Author: Press Room

Montana Highlights June 15, 2023

19 June 2023
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The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission has voted to implement emergency fishing restrictions on three southwest Montana rivers. The restrictions on the Beaverhead, Big Hole and Ruby rivers come as the agency records declining trout populations. The restrictions generally address closures for spawning season, limiting some fish to catch-and-release, and implementing some gear restriction changes for fish hooks.

The EPA has released its proposed plan for cleaning up the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. Superfund site. The main thrust is to contain the worst dumps by fully surrounding them with a slurry wall to stop contaminated groundwater from leaching out. The wells at the former wet scrubber sludge pond and the west landfill have the worst contamination. Test wells near them show very high concentrations of fluoride and cyanide. A public meeting will be held on June 28 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Columbia Falls Town Hall, City Council Chambers, 130 Sixth St. W., Columbia Falls, to describe the proposed plan and solicit comments.

Three generations of bike and adventure lovers have contributed to Montana E-Bikes and More. Josh Houser, whose parents owned a bike shop, has joined forces with his son Matthew Houser to provide unforgettable trips and a high-end e-bike shop. In addition to rentals, the shop also sells e-bikes and provides full service. The father-son duo will also rent e-bikes during the winter months. Montana E-bikes and More is the only shop to provide this service in the valley.

Mayor Jordan Hess of Missoula unveiled Missoula’s 2024-2026 Strategic Plan. Equity, housing and engagement all figured prominently in the guide for Missoula’s next three years. The plan looks at city operations through three lenses: climate resilience, equity and housing. Some of the priorities outlined in the plan include program ideas, partnerships and internal operations.

A modular home manufacturer from San Diego held a ceremonial groundbreaking at Butte’s business park recently to showcase a foundry the size of six football fields that could employ hundreds. Dvele (pronounced deh-VELL) hopes to get infrastructure hook-ups and other prep work done this year and begin construction on the factory next spring. The goal is to begin initial operations by January 2025. The Dvele facility will make modular homes that can be built in months. According to the company they can be built at 30% to 40% less cost than traditional houses.

Benefis Helena Specialty Center leadership reports that the 60,000-square-foot clinic will be built on 3.25 acres of the site that runs parallel to Prospect Avenue at a total cost estimated to be $50 million. Benefis Health System broke ground on the site March 10, 2022, and is expected to open in spring 2024. 

Businesses looking for guidance about resources to improve their operations can attend one of the upcoming Assistance for Business Clinics sponsored by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, local chambers of commerce, economic development groups and Job Service Centers. The Glendive Assistance for Business Clinic will be held Wednesday, June 21 at Dawson Community College.

The Stockman Bank location in Whitefish opened recently, The new facility on U.S. 93 is equipped with a drive-up, ATM and night depository. The public is invited to attend grand opening celebrations featuring refreshments, prize drawings, and tours of the building. On June 13, at 4 p.m. a grand opening celebration begins with music from local singer Halladay Quist, refreshments, and door prizes,

Logan Health officials say plans to integrate with Billings Clinic continue, but some employees are questioning the advantages of creating a new health care organization amid a “significant staffing shortage. Members of the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU, 1199NW are skeptical that integrating is the right move for Logan Health employees and patients.

Citizens Alliance Bank has completed its acquisition of Granite Mountain Bank and its branches in Butte, Drummond and Philipsburg. Citizens, an independent community bank headquartered in Clara City, Minnesota, says the acquisition was completed June 2. Existing Granite Mountain Bank customers may continue to use their existing debit cards and check stock until Aug.5. Starting Aug. 5, customers will be transitioned onto Citizens Alliance Bank’s core system computer platform.

A local Glendive hotel that has gone through a series of rebrandings in recent years has rebranded once again. This time with a full renovation as it joins a national corporation. The establishment has joined the Best Western family of hotels and rebranded itself as the SureStay. The building was bought in 2021 by Alex Allgood and Stan Wang, investors based in Texas, who have been continued the renovation. They will continue to own the business as it operates under the Best Western umbrella.

