Author: Press Room

Poll:Most Americans Expect Inflation to Rise

9 February 2022
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The majority of Americans think the rise in inflation last year will only get worse in 2022, according to a new poll.

Gallup released polling data showing that 79% of surveyed Americans “predict inflation will go up,” with 50% saying it will go up “a lot.” Those are the most pessimistic numbers on inflation ever recorded by Gallup, the pollster said.

Americans are split on economic growth, though, with 40% saying it will increase and 39% saying it will decrease.

“In the past, Americans have always been more likely to say inflation will increase rather than decrease, but the current expectation is higher than usual – in fact, it is the highest Gallup has measured in its trend,” Gallup said. “The prior high was 76% in September 2005. In recent years, from 2007 through 2020, roughly six in 10 Americans have expected inflation to increase.”

New Billings Businesses December 2021

9 February 2022
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TK Elevator Corporation, 788 Circle 75 Parkway SE Ste 500, Atlanta GA 30339, G678-424-3691, Gust Lagerquist, repair & installation

Purcell Tire and Service Center, 2604 Belknap Ave, 59101, 573-438-2131, Gretta Hochstatter, retail sales

Blended 7 Contracting LLC, 3727 Bitterroot Dr, 59105, 860-8448, Chris Sargent, general contractor

Dutton Rental, 319 Tam O’Shanter Rd, 59105, 670-4196, Dellas and Kerrie Dutton, real estate rental

Simply Modern LLC, 3959 Fairmeadow Dr, 59102, 540-525-7002, Bradley Krupa, general contractor

Wilson Maintenance & Remodeling, 3540 Terry Ave, 59102, 698-5772, mike Wilson, general contractor

Lockwood Auto, 3941 Bobolink St, 59101, 699-1665, James Mocko, auto business

 J and R Tippy Cow, 279 E Airport Rd, 534-3599, Henry Criddle, restaurants, 59105

Dynamic Opportunities United, 1276 Topanga Ave, 59105, 850-8496, Kellen Kessler, service

Henry’s Kitchen, 304 N 19th, 59101, 601-1139, Mario Duggan, Pres., restaurants

All Phase Contracting, 742 Dunham Ave, 59102, 698-5546, Jay Guaraglia, general contractor

Mini Motorz, 5109 Jellison rd #C4, 59101, 321-1785, David Eves, service

Beloved Venture LLC, 1141 W Calle Concordia, Tucson AZ 85704, 520-519-9130, John Taylen, real estate rental

Big Sky Buckshot LLC, 1130 Princeton Ave, 59102, 860-2593, Juanita & Paul Rathburn,

real estate rental

Brownstein Consulting LLC, 1644 Hidden Cove Ln, 59101, 850-9915, Todd Brownstein, service

Phoenix Self Defense, 928 Broadwater Ave, 59102, 200-5328, Richard Shepard, service

Hillbilly Mall LLC, 14 1/2 S 27th St, 59101, 633-1707, Crystal Owens, retail sales

Angies Barbershop, 1911 King Ave Ste 12, 59102, 702-1753, Angie Hergenrider, barber

Siegel Flooring, 3302 1/2 3rd Ave N, 59101, 970-4568, service

Adaptive Performance Center, 1420 Broadwater Ave, 59102, 281-3848, Karen Pearson/Mitch Crouse, service

Maid In Montana Services, 1195 Siesta Ave, 59105, 850-1623, Azelyn Gorman, service

Montana Tablescapes, 1555 Province Lane, 59102, 855-1070, Michaela Martinson, service

Grizzly Glass LLC, 2270 Grant Rd, 59102, 384-7077, Catherine Bergman, service

Restorative Connections Counseling, 926 Main St Ste 8F, 59105, 213-3313, Brittany Garcia, service

Panda Cleaning Services LLC, 2050 Tanner Ln, 59102, 698-8250, Yingchun/Jefferey Jones, services

Al’s cleaning Services, 7933 Burlington Ave, 59106, 561-4146, Alisha Nishikawa, service

Desert Ridge Construction, 4416 March Madness Way #2, 59106, 690-2792, Tanner Marak-Heafner, general contractor

Bedroc Blasters, 310 Moore Lane, 59101, 927-9018, Rocci Lamantia, retail sales

Johnny’s Garage, 2018 Main St, 59105, 208-9178, Johnny Hisaw, auto business  

Out of the Wilderness, 2402 Brook Hollow Dr, 59105, 926-0076, Jeffrey Ferguson, service

