual will create partnerships between local contractors and dealers to engage with schools and represent the industry at school-based events, teacher, administrator and school board association meetings. The MCA is actively seeking a highly qualified individual or organization with whom to contract. Details can be found here: https://www.mtagc.org/lets-build-mt.html

2. Implement a marketing campaign which includes a new web site, social media campaign, podcasts, and promotional material.

The MCA and MEDA have committed to a $225,000 campaign over the next 18 months. The MCA’s Education Foundation, a charitable organization, will serve as the fiduciary agent, making contributions to Build Montana deductible as a contribution. The expected launch for all components is July 1.

For more information contact David Smith at the MCA, david@mtagc.org 406-442-4262.

NFIB…

22 June 2020
Press Room
No comments

Business Owners Optimistic

Business owners are optimistic about future business conditions and expect the recession to be short-lived, announced the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) last week.

The organization’s Small Business Optimism Index increased 3.5 points in May to 94.4, a strong improvement from April’s 90.9 reading. Eight of the 10 Index components improved in May and two declined. The NFIB Uncertainty Index increased seven points to 82. Reports of expected business conditions in the next six months increased 5 points to a net 34%, following a 24-point increase in April.

Said Montana State Director for NFIB Director, Riley Johnson, “It’s very encouraging to see eight of 10 index components having improved over the previous month’s findings, especially in the plans to increase employment and in the plans to increase inventory categories. It’s important to remember that this poll was taken before last Friday’s signing of the federal law giving more flexibility to small-business owners who took out Paycheck Protection Program loans. I see more than just a glimmer or two of hope for an improving economy, and, coronavirus willing, a speedier recovery than originally thought.”

NFIB Research Center has collected Small Business Economic Trends Data with Quarterly surveys since 1973 and monthly surveys since 1986. The sample is drawn from the membership files of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). The SBET is one of the few archival data sets on small business, particularly when research questions address business operations rather than opinions. Today, it’s the largest, longest-running data set on small business economic conditions available.

“As states begin to reopen, small businesses continue to navigate the economic landscape rocked by COVID-19 and new government policies,” said NFIB’s Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “It’s still uncertain when consumers will feel comfortable returning to small businesses and begin spending again, but owners are taking the necessary precautions to reopen safely.”

Real sales expectations in the next three months increased 18 points to a net negative 24%. Expectations about future sales are beginning to rebound after April’s lowest reading in survey history of a net negative 42%.

Fifty-two percent reported capital outlays in the last six months. Of those making expenditures, 35% reported spending on new equipment (down one point), 20% acquired vehicles (down one point), and 15% improved or expanded facilities (up two points). Five percent acquired new buildings or land for expansion and 10% spent money for new fixtures and furniture.

Twenty percent of owners are planning capital outlays in the next few months. Any extensive damage from recent protests will produce significant expenditures that were unexpected for some small business owners.

A net negative 19% of all owners (seasonally adjusted) reported higher nominal sales in the past three months, down eight points from April. Retail sales have declined significantly in the past three months. Consumer income was up significantly due to government programs assistance, but consumers, for the most part, could not get out to spend it unless they spent it online. The change in spending behavior produced a record-high savings rate of 33%. As the economy opens, this money will be spent.

Other key findings from the survey include:

—Earnings trends declined six points to a net negative 26%. Among owners reporting weaker profits, 46% blamed weak sales, 12% blamed usual seasonal changes, 9% cited price changes, 4% cited labor costs, and 4% cited material costs.

—Five percent of owners reported thinking it’s a good time to expand, up two points from April.

—The net negative percent of owners expecting higher real sales volumes improved 18 points to a net negative 24% of owners.

—A net 14% (seasonally adjusted) reported raising compensation (down 2 points) and a net 10% plan to do so in the coming months (up 3 points).

As reported in last week’s monthly jobs report, the small business labor market weakened further in the February-April period, with May survey respondents reporting reducing employment by 0.17 workers per firm in the prior three months. Most of the workers that were displaced (about 80%) expect to be rehired according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, generous unemployment benefits are making it harder for some firms to re-call workers and fill open positions.

Airlines Require Masks

20 May 2020
Press Room
No comments

The airlines that operate at the Billings Logan International Airport began requiring that all passengers wear a face mask from the check-in process until they deplane. The order comes from Delta, United, Frontier, Alaska and American. Director of Aviation and Transit, Kevin Ploehn, said, “  For the future, this will be the new normal, and frankly, if the airlines are going to entice folks back into the sky they need to do this so people can feel safe.”

Living in MT Can be a Good Deal

19 May 2020
Press Room
No comments

Business.org compared median salaries to the cost-of-living in each state to find which states are the best (and worst) for affording housing costs. 

They found that: 

* In Montana, it takes 41.5 hours to afford the median one-bedroom rent at $700 per month. 