In Montana, there are 8,549,170 acres of farmland. The county with the most acerage in production is Rosebud. It has 766 farms with 2, 342, 527 acres.

Dvele modular home manufacturing plant in Butte has opened with projections  to create nearly 500 good-paying Montana jobs. Representing an $80 million investment by Dvele, the new facility will support the production of affordable workforce housing in Montana. Founded in 2018, Dvele has designed, manufactured, and built over 270 modular homes throughout the U.S. and Canada. The homes are built and shipped out for placement in a shorter timeline than traditional housing construction, costing about 30% to 40% less.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced it has awarded $400,000 to the state of Montana in Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program funding. The funds will pay for a study of the Whitefish Rail Corridor Crossing Study. It will study three at-grade crossings and one viaduct along a three-mile corridor of BNSF’s Kootenai River Subdivision. Possible upgrades would alleviate blocked crossings that might cause safety concerns and disrupt freight movements to and from BNSF’s Whitefish Yard. The City of Whitefish and BNSF railway are contributing funds totaling a 20 percent non-Federal match.

Two Montana Supreme Court Justices Mike McGrath and Justice Dirk Sandefur have announced that they will not run for re-election in 2024. McGrath will be concluding his second eight-year term; and Sandefur is in his first.

Felco Industries in Missoula expanded to a new 20,000 square foot manufacturing facility. Founded in 1983, Felco Industries manufactures excavator products for utility, infrastructure, and energy sector installation and replacement projects. According to Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the equipment manufacturing industry supports more than 850 jobs in Montana and contributes $79 million to the state’s economy annually.

Montana-Dakota Utilities, a subsidiary of MDU Resources Group, Inc. received approval from the North Dakota Public Service Commission on an electric service agreement (ESA) to provide power for Applied Digital Corporation’s data center near Ellendale, ND. At full capacity, the data center will require 180 megawatts of electricity, which is the equivalent of about 28% of Montana-Dakota’s generation portfolio. The Applied Digital load will be purchased from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) market and will not impact Montana-Dakota customers’ power supply. The project provides an array of benefits to the Ellendale area, the transmission grid, Montana-Dakota customers and MDU stockholders.

Poll: Majority Say Feds Spend Tax Dollars Poorly

19 June 2023
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By Glenn Minnis, The Center Square

Precisely half the respondents polled in a new State Policy Network survey of 2,041 registered voters say the federal government is “failing or doing a poor job” at preventing internal corruption. That’s compared to only 23% of respondents who say the federal government is good or excellent at preventing corruption.

At the same time, well over half of all voters also give lawmakers in Washington D.C. an unsatisfactory mark when it comes to their handling of taxpayer dollars, with 54% agreeing the government deserves a poor or failing mark on the issue. Just 22% of respondents say the federal government does a good or excellent job at spending tax dollars.

      By comparison, only 36% of voters said they see state governments faring as poorly, with just 32% of respondents agreeing that they would give them a poor or failing grade.

“Very little of what happens at the federal level is focused on tangible benefits to people so voters rightly assume that the government is not working for them,” SPN messaging strategist Erin Norman told The Center Square in explaining how so many have come to have such varying views about branches of government.

“People also have experience watching government struggle to respond to urgent needs,” she added. “COVID-19 is a great example and spanned two very different administrations showing it’s more than political – it is problems with the very nature of the federal government.”

In addition, only 27% of voters feel the federal government is good or excellent at effectively getting things done, compared to 34% who say the same about their state government. Only 25% of those surveyed say the federal government is good or excellent at “serving people like me rather than special interest groups.” That’s compared to 37% who say the same about state government.

With just 45% of voters saying they feel the federal government’s performance is responsive to the needs of their community, Norman said lawmakers have much work to do to make more voters feel like government is truly at work for them.

“Work should be pushed down to the most local level of government possible where people are more likely to know people from their community involved in the work and see the tangible benefits to policy,” she said. “It is going to be very hard in today’s environment for people to see the federal government as serving them directly or for the federal government to pivot to more personal service.”