Assist Consulting, 7742 Pinto Dr, Shepherd 59079, 671-9510, Sheila Dockter, service

Ecoclean, 911 Blonco Circle, 59101, 698-3677, Micah Richardson, service

Creative Corner Greetings, 5437 Frontier Dr #1, 59101, 855-5681, Kristi Love-Tsukada, retail sales

Sievertsen Contracting, 4244 Bruce Ave, 59101, 661-7883, Mathew Sievertsen, general contractor

Kolbey Andersen Siding, 23 Walnut Dr, 59102, 876-3674, Kolbey Andersen, general contractor

DLB Construction, 3809 King Ave E, 59101, 591-0734, David Barnard, general contractor

Macleod Booking & Consulting Services, 2811 Lyndale Ln, 59102, 200-2216, Katrina Macleod, service

Advantage Media Group, 1118 23rd St W, 59102, 647-4496, Mikel Wolf, service

Time to Eat!, 2139 Alderson Ave Apt #4, 59102, 698-1278, Lucas Hoover, restaurants

CEC Facilities Group LLC, 5505 Abby Rd, 817-734-0040, Brad Smith, general contractor

Simplified Solutions LLC, 41 Adams St, 59101, 690-8014, Katherine Purcel, service

Mirror Mountain Creations, 3548 Kingswood Dr, 59101, 731-613-5245, Amy Mills, retail sales

Uselman Enterprises LLC, 2621 Holman Ave, 59102, 690-1502, Ben Uselman, service

A’s Auto Detailing, 1140 1st Ave N, 59101, 661-3581, Conner Albright, service

ABC Filipino Food, 4703 Rebecca Pl, 59101, 561-8858, Alma Cabillan, retail sales

A Albrecht Construction, 3642 S 56th St W, 59106, 860-2378, Alen Albrecht, general contractor

Jackz of All Trades, 922 Yellowstone River Rd #H8,59105, 697-8660, Kyle Singer, general contractor

Loopdeloo, 7742 Pinto Dr, Shepherd 59079, 671-9510, Sheila Dockter, retail sales

Heights Petlantis, 2204 Bench Blvd, 59105, 702-2580, Kendra Wold/Andrea Norwood, service

Wilson’s Iron Barn Gym, 1105 1st Ave N, 59101, 794-1131, Ron Wilson, service

Relaxful Retreat Massage Studio, 2619 St John’s Ste F, 59102, 794-6429, Russell Tolman, solo practitioner

J&S Handyman Service, 4611 Lux Ave, 59101, 618-367-2253, Jamie & Steven Rasberry, service

JB’s Concepts, 2315 Hoover Ave, 59102, 672-4158, Justin Birkle, general contractor

Carrie Lynn MHP, LLC, 10 Jackie Ln, 59102, 245-2201, Ben Smith, mobile homes courts   

More Charging Stations

9 February 2022
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The Center Square

Town Pump’s new location in the west end of Billings will have a charging station for electric vehicles thanks to a subsidy through the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

In fact, Montanans and visitors driving electric vehicles will start finding more places to charge up across the state as gas station operators and power companies install fast-charging stations with help from such state grants. 

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) used its share of the Volkswagen settlement funds to match private investments in electric vehicle fast-charging stations. That will bring the total number of stations across the state to 21 and add key corridors with access to sites such as Glacier and Yellowstone national parks.

“Our most recent funding opportunity for electric vehicle charging infrastructure will fund 14 fast charging stations. Each of those station locations will also have a level two charger, a slower charger as a backup measure,” Ben Brouwer, supervisor of the Energy Planning Section of the DEQ’s Energy Bureau, told The Center Square. 

“It’s only a start. And we’ve so far, we focused on key travel corridors – I-15. I-90, U.S. Hwy. 93 and U.S. Hwy. 2,” he said. 

The electric vehicle fast charging stations are important for the flexibility they give electric vehicle owners to travel the state of Montana, Bill McGladdery, director of corporation communications for Town Pump, told The Center Square.

Additional investment from gas station operators will add more charging stations. Two of the four recipients of the Fast Charger Ride Grant awards were to gas station operators, with 13 of the 14 fast charging stations in this funding round located at gas stations. 

Town Pump, in a partnership with Northwestern Energy, will install nine new charging stations, matching the grant award to fund them. They will go into service by Fall 2023.