* Montana ranks #6 for having the best wages compared to cost of living in the US. 

* The median salary in Montana is $35,080. 

Higher Crude Oil Prices Projected

19 May 2020
Press Room
No comments

From Oil Patch Hotline

Two major Wall Street banks are projecting higher prices for crude oil later this year because of production cuts by OPEC and hundreds of wells shut down in leading oil producing states of Texas and North Dakota.

UBS sees Brent rising to $43 a barrel by the end of the years because of lower prices and rising to $55 a barrel by mid-2021.

Goldman Sachs upped its Brent forecast from $52.50 to $55.63 a barrel  and raised West Texas Intermediate crude from $48.50 to $51.38 a barrel for 2021.

“Oil production has started to decline quickly from a combination of scale back in activity, shut-ins and core-OPEC/Russia production cuts. Demand is also beginning to recover from a low base, led by a restarting Chinese economy and increasing transportation demand in developed market economies,” Goldman Sachs said.

“We still expect oil demand to contract strongly this quarter, though not as much as we did before; we now estimate minus 15 million barrels per day  year on year for the second quarter, versus minus 20 mbpd previously,” UBS said.

The bank expects global oil supply to contract by nearly 6 mbpd year on year in the second quarter, citing forced production shut-ins in North and South America as current low price environment fails to cover operating costs.

During early trading May 6 the New York Mercantile Exchange, WTI had risen to $23.62 a barrel and Brent was up to $29.81 a barrel.

County Gets Grant for Cyber Security

19 May 2020
Press Room
No comments

Yellowstone County’s Disaster & Emergency Services Coordinator K. C. Williams has received a letter from the Department of Military Affairs for Montana announcing that his application for a grant to improve cyber security for Yellowstone County has been approved.

Official notification will probably not come until about September, said Williams, but at least tentatively the Senior Advisory Committee and the Homeland Security Advisor has selected Yellowstone County’s Cyber Security project for inclusion in Montana’s application to the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA for fiscal 2020. (Emergency services in Montana operate under the auspices of the Department of Military Affairs.)

The $75,000 grant will allow the county to make the needed improvements in a more complete, holistic approach than the phases that the county would otherwise have had to pursue. The end results will be much better, said Williams, and it won’t have to be funded by Yellowstone County taxpayers.

A few months ago, Jeff Slavick, Director of Information Technology in Yellowstone County, submitted a proposal to County Commissioners to begin the process of updating the county’s cyber security which he said was woefully inadequate. Upon learning this, Williams pointed out that improving cyber security of government agencies was a high priority of Homeland Security and they were making grants available.

Williams submitted an application for Slavick’s proposal. Some security the county has to provide by law, but much of it is just matter of good stewardship.

“It is just a better idea to be more secure” with all of the county’s electronic documents and data storage, said Williams, explaining that the county interacts with a lot of government agencies, as well as the civilian population, all of which are subject to potential cyber threats.

The grant will probably have an effective date of October 1. Williams said that he expects that the federal government will require that the project be completed within a year from the effective date.

Brenna Moloney Joins Firm

7 May 2020
Press Room
No comments

KLJ Engineering welcomed Brenna Moloney to their Billings office.

Brenna Moloney

Moloney joins KLJ as an archaeologist. She earned a master’s in archaeology from Wayne State University, as well as a master’s in geography from Eastern Michigan University. She has ten years of experience in cultural resources.

Anderson Towing Becomes U-Haul Dealer

7 May 2020
Press Room
No comments

Anderson Towing at 706 Central Ave. in  Billings has become a U-Haul neighborhood dealer to serve the Billings community.

Anderson Towing will offer essential services like U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment, moving supplies and in-store pick-up for boxes.

Anderson Towing on Central owner Cameron Cochran is proud to team with the industry leader in do-it-yourself moving and self-storage to better meet the demands of Yellowstone County.

U-Haul has teamed with independent dealers to offer moving equipment since 1945. With the COVID-19 outbreak creating challenging times for small businesses, more than 20,000 dealers across the U.S. and Canada are creating supplemental income through their U-Haul partnership. When a customer rents from a U-Haul dealer, they are directly supporting an independent small business in their community.

As an essential service provider, U-Haul stores and dealers continue to serve the public. Their products are utilized by First Responders; delivery companies bringing needed supplies to people’s homes; small businesses trying to remain afloat; college students; and countless other dependent groups – in addition to the household mover.

U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 allows customers to create an online account and pick up their truck at any hour using only their smartphone with photo feature and GPS. Trained Live Verify agents interact with customers online, enabling them to skip the lines and go straight to their truck.

Reserve U-Haul products at Anderson Towing by calling (406) 545-1870 or visit https:// www.uhaul.com/ Locations/ Truck-Rentals- near-Billings- MT-59101.