KOA  Purchases Billings Holiday and W Yellowstone Properties

19 June 2023
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Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) has purchased three KOA properties – Billings KOA Holiday in Billings, and Yellowstone Park/West Gate KOA Holiday and Yellowstone Park/Mountainside KOA Holiday located near West Yellowstone.  Billings KOA Holiday, opened in June of 1962, holds the designation as the first KOA campground among more than 500 KOA locations. All three properties were owned by the Marv and Carol Linde Family of Billings, Montana for 46 years.

Marv and Carol Linde purchased the Billings KOA Holiday in 1977. Over the next four decades, the family grew and updated the campground, making it one of the premiere KOAs in the United States. The campground currently features RV sites, including pull-thrus with KOA Patio, Camping and Deluxe Cabins and tent sites. A pool, custom playground, Kamp K9 dog park and mini-golf are available for guests.

 Opened in 1977 and 2013, the Yellowstone Park/West Gate KOA Holiday and Yellowstone Park/Mountainside KOA Holiday are the closest KOA properties to Yellowstone Park, located near the west entrance. All three campgrounds provide quality amenities and service, resulting in some of the highest guest satisfaction among KOAs.

 “For over four decades, the Linde family has been valued partners and friends,” said Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of Kampgrounds of America, Inc. “Marv, Carol – and sons Steve, Dave, and Brian – have been actively involved in our campground system, shaping many of our programs and overall approach to outdoor hospitality. We are honored they have entrusted us to carry their legacy forward. They will always remain a special part of our KOA family and history.”

Kampgrounds of America, Inc. has over 500 campgrounds across the U.S. and Canada. While the majority are franchised, over 40 locations are owned directly by the company. Owning campgrounds is a core component of Kampgrounds of America, Inc.’s business strategy and allows them to grow key operational knowledge that improves offerings across the system. 

Transferring ownership in early May, Kampgrounds of America, Inc. views the sale as a chance to continue the long legacy of outdoor hospitality fostered by the Linde family. It also created the opportunity for KOA, Inc. to own and operate the campground that laid the groundwork for the world’s largest system of privately-owned campgrounds in the hometown of company headquarters.

 The purchase of the three properties also coincides with the opening of a new company headquarters this summer. Currently being completed on the West End of Billings, the new office and the transfer of ownership of Billings KOA Holiday further strengthen Kampgrounds of America, Inc.’s 60-year connection to the city.

Business Growth in Montana Continues

19 June 2023
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In 2022, a total of 53,655 new businesses were established according to the Montana business Economic Report, issued by Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen. Jacobsen also reported that 5,400 new businesses registered during the month of May.

New businesses created within the SOS Business Filing Portal saw a 7.4% increase from 2021. Also in 2022, the report shows 196,699 businesses renewed their filings with the Secretary of State — 20,379 more renewals than the previous year.

In contrast, the number of new trademarks registered in Montana declined by about 70, from 435 trademarks in 2021 to 365 trademarks in 2022.

The Secretary of announced that in 2024 Annual Report filing fees will be waived for all Montana businesses, which will  result in millions of dollars in savings for Montana businesses.

Secretary Jacobsen was recently recognized by the Mountain States Policy Center (MSPC) for her efforts in reducing red tape for Montana businesses. The MSPC awarded Secretary Jacobsen with the “Elevation Award,” which is the highest honor of the organization. It is “given to individual(s) who are committed to advancing and elevating free market principles and ideas. It is presented to a top innovator, business leader, or elected official in Idaho, Montana, and Washington,” according to the MSPC website.

Bills Advance Work-based Learning

19 June 2023
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Gov. Greg Gianforte recently expanded work-based learning opportunities for Montana students, signing three bills into law to support schools in offering internships, apprenticeships, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.

Advancing his pro-student, pro-parent, pro-teacher education agenda this legislative session, Gov. Gianforte delivered a series of wins which support classroom innovation.

First, the governor reformed the Advanced Opportunities Program to support schools in expanding work-based and personalized learning opportunities for students.

