Author: Press Room

Border Opening Important to State

5 November 2021
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The Montana Tourism industry is waiting for President Biden’s announcement that he is reopening the Canadian border for leisure travel for people who are vaccinated.  He has indicated that announcement will come in November. While the southern border of the US stands wide open, the northern border has been closed tight, crippling trade and tourism business for Montana since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. 

Canada early-on opened travel across the border, but the US has closed travel to all but essential travel since March 2020, despite pleas by northern state governors, including Gov. Gianforte, to open it.

Canada is a significant trading partner for Montana, especially in regard to Montana’s almost $4 billion tourism industry. In 2019, it is estimated that Canadian travelers spent about $166 million in Montana.

While the level of tourism can vary from year to year depending on the value of the US dollar compared to the Canadian dollar, some years the number of visitors from Canada have been reported to exceed the number of visitors from Washington, Idaho and North Dakota combined.

Kara Grau with the Montana Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research  explains that they estimate the number of travelers coming to Montana based on traffic counts and observations of their surveyors.

In 2019, traffic coming in via a Canadian border crossing accounted for about 6 percent of Montana travelers.

In 2020, that dropped to about 1 percent, most of which arrived during the first quarter before the pandemic closures. With the border closed that number hasn’t changed in 2021.

Billings Building Permits 11-01-21

5 November 2021
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Commercial

Williams Property Management, 4020 Montana Sapphire Dr, Com Addition, $195,000

City Of Billings – Parks Dept/SP Services, 2005 6th Ave N, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $61,480

Billings Chamber Of Commerce/Singh Contracting Inc, 815 S 27th St, Com Fence/Roof/Siding,  $20,250

Sisters Of Charity Of Leavenworth/Hardy Construction Co., 1106 N 30th St, Com Fence/Roof/Siding,  $45,000

McCall Homes/McCall Development, 6170 Elysian Rd, Com Footing/Foundation, $50,000

Square 106 LLC/Beartooth Holding & Construction, 1678 Shiloh Rd, Com New Other, $850,000

Square 106 LLC/Beartooth Holding & Construction, 1720 Shiloh Rd, Com New Restaurant/Casino/Bar, $600,000

Randy Swenson/Beartooth Holding & Construction, 1686 Shiloh Rd, Com New Store/Strip Center, $850,000

Dwight Deckert/Coast To Coast Builders Inc, 1411 38th St W, Com Remodel, $250,000

DB 10 LLC/Bauer Construction, 14 N 29th St, Com Remodel, $30,000

Nathan Matelitch/Neumann Construction, 1112 Broadwater Ave, Com Remodel – Change In Use, $75,000

City Of Billings The/TJ Construction, 2626 13th St W, Com Fence/Roof/Siding $15,800

City Of Billings The/TJ Construction, 2626 13th St W, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $10,700

City Of Billings/TJ Construction, 2626 13th St W, The Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $4,200

McCall Homes/McCall Development, 6160 Elysian Rd, Com Footing/Foundation, $25,000

Sisters Of Charity Of Leavenworth, 2220 Mission Way, Com New Other, $225,000

WP5 Billings LLC/Langlas & Assoc., Inc., 2618 King Ave W, Com Remodel,  $150,000

Jin’s Buffet/Air Controls Billings Inc., 1310 Main St, Com Remodel, $5,000

Family Billings LLC/Bettelyoun & Son Construction, 980 S 24th St W, Com Remodel, $1,600

Bitter Creek Pipelines LLC/Reed Construction And Consulting, 552 Roxy Ln, Com Remodel, $8,250

Residential

CDH, LLC/CDH, LLC, 4741 Gold Creek Trl, Res New Single Family $323,548

Jeff Kreitzberg Homes Inc/Jeff Kreitzberg Homes, 2225 Entrada Rd, Res New Single Family, $207,350

CDH, LLC/CDH, LLC, 5304 Dovetail Ave, Res New Single Family, $268,425

Trails West Homes LLC/Trails West Homes LLC, 918 Grouse Berry St, Res New Single Family, $247,732

Trails West Homes LLC/Trails West Homes LLC, 914 Grouse Berry St, Res New Single Family, $302,471