“With both of us being based in Butte, we just, run into people from Northwestern Energy all the time and interact with them, and they work with us on our energy conservation projects. So, this was just kind of a natural extension of the ongoing long-term relationship that we’ve had with Northwestern Energy,” McGladdery said. 

Town Pump will have electric vehicle charging stations at 15 locations, as the company is independently installing charging stations in Whitefish, Boulder and a new Town Pump under construction in Billings. 

McGladdery said Town Pump has been discussing travel routes for EV drivers.

“We’ve talked to the Montana Office of Tourism, and they’re actually going to be developing routes for travelers who are traveling back and forth between the two national parks,” he said.

“It’s only a start. And we’ve so far, we focused on key travel corridors – I-15. I-90, U.S. Hwy. 93 and U.S. Hwy. 2,” he said. 

“I think with the introduction of all electric pickup trucks from Ford, Rivian and others it’s going to be a game changer in Montana. And we’ll see more interest in electric vehicles as new models keep being introduced,” Brouwer said.

DEQ awarded funding for 16 Level 2 charging stations and three fast-charging stations using Volkswagen settlement funds in 2020, DEQ said. The Level 2 chargers funded were installed in key downtown or destination locations. Though charging times are longer with Level 2 stations, they encourage electric vehicle drivers to explore the surrounding area which helps drive customers to local businesses. 

The DEQ sees these grant awards matching private investments by power companies and gas station operators for electric vehicle infrastructure as a boon for the state.

“That’s an opportunity to ensure that Montana doesn’t lose out on new transportation options or the tourism dollars that out of state EV drivers are bringing to Montana businesses,” Brouwer said.

Montana Manufacturers were Able to Pivot

9 February 2022
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By Bob Pepalis, The Center Square

Montana’s manufacturers quickly bounced back from the pandemic after a short period of layoffs and curtailing of operations, according to the director of the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center.

Manufacturing accounts for approximately 16% of Montana’s economic base, with more than 3,900 manufacturers operating in the state, the center’s 2021 Montana Manufacturing Report said.

“The Montana manufacturers were fortunate to be in situations where they could pivot,” Montana Manufacturing Extension Center Director Paddy Fleming told The Center Square. “So food manufacturers that maybe were dependent upon the food service products industry switched to retail products.”

The one manufacturing industry that did get hurt was suppliers for the travel industry. Other than that, most manufacturers saw an increase in business.

The outdoor products industries experienced increased demand due to the pandemic because everyone wanted to be outside, he said.

“I think they’re coming back nicely, back to probably close to normal demand. I don’t think we saw a single manufacturer in Montana go out of business,” Fleming said.

The Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) at the University of Montana conducted the analysis and prepared the report for the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center.

A year ago, it predicted nondurable manufacturing would return to pre-COVID levels within a year. Employment in manufacturing returned to its pre-pandemic levels in early 2021, the report said. Durable manufacturing is falling in line with predictions from a year ago and is forecasted to return to the long-run trend in another year.

Problems with the supply chain have caused many state manufacturers to look for alternative supply chains, he said, including onshore sources. But it’s also caused them to be late with deliveries and is a constant concern.

Despite the pandemic, the gross state product out of Montana’s manufacturers grew, as did the number of manufacturers, Fleming said.

“We are seeing an influx of people to Montana due to the pandemic I believe and some of them are bringing their manufacturing businesses,” he said.

The top manufacturers now are fabricated metal and food and beverage. The state also has a significant sector in photonics. Employees have also seen some gains with higher wages.

“In Montana, manufacturing wages average about 15 to 20% higher than the average wage,” he said.

Manufacturing jobs paid approximately $52,111 in earnings while the state average for all jobs was $46,743.Manufacturing accounts for 5.1% of total private state income equaling $1.1 billion, the report said. Its approximately 20,400 employees make up 4.3% of Montana’s non-farm workforce.

Those workers helped produce $3.1 billion of the state’s output, equal to 6.1%.

As a result, manufacturing grew more than double the national average in employment, income and output, the report said. 

Montana Highlights 2-01-22

9 February 2022
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Under Big Sky Music Festival will return to the Big Mountain Ranch in Whitefish on July 16 and 17. The festival’s capacity will be limited to 20,000 daily.  For further information, visit www.underthebigskyfest.com

More than 7,000 new businesses registered in the 59901 Zip code for Flathead County in 2021.  This was the largest number in the state. Statewide more than 51,000 new business registered with the secretary of States Office.