The Advanced Opportunities Program provides $4 million annually to schools for programs that advance students’ career and educational success.

House Bill 257 doubles the amount of funding individual elementary, high school, and K-12 districts may receive through the program while increasing the percentage of funding that goes directly to students.

Second, the governor signed House Bill 458, sponsored by Rep. Fred Anderson, R-Great Falls, to get career coaches into more Montana schools to support students in their educational and career endeavors.

Lastly, the governor signed House Bill 382, to triple funding for Career and Technology Student Organizations (CTSO) in Montana.

Billings City College Gets Funds To Expand Nursing Program

19 June 2023
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City College at Montana State University Billings has been awarded a five-year, $1.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration Nursing Expansion Program to diversify and expand the nursing workforce in rural Montana.

The Nursing Expansion Grant Program will allow City College to grow the existing Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse workforce in rural eastern and south-central Montana, creating the Rural Eastern Montana Nursing Expansion Program. Through this funding, City College will be able to accept additional students into both nursing programs and will be able to respond to shortages in the rural health care workforce through recruiting, training, and graduating rural Montana students who are likely to return to their hometowns to work.

“I am excited that this grant will allow us to expand our partnerships with eastern Montana to better meet the critical health care needs in rural areas,” says City College Dean Vicki Trier. With over 90 percent of RN and LPN program graduates passing the NCLEX exam on their first attempt, City College offers high quality nursing degrees; this funding will allow the project to serve a total of 300 participants from rural and low-income backgrounds from eastern and south-central Montana over the grant period; will establish or strengthen relationships with rural hospitals, increasing available preceptorships and clinical sites; and will increase City College’s training capacity by 25 percent.

The LPN program will increase from 15 students to 22 per year while the RN program will increase from 40 students to 56 per year. “This grant will increase our simulation facilities and provide funding for recruitment and assistance to potential students in rural areas of Montana,” says Susan Floyd, director of nursing at City College. “We are excited to be able to help with the crucial nursing needs in rural areas of Montana.”

The Rural Eastern Montana Nursing Expansion Program encompasses twenty-four counties and over 63,000 square miles. Counties to be served include Sheridan, Daniels, Valley, Roosevelt, Fergus, Petroleum, Garfield, McCone, Richland, Dawson, Prairie, Wibaux, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Treasure, Rosebud, Custer, Fallon, Stillwater, Carbon, Yellowstone, Big Horn, Powder River, and Carter. Partners within these counties will be the key to the program’s success as they will provide a range of services including participant referrals, supportive services to participants, educational services, employment services, and clinical sites.

The Nursing Expansion Grant Program is designed to improve the nation’s healthcare system through diversifying the pipeline of the nursing field through training people from historically marginalized and underrepresented populations. City College is one of 25 public-private partnerships within 17 states awarded funding through the Nursing Expansion Grant Program.

“The increase in our capacity to train nursing students made possible through the Nursing Expansion Grant Program is part of a planned growth in nursing and other health programs at MSU Billings, with a clear focus on meeting the workforce needs of Billings and Montana,” notes MSUB Provost Sep Eskandari. “Over the next five years, the university will work intentionally to significantly increase the enrollment capacity of LPN and RN offerings at City College as well as the RN to BSN Degree Completion Program offered by the College of Health Professions and Science.”

Billings Building Permits – June 15, 2023

19 June 2023
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Commercial

Swaim, Jeremy S & Kaylinn M/ Neal Sivertson Construction LLC, 3385 Granger Ave S, Com Fence/Roof/Siding $36,000

Swaim, Jeremy S & Kaylinn/ Neal Sivertson Construction LLC, 3385 Granger Ave, S, Com Fence/Roof/Siding 4,000

Sibley, David H/ Wegner Homes, 41 Broadwater Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding $2,952

Costco Wholesale Corporation/ Lydig Construction Inc, 3880 Zoo Dr, Com Footing/Foundation, $3,454,905