Trails West Homes LLC/Trails West Homes LLC, 910 Grouse Berry St, Res New Single Family, $247,732

Trails West Homes LLC/Trails West Homes LLC, 906 Grouse Berry St, Res New Single Family, $219,035

CDH, LLC/CDH, LLC, 5325 Dovetail Ave, Res New Single Family, $281,473

Better Building Technologies/MJH Construction, 2107 Entrada Rd, Res New Single Family, $237,619

Lorenz Construction/Lorenz Construction, 3380 Tahoe Dr, Res New Single Family, $265,800

Jeff Kreitzberg Homes Inc/Jeff Kreitzberg Homes, 2221 Entrada Rd, Res New Single Family, $226,359

Formation Inc/Formation Inc, 4701 Sky Vista Ct, Res New Single Family, $331,905

McCall Homes/McCall Development, 1955 Annas Garden Ln, Res New Single Family, $299,456

Wells Built Inc/Wells Built Inc, 6104 Canyonwoods Dr, Res New Single Family, $779,213

Design Builders/Design Builders, Inc. 2528 Aspen Creek Trl, Res New Single Family, $342,952

McCall Homes/McCall Development, 1802 St George Blvd, Res New Single Family, $258,098

McCall/McCall Development, 6120 Johanns Meadow Ln, Res New Single Family, $282,543

Ridgewood Development LLP/Emineth Custom Homes, 3316 McMasters Rd, Res New Single Family, $650,000

Barkey on Dealing with Montana’s Labor Shortage

5 November 2021
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The current labor shortage in Montana carries with it some surprises that haven’t been seen before, but reaction to them should be much the same as it has been for any labor shortage, according to Patrick Barkey, Director of the Bureau of Labor and Industry.

“To say that the balance of power in the give and take between workers and employers has swung toward workers in recent months would be an understatement, and that is just one of many surprises,” writes Barkey in the most recent issue of the Montana Business Quarterly.

“In past recessions, employment growth lags economic growth, as employers hire back laid-off workers only after all other measures to boost output” …but … “The brief but severe 2020 pandemic recession has been a completely  different animal. Not only did the resumption of job growth occur in April 2020, barely two months after the February 2020 date considered to be the pre-recession peak, but the growth was strong.”

Barkey reminds that prior to the COVID-19 mandated business closures there were already concerns about a shrinking labor market.

At the same time, employers and employees alike, expected the shutdowns to be longer, which prompted different responses by both than what might have happened had the realized the short duration.

Many employees used the time to look around for new options and different career opportunities, which because it was a strong market there were many. And, many employers deeply regretted breaking ties with experienced and trained employees.

While some of the circumstances impacting this labor shortage are not unique, some are:

—The reopening was strongest in industries previously hurt the most, notably the highly seasonal and labor-intensive accommodations, restaurant and personal services industries.

—With a new interest in domestic travel – “The Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport enplanements were almost 90% higher in June than pre-pandemic, the second highest increase of any airport in the country.”

—Many former workers withdrew from the labor market permanently for “a variety of reasons, including financial security from stock market and housing wealth increases, government support payments, spousal income and COVID-related concerns.”

Also, “One last factor contributing to pressure on Montana labor markets is the seasonal nature of our economy. During the summer months of any year, employment generally surges by 25,000 jobs or more as tourist volume ramps up and labor-intensive industries that serve that demand expand. The timing of the reopening of the state economy in 2021 coincided almost exactly with that seasonal peak.”

All these events contributed to tightening an already tight labor market.

“By almost any measure, the scarcity of labor is apparent, particularly for entry level jobs, where increases in starting wages have been the strongest. There has been a marked increase in voluntary quits by workers, a sign of their confidence in future job availability. And speaking of availability, the 62% increase in job openings experienced in Montana since before the pandemic began was higher than any state.”

Despite the pandemic, the factors contributing to an already tight labor market in Montana have not changed.  Things like: “Demographic events like falling birth rates and the retirement of baby boomers, coupled with huge disruptions in international migration, are stagnating the growth of the working-age population. And the shift in the interests and desires of Generation Z workers just entering the labor market continues to work against the needs of employers in less desired trades and construction occupations.”

