Author: Press Room

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.

Montana Hunting Season Should be OK Despite Drought

25 October 2021
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By Bob Pepalis, The Center Square

A long drought and extreme high temperatures don’t seem to have decreased possibilities for good hunting seasons, a Montana Outfitters and Guides Association official said.

Despite the heat and dry conditions, animals seem to be doing fine, Mac Minard, executive director of the association, told The Center Square. But it will be localized.

“Today I’m in the extreme northeast corner of Montana, and the country looks great. Grain and crops haven’t been bad. They’ve been OK,” he said.

The day before he was in the Bear Paws, south of Northern Great Falls and south of Hammond. The Bear Paws looked pretty good, though extremely dry.

“But the animals are doing fine. We’re seeing very good numbers of deer in most places. We’re seeing excellent horn growth on the elk,” Minard said.

He said it looks like the drought will have very little if any effect on most of the places he’s visited, and it looks to me like the drought is going to have very little, if any, effect on most of the places visited. He expects a good hunting season.

The National Integrated Drought Information System on Sept. 19 reported that 98.7% of Montana was in at least a severe drought, with more than 68% of the state in an extreme drought. In an extreme drought, crops are not harvestable; winter pasture is opened for grazing; soil has large cracks; fields are bare, and fire restrictions increase.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte declared a statewide drought emergency on July 1.

Hunters still need to be aware in super dry areas, like around Jordan, Minard said.

“Parking your vehicle can be a very dangerous proposition if you’re not paying attention. And we’ve got to be super, super careful this year about where those vehicles are parked,” Minard said.

Hunters need to make sure the grass doesn’t touch the catalytic converter when they park and take special precautions to make sure they aren’t creating a problem, he said.

All the reports he’s received across the state have been good, which was not what people might have thought.

It won’t necessarily be good news for all hunters.

“I think waterfowl, some bird hunters are going to be a little disappointed. But the big game stuff seems to be doing quite well actually. And as I said horn growth has been surprisingly good,” Minard said.

Montana Farm Bureau Convention, Nov. 8-11

25 October 2021
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The 102nd Montana Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention is slated for November 8-11 at the DoubleTree and Northern Hotels in Billings. Members can expect to hear speakers on various topics, discuss policy for the coming year and enjoy the camaraderie with farmers and ranchers from across the state.

Highlights of the convention include speakers Jay Hill, who will engage members to keep pushing for their way of life; Mike Pearson, who will present an  outlook for the farm markets and global trends; and Frank King, who will illustrate how suicide prevention practices facilitate a healthier, more productive farm. Workshops include a calving seminar with a calving simulator, grazing management decisions following a drought, legacy planning, and building on consumer trust.

The heart of the convention is bringing together voting delegates from county Farm Bureaus to debate and discuss policy for 2022. Each county meets in September to develop policy based on issues of concern; that policy is brought to the state convention for a vote.

To register, visit www. mfbf.org.  For more information on the YF&R Discussion Meet, visit https://mfbf.org/ Programs/ Young- Farmers- Ranchers.

Montana Chamber Applauds Stockman Bank

25 October 2021
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On October 1st, the Montana Chamber of Commerce welcomed its newest Treasure State member, Stockman Bank.

Stockman Bank has been a member of the Montana Chamber of Commerce for over 20 years. They take great pride in being Montana’s largest, family-owned, full-service community bank. With 36 statewide locations and 825 employees, Stockman Bank is the largest Ag Bank in Montana and one of the State’s largest commercial and real estate lenders. 

By investing at the Treasure State level, they play a significant role in advancing the Chamber’s 10-year strategic plan, Envision 2026, and other initiatives to improve Montana’s business climate, safeguard a vital infrastructure, address workforce challenges, and build on the entrepreneurial strength of the Big Sky State.

“Entrepreneurship and small business are the backbone of our State. As a Montana family-owned business, we know when we help our local businesses move forward, we move our communities forward, which then moves Montana forward,” stated Bill Coffee, President and CEO of Stockman Bank. “By supporting the Montana Chamber of Commerce as a top-tier investor, we help our local businesses continue to grow and succeed.” 

The Montana Chamber actively recruits member support at a variety of levels. However, the Montana Chamber’s largest supporters are Treasure State members, and they are critical to fulfilling the Chamber’s mission. Stockman Bank is now one of four Montana companies that are top-tier Treasure State investors.