City Of Billings, 760 Lake Elmo Dr, Com Remodel, $100,000

Scott Mason Wovek Inc, 2601 Phyllis Ln, Com Remodel, $10,000

Mak Properties LLC/ Dunmore LLC, 2046 Grand Ave, Com Remodel, $39,000

Fuel 406/ Riverbend Construction LLC, 4110 Montana Sapphire Dr, Com Remodel, $40,000

Yellowstone County/ Olympus Technical Services, 2550 3rd Ave N, Demolition Permit Commercial, $424,457

Donahue, Toni M/ Donahue Roofing & Siding LLC, 24 31st St W, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $39,309

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 1849 Annafeld Pkwy W, Com New Townhome Shell, $350,000

McCall Development Inc/, McCall Development, 6212 Norma Jean Sq S, Com New Townhome Shell $350,000

T & CB Properties LLC/ Bradford Roof Management Inc, 501 Bernard St, Com New Warehouse/Storage, $117,105

Elevation Church Billings, Inc/ Ralph Dupea Contracting, 711 4th Ave N, Com Remodel, $12,000

St Lukes Episcopal Church/ Final Step Construction LLC, 119 N 33rd St, Com Remodel, $10,500

Reichenbach Properties, LLC/ Kay Homebuilders LLC, 1038 Main St, Com Remodel – Change In Use $50,000

Fraternal Order of Eagles/ Limitless Construction, 526 Laurie Ln, Com Addition $3,000

Donahue, Toni M/ Donahue Roofing & Siding LLC, 24 31st St W,  Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $39,309

WR Properties LLP/ WR Properties LLP, 3211 1st Ave S, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $50,000

Big Timber Properties LLC/ Bespoke Of Montana LLC, 1690 Rimrock Rd, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $15,000

City Of Billings/ Dick Anderson Construction, 316 N 26th St, Com Remodel, $8,678,558

Intertech Ltd./ Dick Anderson Construction, 1830 Harnish Blvd, Com Remodel, $3,000,000

Pincolini Holdings LLC, 1145 Grand Ave, Com Remodel, $40,000

Residential

Trails West Homes LLC/ Trails West Homes LLC, 5719 Bear Track Trl, Res New Single Family, $247,732

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 1840 St Paul Ln, Res New Single Family, $131,684

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 1842 St Paul Ln, Res New Single Family, $131,684

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 1844 St Paul Ln, Res New Single Family, $131,684

Infinity Homes/ Infinity Home LLC, 2474 W Bonito LP, Res New Single Family, $242,671

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 6159 Norma Jean Ln, Res New Single Family, $152,284

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 6153 Norma Jean Ln, Res New Single Family, $217,658

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 1849 Annafeld Pkwy W, Res New Townhome, $0.00

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 1851 Annafeld Pkwy W, Res New Townhome, $0.00

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 6212 Norma Jean Sq S, Res New Townhome, $0.00

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 6210 Norma Jean Sq S, Res New Townhome, $0.00

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 1841 Norma Jean Sq E, Res New Single Family, $159,682

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 1845 Norma Jean Sq E, Res New Single Family, $159,607

Billings Best Builders LLC/ Billings Best Builders LLC, 3573 Rachelle Cir, Res New Single Family, $250,000.

Montana Highlights June 1, 2023

19 June 2023
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Billings businessman, Skip King, who owns all the local Ace Hardware stores, has opened another Ace Hardware in Sidney. It will be managed by Reece Gairrett. The store has had a ‘soft opening’ in order to embrace the growing season. Although not quite fully stocked it is fully staff and close to having a grand opening.

For the third consecutive year, the Montana Department of Justice’s Forensic Science Division (FSD) is among only 14 laboratories, worldwide, to earn the Foresight Maximus Award from the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors. FSD, most commonly referred to as the State Crime Lab, houses Montana’s forensic science laboratories and medical examiner system and is the sole source of forensic services for law enforcement in the state. The Foresight Maximus Award is presented to forensic laboratories operating at 90 percent or better of peak efficiency as evidenced by Foresight business metrics during 2022. 