Since these factors existed prior to the COVID shutdowns, the recommended responses remain the same:

— Raising wages. …which is already being done, but its impacts on growing the entire labor force have been limited.

—Searching more broadly for workers, relaxing requirements, looking at nontraditional workers. Looking outside local areas for a broader category of jobs.

—Investing more in training, hiring less qualified workers and training them up to acceptable skill levels.

—Reconfiguring job roles to find ways to make existing staff more productive, covering needed functions with the existing workforce.

—Recruiting future workers by connecting with middle- school-aged students to give them exposure to the nature of jobs they may otherwise know nothing about.

“Other actions, such as automation and outsourcing of work, has been underway when feasible for decades, but recent shortages have pushed the envelope further. The lack of available workers, while not a pleasant challenge for employers, nonetheless may prod them to take steps to eliminate the “bad jobs” in their workplaces. These may be jobs with high physical burdens, long or inconvenient working hours and other aspects that make them less competitive in a seller’s market for labor services.”

Policy makers could also make changes, notes Barkey – which although unpopular would improve the situation.

—Boosting the retirement age, which effectively means resetting the age at which individuals become eligible for Social Security and Medicare.

—Increasing female labor force participation by helping to increase child care availability.

— Fixing immigration policy. This traditional strength of the U.S. labor market has foundered on the rocks of political storms for almost a decade.

— Raising teenage labor force participation, currently at rates that are 20 percentage points lower than 40 years ago.

— Rethinking drug testing policies. Legalized cannabis is just one of many factors that are causing attitudes and policies to change.

—Reconsider occupational licensing requirements, which limit the ability of two-earner couples to relocate to Montana.

THE FINANCIAL FOCUS

25 October 2021
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Financial Moves for Women Business Owners

By Michael Vondra

If you’re a woman who owns a business, you may have some challenges not shared by your male peers – but you also have several opportunities to help improve your financial future.

You may already be taking some or all the right steps, but here are some ideas to be sure you’re considering and revisiting as your business grows:

• Refresh your network. Are you involved in networking with other women business owners? Many of them may have insights into the issues women face in the business world, as well as suggestions about lending programs and business-friendly banks. You may also enjoy passing along your lessons learned to others.

• Review your business structure. If you go into business as a sole proprietor, you’ll have to report your business income on your personal income tax return. If you incorporate or form a limited liability company (LLC), you can protect your personal assets – such as your house and your investments – from creditors because these assets will be separated from your business assets and debts. You might also consider other, more complex entities, known as C and S corporations. There’s no single “correct” business structure and the most appropriate one for you may change over time, so, in choosing one that’s right for your needs, you’ll want to consult with your tax and legal advisors.

• Do an insurance checkup. To protect yourself and your business, you may want to review your insurance to make sure you have the right kinds and amount of coverage. General liability insurance can be appropriate for sole proprietors, if you’ve established an LLC or you’ve incorporated your business. If you provide some type of professional service (i.e., legal, accounting, engineering and so on), you might need professional liability insurance. And no matter what business you own, you might want to add disability insurance to replace some of the income you’d lose if you were injured or became ill.

• Consider all your retirement options. If you’ve got your own business, you’re solely responsible for funding your retirement. Fortunately, as a business owner, you’ve got several attractive options, including an “owner-only” 401(k), a SEP-IRA and a SIMPLE IRA. In deciding which plan is right for you, you’ll need to consider several factors, including the number of employees, if any, and the nature of your business. However, all these plans are relatively easy to set up and administer and offer potential tax benefits. And even though you’ve got plenty to do already, you should make the time to establish or review your own retirement plan – because eventually you’ll need all the resources you can accumulate to enjoy life as a former business owner.  

You can also find valuable information on programs for women business owners by visiting the Small Business Administration’s website at www.sba.gov and searching for “women-owned businesses.”

Running your own business can be challenging – but by making some positive financial moves and getting the support you need, you can also find business ownership to be highly rewarding, personally and professionally.

Michael A Vondra

Certified Financial Planner Practitioner

Edward Jones

Study: Who Likes the Idea of Free Markets?