The Mountain Line in Missoula is seeking 6 to 8 acres  of land in central Missoula to build a new headquarters. The organization has outgrown it’s current Northside location. The current location is on 2.2-acre which houses 90 employees. They house up to 20 buses now but need a location which can handle 35 buses. There is also a lack of bus drivers.

Gov. Greg Gianforte has presented the Spirit of Montana award to employees at Anaconda Foundry Fabrication Company for their role in fixing the Hebgen Dam malfunction. NorthWestern Energy contacted AFFCO following the Nov. 30, 2021 malfunction of Hebgen dam. The team worked around-the-clock to manufacture a part to fix the dam.

The State Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee has been investigating nuclear power. The conversation was to study the possibility of using small modular reactors in Montana. Some of the discussion centered on the Colstrip coal-fired power plant. Talen Energy and Puget Sound Energy have shut down units 1 and 2. Units 3 and 4 remain in operation, but four of the power plant’s owners face coal power bans in Washington and Oregon beginning in the coming years. A representatiuve of the Nuclear Energy Institute discussed the transition from a coal to a nuclear plant.

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church is proposing to sell about nine acres to the city of Helena for a housing project. A land trust administered by Trust Montana for the construction of Helena Area Habitat for Humanity homes will use a portion of the land. Another portion of the land will be designated for the development of low-income apartment units. The remaing portion of the land will be used for more long-term sheltering of YWCA Helena clients.

Hardin Generating Station, owned by Beowulf Energy, was theatened with closure in 2014 due to econimic conditions. At that time there were 60 emplyees. In 2018, Marathon Digital Holdings, a leading Bitcoin miner, modernized the plant and created over 100 new jobs.

TC Energy’s decision to cancel the Keystone XL project in June has mooted a lawsuit challenging the Biden Administration’s decision to revoke the pipeline’s border crossing permit, a Texas federal court has ruled.

The Three Rivers Bank will be hosting a grand opeing at the new Whitefish location, 3631 U.S. 93 South, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5.

Registration for the Columbia Falls Job Fair is open until Feb. 11. The 2022 Columbia Falls Job Fair will take place on Feb. 15 at the Colombia High School. To register, go to www.columbiafallschamber.org.

Big Sandy Organics is building a new 19,000 square foot facility and adding two new production lines. This expansion will allow them to increase their processing from 20,000 lbs/year to 720,000 lbs/year and grow their workforce from four to 16 employees. Big Sandy Organics produces snack foods from ancient grains.

Northwest Farm Credit Services contributed $50,000 to the facility expansion and improvement project at Montana State University Western Ag Research Center. The 2021 Montana State Legislature approved $1.2 million in funding to build a new office, lab and education facility to replace the current buildings that are outdated, unsafe and undersized. MSU has pledged to raise $300,000 in donations from individuals and industry to support the new facilities.

Plastic Design & Manufacturing (PDM), an injection molder and tooling company in Manhattan, recently announced the successful transfer of ownership from founder Mike Groff to the company’s existing executive team.  Randy Scheid (President and CFO), James Smith (VP of Operations and Engineering), and Darrell Witham (VP of Sales and Marketing) have acquired the business, with Sam Lazcano – VP of PDM MX Operations rounding out the Executive Team.  Groff will retain a seat on the Board. PDM was founded in 1998 and operates two facilities: the Montana plant with 65 employees and the Juarez, Mexico plant with 94 employees.  Several local services provided support to plan and facilitate the transition, including MMEC, Tom Walker of On the Rise Consulting, and Rocky Mountain Bank.

In Montana, there are more job postings than there are people unemployed in the state, reports KPAX-8 in Missoula, where the unemployment rate is 1.9 percent.

In Butte the addition of a $8 million dollar rail system has been four years in the making before finally seeing completion last month. The additions made to the rail system will allow sites in the Montana Connections Business Development Park to bring in and send out goods directly via freight. It will benefit businesses such as the industrial park’s calling card for bringing in new business, such as Montana Craft Malt and Ergon Asphalt.

In Sidney, Big Sky Cookie Co. has opened, selling fresh baked and custom-decorated cookies. The store specializes in custom-decorated sugar cookies, large gourmet flavored cookies, bags of mini cookies, and minimally decorated sugar cookies. Owner, Lisa Harrel, and husband, Ryan, had an opportunity to take a superintendent job in Sidney, so they moved from Oregon, and Lisa, launched her dream of a business in which she can pursue her passion of cookie decorating.