Western Montana Mental Health Center, Missoula, has not renewed its contract with Levi Anderson, who has been CEO for the past five years. Anderson’s last day was May 19. Western has contracted with Cascadia Management Group to help with the administrative transition for the next two to three months. The president of that group, Colleen Rudio, is overseeing Western as the interim executive administrator.

To protect Montanans’ personal, private, and sensitive data and information from intelligence gathering by the Chinese Communist Party, Governor Greg Gianforte has signed a bill that bans TikTok from operating in Montana. He also directed the state’s chief information officer and executive agency directors to prohibit the use of all social media applications tied to foreign adversaries on state equipment and for state business in Montana. The governor signed Senate Bill 419, making Montana the first state in the nation to ban TikTok and prohibit mobile application stores from offering TikTok within the state.

Reclamation announces lifting the closure of Reclamation lands on and adjacent to Joe’s Island on the south side of the Yellowstone River in Dawson County, 15 miles north of Glendive, Montana. The temporary closure was in place to ensure public safety during the construction of the Lower Yellowstone Fish Passage Project. Construction of the fish passage project was recently completed, and the land closure is no longer needed.

Of the three metro areas in Montana, Great Falls has the lowest housing costs. According to the EPI’s Family Budget Calculator, a modest two-bedroom rental in the metro area will cost an estimated $9,696 in 2022, including utilities. The statewide average cost of a comparable apartment is estimated at $10,972. Rent prices often reflect the overall real estate market in a given area, and this pattern appears to hold in Great Falls. Just as rents in the area are lower than the statewide average, so too, are home values.

With the world facing helium shortages, news that Montana has helium resources that mining companies are exploring is good news for the economies of some of the state’s most remote areas. Two helium drilling companies are drilling wells in the areas of Toole, Hill and Liberty counties. The activity is an extension of helium drilling that is occurring just across the Canadian border. Helium is the radioactive decay of uranium and thorium, and while it can be found everywhere, it is rare that it is found in geological formations that are capable of capturing and holding it in pockets large enough to make recovery feasible. The  lighter-than-air element that gives balloons their buoyancy also powers vital medical diagnostic machines, enables the operation of superconducting magnets, and is vital to the military.

Brinkman Real Estate, a Colorado-based multifamily investment company with expertise in Intermountain West markets, closed on the acquisition of The Highline Apartments in Columbia Falls. This purchase marks their third acquisition in Montana and the largest to date with 180 Class A units across six buildings. The company also owns properties in Billings and Missoula. Brinkman Real Estate’s capital markets team, in partnership with CBRE’s Institutional Debt and Restructured Finance team comprised of Brady O’Donnell, Jeff Halsey, Jill Haug, and Alex Scott

The fastest growing city in Montana is the Missoula metro area. Its population grew by 11.3% from 2010 to 2020 to 121,630 residents. During that same time, the population of Montana grew by 9.2%. The Missoula metro area has a median annual household income of $57,347, slightly above Montana’s median of $57,153.

The fastest shrinking county in Montana is Fergus County. The county’s population declined by 4.2% from 2010 to 2020. The population of Montana overall increased by 9.2% during that same time period, and the U.S. population increased by 6.7%. Fergus County’s population declined by 486 people during the decade, from 11,590 in 2010 to 11,104 in 2020. This is due in part to negative net migration as 88 more people moved away from the county than moved to it during that decade.

Quinn Pacini, vice president and general manager at KBZK in Bozeman, and KXLF in Butte, has been named vice president of broadcast operations for Scripps Sports. Jon Saunders, a vice president of Local Media operations, will serve as interim general manager at both stations while The E.W. Scripps Company searches for Pacini’s replacement.

Montana Highlights  June 1, 2023

Downtown Bigfork has a new space, The Nook, where artists and wellness practitioners can interact and mingle. The Nook offers Aiology Works, an acoustic and vibral studio and Bluebird and Honeybee, a mercantile offering local artisan gifts and goods. The mercantile stocks products including wellness apothecary and kitchen items. The Nook offers over 40 local artisans. Not only does the brick-and-mortar space allow them to local goods, it also provides the opportunity for art and wellness workshops.