25 October 2021
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How receptive are people in the various countries to the idea of free markets?

A new Global Index of Economic Mentality (GIEM) indicates that the United States scores high among 74 countries, ranking fourth with only New Zealand Czech Republic and Sweden being more receptive to free market concepts. But digging deeper into the numbers indicates that the US score has mostly to do with the views of older citizens. “In contrast, the attitudes of the younger US cohorts are decidedly anti -freedom. In fact, the gap between the US generations in this respect is the greatest of all the countries (New Zealand and Australia being next) in the world.”

For decades the world’s countries have been ranked in various indices for economic freedom and the like. These rankings try to measure the extent to which current legal and/or institutional conditions permit individual economic activity. They have been shown to correlate strongly with prosperity and human well- being.

The new GIEM, compiled by Brad Lips (Atlas Network, Washington, D.C.), Pal Czegledi (University of Debrecen, Hungary), and Carlos Newland (ESEADE University and Torcuato Di Tella University, Buenos Aires, Argentina), measures public opinion about economic freedom rather than the extent to which it is actually practiced. A high GIEM score indicates that its citizens support the idea that their government should not play a major role in directing or regulating economic activity or in redistributing income. GIEM measures public opinion toward a system of free enterprise rather than the extent of its realization in practice.

New Zealand has a score of 0.76, while the US score is 0.71.

Ranking at the bottom is Iran, Egypt, Russia, Azerbaijan, Montenegro, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Bosnia. The scores range from 0.33 to 0.24.

Great Britain had a score of 0.60 and ranked 16th, Switzerland ranked 21st and scored  0.58, Hong Kong’s score was 0.57, France, 0.55. Mexico ranks 31st and scored 0.52 followed by Japan at 0.52 and  Germany, scoring 0.51. China ranked 51st and scored 0.43.

Countries that embrace a free-market mentality tend to have more efficient economic institutions and higher per capita GDP than those who support socialist, interventionist mentalities. However, there are notable differences.

For instance, although Chile’s free market institutions have made it the most prosperous country in South America, it has the lowest GIEM score on the continent, even a notch below Argentina, and 64th overall. These data suggest that the Chilean public has not been convinced of the benefits of the free-market system that has lifted them out of poverty.

The existence of inconsistency of practice and ideas, goes a long way toward explaining the recent disturbances in Chile and its dramatic lurch away from freedom.

In spite of New Zealand’s current totalitarian behavior, it tops the mentality chart due to the public embrace of ideas propagated by Sir Roger Douglas, New Zealand’s former minister of finance (1984–1988) in the reformist Labour Government during the tenure of prime minister David Lange.

The high ranking of the Czech Republic can be traced to radical education in free-market ideas by Václav Klaus, former minister of finance (1989–1992) of Czechoslovakia, and former prime minister (1992–1998) and president (2003–2013) of the Czech Republic. Klaus led the Czech Republic’s transition from communism to a free-market economy. In contrast to Chile, there is consistency between thought and action in the Czech Republic.

In recent decades economic freedom in the US has steadily fallen from its previously high level, but it still scores high in having a largely free market mentality. This turns out to be due to the attitudes of older citizens who were educated about principles of freedom and have seen free markets function. In contrast, the attitudes of the younger generations, denied similar educations, resist free market concepts and are more inclined to support top-down statist controls.

People Quitting Jobs at Rapid Rate

25 October 2021
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People in the US are quitting jobs at record rates.

The Labor Department’s monthly Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) report showed that 4.3 million people left their jobs in August, an increase of 2.9 percent or a 242,000 job increase from the previous month – the highest figure in data that goes back to December 2000.

Most of the increase – 157,000 quits —was recorded in the accommodation and food services industry, while 26,000 more left the wholesale trade business, according to Epoch Times. State and local government education saw 25,000 more departures.

Employers laid off approximately 1.3 million workers in August.

Since the declines occurred prior to President Joe Biden’s mandates for businesses to coerce employees to get vaccinated or be continuously tested for COVID, speculation is that workers may have quit due to fears of the COVID Delta strain. However, it is possible that some left jobs due to mandates “in certain markets,” such as United Airlines that announced its vaccine mandate in early August.