FEMA Region 8 welcomed its new Regional Administrator, Nancy Dragani, following her appointment by President Biden. Dragani was sworn in by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. The Regional Administrator will lead and coordinate all activities in support of FEMA’s mission with the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming, as well as the 29 federally recognized tribes within the region

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Final numbers show that Yellowstone National Park had its busiest year on record, with 4,860,537 visitors. The final number shows a wide gulf between 2021 and the next busiest year. The total count for 2021 is more than 600,000 visits higher than 2016, which had a little more than 4.25 million visits. July was the busiest month ever, with more than 1 million visits recorded. Officials saw an increase in the number of cars coming in multiple times, which is attributed to a 20 percent  decrease in overnight stays in the park. Some campsites and hotel rooms were closed in 2021 because of construction projects and COVID-19. A new shuttle system moved over 10,000 people last summer.

New real estate listings decreased 6 percent in December in Gallatin County, compared to last year, from 67 to 63. Pending sales increased 1.2 percent, from 82 to 83. The number of closed sales fell 13.4 percent, from 134 to 116. Average days on market decreased 33.9 percent, from 62 to 41. The median sales price increased 2.9 percent, from $704,500 to $725,000. Sellers received 98.9 percent of their list price, down slightly from 99.2 percent last December. The inventory of available homes dropped 29.4 percent, from 143 to 101, while the months’ supply of inventory fell 11.1 percent, from 0.9 to 0.8.

Santokh Grill has joined the region’s organ procurement organization with more than 25 years of healthcare, organ transplantation, and senior leadership experience, most recently serving as Vice President of Patient Care Services at Virginia Mason Medical Center. Gill holds a Master’s in Health Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Washington. 

PrintingForLess.com – now known as PFL —  founder and CEO, Andrew Field, is retiring. Field founded the business in Bozeman in 1996. The business grew into a marketing technology software business. The business expanded to offices in Livingston and Indianapolis. Field will step down from his current role on February 4, 2022 and will be succeeded by Nick Runyon, the company’s former President.

The board of directors of ONEOK, Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of 93.5 cents per share, unchanged from the previous quarter, resulting in an annualized dividend of $3.74 per share. ONEOK, Inc. is a leading midstream service provider and owner of one of the nation’s premier natural gas liquids (NGL) systems.

According to Butte Local Development Corp. Director Joe Willauer. Headwaters RC&D received about $26,000 in 2020 for a feasibility study to build a meat processing plant in the Jefferson County Industrial Park off Interstate 90 between Whitehall and Cardwell.

Volunteers of America Northern Rockies (VOA) held a ribbon cutting in Butte to celebrate the opening of their newest Veteran Services office in Montana.  This office is VOA’s seventh in Montana, joining locations in Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Helena, Missoula and Kalispell, along with seven offices in Wyoming and one in western South Dakota. 

Morton Buildings, Inc., a post-frame manufacturing and construction business, has opened a new construction center serving Bozeman, and the surrounding area. Morton Buildings previously serviced building needs in the Bozeman area from its construction center in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The new permanent center is located at 669 Jetway Drive in Belgrade. Sean Cain, president of Morton Buildings, said the Bozeman construction center offers a local centralized location for the sales, support and construction of customer projects.

Simms Fishing Products, preeminent manufacturer of waders, outerwear, footwear, and technical apparel in fishing, announces the acquisition of longtime Bozeman based specialty retailer, Simms at The River’s Edge Fly Shop. Established in 1983, The River’s Edge has been the headquarters for Montana fly fishing since its inception. With two locations in Bozeman, often described as the trout fishing capital of the United States, The River’s Edge offers a full-service experience – from guided Montana fly fishing trips, to fly tying and casting instruction, to expert product and fishing advice.

Montana has Highest Number of In-Moves in Nation in 2021

9 February 2022
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In 2021, in Billings for every one outbound move there were 3.9 in bound moves, according to moveBuddha, an online website that assists movers.

Montana had the highest net inflow of moves per capita in the nation, with 73 percent of moves inbound. Billings was the #1 destination with a 3.9 to 1 inbound to outbound ratio.