Cenate, a Norwegian battery company, is considering Butte and two other sites for a manufacturing plant. Tax incentives will be a factor in its decision. Two of Butte’s largest employers and two economic development organizations are backing the Norwegian company’s request for millions of dollars in tax abatements. Officials with the Butte Local Development Corp., St. James Healthcare, the Montana Carpenters Union and Northwestern Energy spoke in favor of the abatements. The company is developing silicon-based materials for higher-density batteries with faster and longer-lasting charges.

Dave’s Sushi in Bozeman reopened recently after a month long closure following a severe food poisoning outbreak that sickened dozens and has been linked to two deaths.

Backers of a multibillion-dollar proposal to build a giant reservoir for energy storage in rural south-central South Dakota are no longer pursuing the project. The two entities involved, MidAmerican Energy and Missouri River Energy Services, said the decision not to pursue the project was made following their evaluation process.

KOA Addresses “Explosive Growth” by Restructuring

19 June 2023
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Recently restructuring to approach business operations more holistically, Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) announced two new leaders tasked with leading both franchise and owned campground operations. Jill Currier has been promoted to senior vice president of operations for the owned properties of KOA. And, Bill Gottwals joins the company to oversee the franchised locations as senior vice president of franchise operations.

KOA has also been announced as a double award-winning franchise in Franchise Business Review’s most recent recognition.

With over 500 locations across the United States and Canada, Kampgrounds of America entered 2023 taking a unified approach to business functions and campground operations. Currently, the company has more than 40 owned locations that Currier will lead while supporting the goals and initiatives of the larger KOA system of campgrounds.

In a new role for the company, Currier will oversee a national team of campground professionals operating and growing a robust, industry-leading portfolio of KOA campgrounds across North America.  

Currier has been a crucial part of KOA, Inc.’s owned portfolio operations staff for more than 15 years. During her tenure, Currier has held several roles and proven her ability to work strategically and cross-functionally to achieve results. Most recently, as regional vice president, Currier effectively navigated the challenges of managing a diverse and dispersed organization. 

“Over a long career in addition to her vast experience at KOA, Currier previously worked in operations for Minor League Baseball (MLB). She also held positions at Aramark’s food service division in Chicago, Illinois and Billings, Montana.

A Billings native, Currier received a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in sports and fitness management from Seton Hall University in New Jersey.

Filling a similar role within franchise operations, Gottwals joins as Kampgrounds of America, Inc.’s senior vice president of franchise operations. In his position, Gottwals will be instrumental in the success of more than 440 franchised campgrounds with extensive experience building relationships and encouraging customer satisfaction.

Before coming to KOA, Gottwals spent over 30 years in different leadership roles in the banking and financial industry. Gottwals served as a regional vice present at U.S. Bank before holding the title of chief banking officer at 1st Interstate Bank. 

Originally from Annapolis, Maryland, and calling Billings home since 1995, Gottwals attended Washington and Lee University in Virginia, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting.

KOA has  received two awards as a 2023 Top Recession-Proof Franchise and a Top Franchise for Women. Across both award lists of Franchise Business Review, KOA, Inc. was the only hospitality provider of any type included.

KOA’s inclusion as a Top Franchise for Women was based on a survey of over 8,100 female franchise owners. According to Franchise Business Review, women own 32% of all franchises and are, on average, more satisfied overall than men regarding franchise ownership. Companies were selected for how well the franchise meets their expectations in terms of support, work-life balance, financial opportunity and other critical areas of business ownership, according to female owners. Only 48 franchise opportunities made the final list.

Women’s Run Brings Them to Town

22 May 2023
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Over 5000 Women filled the streets of downtown Billings on Saturday last week for the 42nd Montana Women’s Run. Despite threats of rain women of all ages ran and walked the two-mile and five-mile events. With the mission of encouraging healthy life styles the Montana Women’s Run has over the years donated $1,637,500 to worthy causes that support women’s health and well-being. About a fourth of the participants and their families come to Billings from outside the county.