In industries such as manufacturing, construction, transportation, and warehousing, quits barely increased. In professional and business services, which includes fields such as law, engineering, and architecture, where most employees can work from home, quitting was largely flat.

Quits rose the most in the South and Midwest.

NFIB Resists “Slew” of Tax Increases on Business

25 October 2021
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NFIB President Brad Close wrote a new op-ed in USA Today explaining why the latest tax plan from lawmakers would be detrimental to small businesses.

Close notes that small businesses aren’t looking at one or two tax hikes under the proposed plan – they’re looking at a slew of tax increases that would hit them from every angle including raising small business income taxes, capping the small business deduction, and raising capital gains and estate taxes.

“As usual, the White House offered platitudes this month at the start of Small Business Week. Small businesses are the ‘engines of our economic progress.’ The ‘pillars of their neighborhoods.’ And so on. But a few days later, the House of Representatives, with the White House’s backing, announced one of the most dramatic assaults on small business in decades. Lawmakers unveiled a massive tax-hike package that would jam those ‘engines of our economic progress’ and topple many of those ‘pillars of their neighborhoods.’”

“These tax hikes are bad enough, promising job losses and shuttered stores across the nation. But the White House and Congress also want to raise costs on small businesses in other painful ways. Case in point: The $3.5 trillion House bill would mandate that all businesses with five or more employees auto-enroll them in a retirement plan. A third of small employers offer a retirement plan.”

New Businesses Billings, MT – September 2021

25 October 2021
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Justin Jawort Construction, 535 S Billings Blvd, 59101, 670-4243, Justin Jawort, general contractors

Michels Construction inc, 817 Main St, 53006, Brownsville WI, 920-583-3132, Micon Holdings, general contractors

Sunshine Express, 443 S 23rd St W, 59102, 248-3320, Marlee & Courtney Zentner, restaurants

Billings Jail Bail Bonds LLC, 1712 George St, Butte MT,59701, 593-0422, Jay Hubber, service

L and L Solutions LLC, 912 N 24th St, 59101, 200-5870, Loyd & Lynn Knudsen, service

Adas Calibrations of Billings, 1724 1st Ave N, 59101, 855-6972, Shaun & Janice Combs, service

Divergent Works Consulting #A1235914, 4513 Corral Dr, 59101, 696-7925, Kimberly Nuss, service

Collect Events + Rentals, 1118 Toole CT, 59105, 860-4871, Paige Hatzenbihler, service

Meyer Rescue Supply Company, 2114 Marisela St, 59105, 630-699-1914, Levi Meyer, retail sales

 Spudnick, 4406 Tar Heels Way Apt #2, 59106, 945-5027, Leslie & Nicolette Modic, restaurants

Bridgelite Auto Glass, 2830 Zimmerman Trl #3, 59102, 970-8737, Moria Beckman/ Greg Vincent, service

Luxe Studio, 2545 Central Ave Ste M#5, 59102, 599-4880, Amanda Scoggin, retail sales

Billings Aesthetics LLC, 3839 Grand Ave, 2048 Overland Ave, Kim Griner, service

Skin Body & Soul Aesthetics LL, 3839 Grand Ave #, 59102, 671-2363, Erin O’Neil, service

Rabbithole Ronald, 827 2nd Ave N, 59101, 206-483-6076, Ronald A Smith, service

Bad Bear Construction, 1100 Back Bay Dr, 59106, 850-8265, Michael Martinez, general contractors

Abraham Quintus, 3035 Western Bluffs Blvd, 59106, 861-4411, Abraham Quintus, general contractors

Tandem Investments LLC, 2950 Walden Place, 59102, 690-8876, Kristi Drake/Kevin Odenthal, real estate rental

Logan Lybeck Construction, 506 Burlington Ave, 59101, 209-2538, Logan Lybeck, general contractors

MW Avenue C LLC, 1607 17th St W, 59102, 208-559-7284, Casey Lynch, real estate rental

J Bar K Contracting, 4713 Farm Vista,  Laurel 59044,  208-2792, Jurgen Kuhr, general contractors