Comparing the level of interest of website visistor, year to year shows which cities are more popular as time passes. Billings saw more than a 120% increase in interest in 2021 vs. 2020 while Missoula had a massive drop in rates (-300).

While Missoula may have been impressively popular in 2020 with 7.1 inbound moves for every 1 out, 2021 still showed promise for the city with a strong rate of 4 moves in for every 1 out.

Moves into Idaho are leveling off compared to last year. Where inbound moves outnumbered outbound moves 3 to 1 in 2020, this year the ratio was 1.5 to 1.

Only 8.4% of Americans (27 million) reported moving this year making 2021 the lowest mover rate in over 70 years. However, long-distance, state-to-state moves saw an increase according to new census data.

Florida saw a sharp rise in net migration flow in 2021. The ratio of inbound to outbound moves jumped 43 percentage points from 2020 to 2021, meaning more than twice as many people moved into Florida than left it.

Moves into Idaho are leveling off compared to last year. Where inbound moves outnumbered outbound moves 3 to 1 in 2020, this year the ratio was 1.5 to 1.

Mass migrations out of California continue, other states seeing high rates of outflow include New Jersey, Illinois, and Connecticut. On the flip side, the state showing the highest rate of inflow vs. outflow was Montana, with 73% of total moves coming in. Small interstate moves (consisting of one small bedroom or less) were down 10% in 2021 compared to 2020, while every category of larger interstate moves grew.

When people move out of big cities, they tend to move to other, large cities. Among the 30 most populous American cities, departing residents relocated to cities that were, on average, 30% larger than where they were coming from.

METRA’s Mission Statement, Budget & Questions

9 February 2022
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By John Ostlund

METRAPARK, a multi-use complex, shall serve the entertainment, trade, athletic, educational and agriculture needs of the Region by providing quality facilities, programs, and events with complete and efficient services to the economic benefit of the Region.

METRA’s budget consists of $2,115,000 of tax revenue and the balance of the $8,000,000 budget is mostly fees for services, rent and, user services like Star-Plex and the Stage-Hands union.

METRA generates 150 million dollars of economic activity into our community annually. With that 2.1 million dollar injection of tax monies, the Taxpayers investment is returned over 70 times to our economy. This includes our hotels, taverns, retailers, restaurants, gas stations, etc. That two million dollars in tax revenue keeps our users rent down, supports community events like our 4-H program, the Nile Fourth Grade Education Program, the Marines Toys for Tots Christmas program, Flakes-giving, the Spay and Neuter Clinics, Law Enforcement Training, Community Shelter in place and helps many more great non-profits who add value to our community. Monies very well spent.  Here are some of the questions I believe we need answers to before a change can be considered. These questions should have been answered at the start of the discussion about privatization.

What problems in METRA management specifically led the Commissioners to look for a private firm to manage METRA?

What are the Commissioners goals and objectives for a private management company?

Do the commissioners want to remove all taxpayer subsidies from METRA’s Budget?

Do the Commissioners then want to rebate those Taxes to our residents?

Is the Mission Statement still valid?

How do we handle non-profit businesses and what will a private operator charge them?

If nonprofits are to still get a reduced rental rate will the County Taxpayers still provide the subsidy?

Will 4H now have to pay fees appropriate to sustain their operation?

How will Toys for Tots, Flakes Giving, Spay and Neuter Clinics, Festival of Trees, Nile, Riverstone Health, High School Association, etc., rentals be funded?

Will community shelter remain available when a crisis calls for it?

Will private management charge all renters and promoters actual costs for setup, tear down, dirt in and out of the buildings, clean up, user services, standard move in and load out days for the set up of shows and tear down of their event? Most events require 2-4 days for setup and tear down. Our METRA staff is complimented daily on their excellent performance.

The big equipment is owned by the County. Will the private management company rent the equipment at a standard rate and provide maintenance for said equipment and a capitol fund to replace that equipment at appropriate cycles?

Will the taxpayers be responsible for the capitol costs and upkeep on the facility and grounds? The buildings and grounds are County owned. What kind of a bond will be required to insure the public that if this experiment fails the Taxpayers will not be left holding the bag?

Will bonding be in place to ensure the Taxpayer is protected?

What assurances do our food and beverage vendors have that their contracts and percentages will be honored?

The booking contract already signed with Oak View Group has no appropriate escape clause, only a material breach can cancel it. If things do not go as planned with the next contract, will the Commissioners require a 30-day notification of cancelation from either party in the contract?