Todd O’Hair, President and CEO of the Montana Chamber of Commerce closed the announcement by saying, “Stockman Bank is an industry leader in Montana, and we look forward to working with the entire Stockman Bank team to build a stronger and more successful Montana economy. We appreciate their confidence in the work the Montana Chamber is doing on behalf of the Montana business community.”

Montana Best State to Start a Farm

25 October 2021
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Lawn Starter has compared the 50 states across 42 key metrics to rank the best state in which to start a farm or ranch. Montana comes out at the very top.

The ranking is the result of examining existing farm communities to indicate viability, good infrastructure, and a suitable climate. They also compared the states based on overhead and the potential for return on investment.

Lawn Starter’s announcement stated, “The Big Sky State earns the top spot in our ranking of 2021’s Best States to Start a Farm or Ranch. With agriculture its biggest industry, Montana’s victory comes as little surprise. 

“The state placed in the top 10 in five out of seven categories and No. 15 in ROI Potential. Montana trails only Wyoming in farm size, averaging a whopping 2,156 acres, and the average cost of an acre in the Treasure State is lowest in the U.S.

“Although ranching is woven into the state’s cultural fabric, farming also contributes significantly to the state’s economy. Montana is a top supplier of beef, and it leads the nation’s production of organic certified wheat, dry peas, lentils, flax, and honey.”

Montana’s Rank for Some Key Metrics (1 = Best)

* Increase in Farmland Area Over Past Year – 1st

* Share of Electricity from Renewable Sources – 7th

* Number of Critical Access Hospitals – 8th

* Yearly Average Number of Very Hot Days (90 Degrees F or Higher) – 18th

* Natural Hazards Index – 5th

* Farm Workers per 100,000 Residents – 9th

* Average Per-Acre Cost of Farmland – 1st

* Average Per-Farm Receipts from Federal Programs – 4th 

Coming in at No. 2 is Kansas, while Texas clocks in at No. 4, Oklahoma at No. 5, and Iowa in seventh place. Both Dakotas made it, too, at Nos. 3 and 6. Colorado (No. 9) and Wyoming (No. 10) round out the Plains states at the top. 

But how specifically did this broad, sweeping landscape dominate the top of our ranking? Most of these states, such as Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, boast cheap land, large established farming communities for support, and highly developed infrastructure. 

Alaska not only ranked at the very bottom of our ranking of top agricultural states, but it also finished last in two out of seven categories, Viability and Climate; third to last in Personnel; and in the worst 10 of Infrastructure and ROI Potential. These results are hardly a shock. Although Alaska is the bi

Martz Foundation Announces Three Awards

25 October 2021
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The Montana Foundation has announced winners for the third annual “Judy Martz Women in Leadership” awards.  Hallie Thompson of Great Falls, Kimberly Siemsen of Billings, and Maria Begger of Harlowton will share a total of $5,000 to further their leadership skills from the 2021 round of the Judy Martz “Women in Leadership” awards.

The award memorializes former Governor Judy Martz, Montana’s first and only female state executive, who passed away October 2017.  The Montana Foundation continues the Martz Fund created in 2018 to provide leadership development for Montana women, following the trail blazed by Martz.

Thompson will use the funds to help buy a food truck to expand her start-up business, Wholesome Hal’s.  “I hope to continue building my sphere of influence in the same way Governor Martz did as a small businesswoman.”  Coincidentally, October is National Women’s Small Business Month.

Siemsen will use her award as a scholarship toward a Native American Studies Certificate through Montana State University.  According to her application, “Our Native American population deserves to be acknowledged and discussed in a modern and authentic way.”

Begger’s award will go toward a masters in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from UM.  After graduating and becoming a fully licensed and certified speech-language pathologist, “I want to get a job within the schools and special education cooperatives of small-town Montana to serve and provide speech and language services to the rural populations of the state,” she says.

“We had nearly 60 applicants this year, all highly qualified and deserving,” said Kathy Brown, Chair of the Martz Fund Committee.  “This is a testament to our late Governor Judy Martz.”

The three winners will become part of the committee selecting the 2022 award recipients.  Contributions toward the fund are welcome as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) entity.  Go to www.MontanaFoundation.wordpress.com/ Martz  or call 406-431-9508 for information.