Budget Storage MT LLC, 5745 Elysian Rd, 59101, 591-4815, Alfred Koelzer, service

Anderson Sales Inc, 2907 W MacDonald Dr, 59102, 855-7597, Darrell Anderson, general contractors

 Donna’s Massage Therapy, 4215 Montana Sapphire Dr, 59106, 861-7839, Donna Podolak, solo practitioner

Aimee Rust LCPC LMFT LLC, 51 N 15th St, 59101, 697-0369, Aimee Rust, service

Whitey Boulder Cleaning Service, 2323 32nd St W #90, 59102, 304-9535, Lashonda Boehmy/Emilie Anderson, service

406 Fence LLC, 8048 Shepherd Rd #6, 396-5458, Eric Hadnott/Brandon McDonald, general contractors

On Point Cosmo Beauty LLC, 2715 1st Ave N Ste B, 59101, 661-2236, Cedric O’Neal, retail sales

 Beach Waves Salon, 11 S 24th St W Ste 9, 59102, 307-272-4160, Brittany Bauer, cosmetology

SMT Services, 1021 Yellowstone Ave #2, 59102, 672-2489, John Mueller, service

Dye Hard Salon & Spa LLC, 301 S 24th St W, Ste 2, 59102, 307-431-2063, Shandelle Allred, cosmetology

Perspective Land Revisement, 1609 8th Ave N #6, 59101, 208-6321, Demar Pugh, service

Intuitive being & Wellness, 1485 Black Eagle Trail, 59101, 672-7237, Ronnie Harris, service

Tint Factory, 536 S 18th St W, 59102, 652-3911, Vernon Ball, service

Rocky Mountain Roofing LLC, 7415 Burlington Ave, 59106, 574-355-5494, Alexis Hellman, general contractors

Great States Construction, 1700 42nd St S Ste 2000, Fargo ND 58103, 701-205-4717, Kevin Hochman, general contractors

Silver Peak Contracting, 1510 Longhorn Way, 59105, 451-1569, Spencer Simard, general contractors

Kampwild Construction, 1525 St John’s Ave, 59102, 366-3614, Daniel Kamp, general contractors

Selby Design LTD, 4215 Montana Sapphire Dr, 59106, 360-649-5325, Tami Selby, service

Nathaniel R Heldt, Neckarstrasse 92, 70190, Nathaniel Heldt, service

Tightline Home inspections, 1636 Wicks Ln, 59105, 697-5325, Joshua Leishman, service

Red Bear Contracting, 558 Elbow Creek Rd, Roberts 59070, Nicole Joyce, general contractors

Backyard Theater, 2861 Colton Blvd, 59102, 647-9027, Travis Kuehn/Alexis Cooper, service

 Nick Morrison, 4023 Bell Circle, 59106, 690-3030, Nick Morrison, restaurants

Massey Construction, 344 Quaking Aspen Ln, 59105, 426-8563, Trevor Massey, general contractors

Toole Design Group LLC, 8484 Georgia Ave Ste 800, Silver Spring MD 20910, 301-927-1900, service

English Artistry, 1922 Mulberry Dr, 59102, 321-2082, Jenna English, cosmetology

Oh Happy Clay, 9 Chestnut Dr, 59102, 794-7639, Mariah Storlie, retail sales

Montana Big and Small,  206 N 29th St Ste 27, 59101, 696-0797, Michelle Wunker, retail sales

Patti McCaslin Cleaning Extraordinaire, 814 Date Ave, Laurel 59044, 843-902-1896, Patricia McCaslin, service

Dunkle Construction, 4601 Central Ave, 59106, 850-1649, Larry Dunkle, general contractors

Innes Construction co. Inc, 822 S 46th St, Grand Forks ND 58201, 701-746-5461, Bryan Fosse, general contractors

406 Handyman Service LLC, 5402 Lazy Willow Ln, 59101, 670-7924, Darian Kuntz, general contractors

Reliable Home Repair of Billings, 1101 Keno St, 59105, 927-3210, Douglas Vander-Walker, general contractors

Bowers home inspection LLC, 5343 Golden Hollow Rd, 59101, 546-3191, Mark Bowers, service