My fellow Commissioners have said this will still provide local control. That statement can only be accurate if the local control is prepared to provide funding for each request for reduced costs.

The Chamber supports privatization without a complete analysis of both public and private options. Will the Chamber with Bed Tax Monies backfill the tax dollars now used to subsidize METRA and reduce costs for all of our users, 4H, State High School Association, Nile, Chase Hawks, Wrangler Team Roping and many other users that drive economic growth in our community?

This is a small start to the many questions I have about this process that I believe should have been researched and answered prior to issuing a Request for Qualification & Information for private management. This board has the cart before the horse continually as we ram forward with no goal-oriented direction. I continue to express my concern about the lack of groundwork done to make a wholesale change this big in the way we do business. I fail to understand the fear my colleagues have with commissioning a third party consultant to complete a thorough review of both options to insure the path we are headed down is indeed the correct one.

Our Taxpayers deserve to know the answers before any decision can be made on any management change or privatization effort.

Marble Table Takes on Odds

9 February 2022
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“When you have a dream that you have thought about for most of your life, you never really know you can achieve it until you step past fear and go for it! The Small Business Development Center gave my husband and I the necessary tools to get past the fear, dive into the numbers, and they surrounded us with an amazing group of talented people to support our dream of owning our own restaurant.”

Jen Marble, Co-Owner

With a lifelong love of food, Jason Marble became a chef and worked at several restaurants in Billings. In 2020, he and his wife Jen decided they wanted to open their own restaurant to turn their lifelong dream into a reality. Knowing that the combination of Jason’s culinary skills complimented Jen’s business mind, they decided to take a leap of faith in the middle of a global pandemic. Wanting to share their love for food in an environment filled with comfort, warmth, and a taste of home- cooked meals, they turned to the Billings SBDC for help.

SBDC Regional Director, Lorene Hintz helped them develop their business plan, cash flow projections, and provided them with additional resources. They were referred to a mentor who had expertise in marketing and communications to help them with an initial marketing plan.

With the help of the SBDC the business was able to obtain a $80,000 SBA loan along with personal investment of $196,000. A year later they received a $100,000 SBA 7(a) loan for their expansion and created 29 new jobs in Yellowstone County.

The Marbles found a location with restaurant fixtures already installed. Jen wanted to make sure the restaurant conveyed a charming atmosphere for her customers. With pandemic restrictions in place, Jen made the best of the situation by placing repurposed antique doors as dividers between the tabletops to make individual booths. Her ingenuity helped create the charm she had envisioned for The Marble Table. The uniqueness of the decor is coupled with hospitality; Jen and Jason make sure to greet customers, bring meals out to the tables, and visit with the diners.

When The Marble Table opened in November of 2020 they were only able to have nine tables. The Billings community showed up to support the business causing Jen and Jason to have to turn away over fifty tables a day. In May 2021 they needed to expand the size of the restaurant in order to meet the customer demand and grow the business. They expanded their footprint by renting the vacant space next door, adding more tables, and increasing sales.

Jen and Jason conquered their fears and continued to move forward in growing their business. “The community has been here every day supporting us. We wouldn’t be here without them! Don’t let fear drive your dreams. We are successful because we chose to muffle the negative voices and look to our future even in a pandemic” said Jen Marble.

“I loved working with Jen and her passion for making everyone at the table family! I can’t wait to see how this dream becomes the next hot spot in downtown Billings” said Lorene Hintz.

Like Most Red States, Montana’s Unemployment Rate Plunges

9 February 2022
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Montana’s unemployment rate hit a new record low in December, dropping another 0.3 percentage points to end the year at 2.5%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The number of unemployed Montanans is at its lowest level since BLS began the data series in 1976.

Wallet Hub reports that Montana ranks four in the nation as states whose unemployment rates have bounced back the most. And, Montana ranks fifth among states with the lowest unemployment, based on Bureau of Labor data. It is among sixteen of the top 20 states reporting the most jobs recovered since COVID-related lockdowns began in March 2020 – all of which are led by Republican governors.

The State of Montana has not only recovered all jobs lost since the start of the pandemic, but also grown beyond that level, with 531,040 Montanans employed in December 2021 compared to 521,657 in March 2020.

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte credits his Montana Comback Plan. He said, “After just one year, our Montana Comeback Plan is working. Our unemployment rate is the lowest it’s ever been, and more Montanans are working than ever before in our state’s history. With lower taxes and responsible, responsive government, our economy is going again, we’re open for business, and Montanans are back to work. Great work, Montana!”