Murphy Ave LLC, 4619 Murphy Ave, 59101, 579-3191, Tyler Vine, real estate rental

Direct seal LLC, 809 N 24th St #1, 59101, 647-0397, William J Porta, service

Zing MT, 2940 Hesper Rd, 59106, 696-4151, Kristopher Klein, service

Crashes Automotive repair, 405 N 15th St, 59101, 413-1136, Edward White, auto business

Dale Musgrave, 141 Annandale Rd, 59105, 606-2958, Dale Musgrave, general contractors

Galloping Swede LLC, 1004 Princeton Ave, 59102, 697-4466, Matthew Thurston, general contractors

406 Gutters, 504 Minnie Place, 59101, 697-1149, Brandon Chapman, general contractors

Doobers Custom Fishing Rods, 4441 Yellowstone Trail, 59101, 672-5619, Joshua Sam, retail sales

Minds into Focus Consulting LLC, 2048 Overland Avenue, 59102, 647-0817, Joel Grinder, service

Kris Kuhr Construction, 4446 Loma vista Dr, 59106, 670-7153, Kris Kuhr, general contractors

MSU-Billings Sees Increase in Enrollment

25 October 2021
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Montana State University Billings enrollment 2021 data which shows a 10 percent increase in first-time freshmen enrollment from last fall semester. At its official 15th class-day count, 4,112 students were enrolled with 2,375 students at University Campus and 1,737 at City College.

With in-demand degree programs, affordable tuition, numerous scholarship opportunities, robust student services, and flexible in-person, online and HyFlex courses, more students are realizing that attending college away from home is not always the best option for them, which is reflective of MSUB’s first-time freshmen enrollment numbers, say officials.

Notable areas of growth for MSU Billings’ fall 2021 semester compared to fall 2020 semester included:

* 22% increase in American Indian graduate students

* 13% increase in new Yellowstone County student enrollment

* 7% increase in overall undergraduate transfer students

* 5% increase in degree seeking graduate student enrollment

* Programs with significant enrollment growth: Welding and Metal Fabrication Certificate 120%, Welding and Fabrication (AAS) 13%, Business Administration (BS) 29%, General Business (AAS) 29%, Health and Human Performance (BS, MS) 42%, Outdoor Adventure Leadership (BS) 40%, Psychology (BA) 40%, Psychology (BS) 37%, Psychiatric Rehabilitation (BS) 10%, Health Administration (BS) 6%.

Vice Chancellor for Student Access and Success Kim Hayworth mentions that MSUB has seen a 13 percent increase in new Yellowstone County student enrollment this fall. She says that she is happy that more local students are taking advantage of MSUB’s high-quality programs and affordable tuition. “More of our local students are realizing what an attractive option MSUB is and are choosing to stay close to home,” says Hayworth. “We are also excited to welcome our new and transfer students to campus where they will receive such a high-quality and individualized college experience.”

MSUB’s College of Health Professions and Science (CHPS) also experienced an enrollment increase in their health programs. CHPS is housed in the newly completed, state-of-the-art Yellowstone Science and Health Building, the only one of its kind in the region.

The number of Dual Enrollment students (where high school students take college courses at their high school or at MSUB) increased significantly, which speaks to the strong partnership MSUB has with School District 2 (SD2) and other Yellowstone County schools. Provost Sep Eskandari gives a nod to those who have worked hard to build relationships with surrounding schools to promote Dual Enrollment. “Students who take college-level courses in high school save a significant amount in college tuition, and in many cases, will have little to no student debt when they graduate college.”

Montana Unemployment

25 October 2021
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Montana is among 18 states that have unemployment rates lower than before the pandemic, according to WalletHub.

Surprisingly, D.C. had unemployment claims last week that were worse than the same week last year. 

Leading the way in recovery over the past week is South Carolina, followed by Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota and West Virginia. Montana ranks sixth among the states.

Least recovered states are District of Columbia, Virginia, Michigan, Nebraska and California.

There are currently 8.4 million Americans unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in total. There were 326,000 new unemployment claims nationwide, which is a lot fewer than the 6.1 million during the peak of the pandemic (a 95% reduction).

Red states are recovering more quickly than Blue states, in general.