The number of unemployed Montanans also dropped to a record low of 13,689, falling by 1,719 from November.

Montana’s total employment hit a record high in December at 531,040. Total employment, which includes payroll, agricultural, and self-employed workers, grew by 3,137 in December, the largest single month gain in 2021. Payroll employment also increased by 3,200 with strong job growth in retail.

Since Governor Gianforte was sworn in, total employment has grown by 20,568 jobs.

Montana’s labor force increased to 544,729 in December, the third highest level in the state’s history. The number of available workers in Montana’s labor force, a critical metric during the current labor shortage, increased by 1,418.

The unemployment rate for the U.S. dropped to 3.9%. Overall, 24 Republican-led states reported recovering at least two-thirds of their lost jobs by December 2021, according to BLS data.

The nine states reporting the greatest percentage gains in recovered jobs are all led by Republican governors, according to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. In terms of percentage increases, Utah’s 142 percent was the highest, adding 200,000 jobs as of December 2021, surpassing the 140,000 coronavirus-related jobs it lost. The rest are Idaho, Texas, Arizona, Montana, Georgia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Florida. North Carolina, led by a Democratic governor, rounds out the top 10.

By sheer numbers, Texas reported the most jobs recovered – 1,542,000 by December 2021 – compared to the 1,452,600 jobs lost after March 2020.

Texas Greg Abbott credits Texas’ job growth to pro-growth economic policies, a predictable regulatory environment, and a young, growing, and diverse workforce.

Of the state’s job growth continuing to outperform the nation’s, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said, “Month after month, the data continues to show that freedom first economic policies create jobs and keep our economy moving. Our new businesses and workforce growth show that Floridians have the opportunities they need to thrive. We will continue to lead the nation in economic growth because we value the individual freedoms of Floridians and protect the ability for our citizens to succeed.”

According to BLS data, 12 states set new unemployment rate lows (series began in 1976). They include Arkansas (3.1 percent), Georgia (2.6 percent), Idaho (2.4 percent), Indiana (2.7 percent), Kentucky (3.9 percent), Mississippi (4.5 percent), Montana (2.5 percent), Nebraska (1.7 percent), Oklahoma (2.3 percent), Utah (1.9 percent), West Virginia (3.7 percent), and Wisconsin (2.8 percent).

California and Nevada, both led by Democratic governors, had the highest unemployment rates of 6.5 percent and 6.4 percent, respectively.

Overall, Democrat-led states reported an average unemployment rate of 4.9 percent, higher than the national average of 3.9 percent and the 3.4 percent average of 27 Republican-led states was.

The outliers are Alaska and Texas, with the highest unemployment rates of Republican-led states of 5.7 percent and 5 percent, respectively.

According to Wallet Hub Nebraska, Utah, and Oklahoma are the rank above Montana as state’s whose unemployment has bounced back the most, and it ranks New York, California, New Jersey, Nevada and Hawaii as states that have bounced back the least.

Governor Talks Impact of Pro-Jobs, Pro-Growth Policies on Ag Industry

9 February 2022
Press Room
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Governor Greg Gianforte recently visited Diehl Ranch Co. in East Helena to discuss the impact of pro-growth, pro-jobs policies on the state’s agriculture industry.

“For too long, Montana producers have had to pay taxes on equipment that sits around for most of the year, and it just doesn’t make any sense,” Gov. Gianforte said. “To protect the bottom lines of our hardworking ag families, we tripled the business equipment tax exemption, allowing producers to grow their operations and create more good-paying Montana jobs.”

After hearing from agricultural producers across the state, Gov. Gianforte worked with the Montana Legislature to triple the business equipment tax exemption from $100,000 to $300,000 through his Business Investment Grows (BIG) Jobs Act.

The tax reform measure removed over 3,400 businesses around the state from the burden of the business equipment tax. 

Mark Diehl, the owner of Diehl Ranch Co., told the governor how the BIG Jobs Act has helped the Diehl family invest in its operation.

“Ag producers rely on expensive, complex equipment and machinery throughout the year to get the job done. This tax reform measure by Governor Gianforte is a huge help to our operation and the ag industry,” Diehl said.

During the tour, the governor reiterated his desire to continue working with the Montana Legislature to further reduce the burden of the business equipment.