Author: Press Room

Winter to be Cool and Wet

18 November 2020
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NOAA predicts that Montana can expect a cool, wet winter that could lead to heavy runoff next spring.

The forecast was made by the Corps’ Missouri River Water Management Division. Despite cold, snowy weather in October, precipitation was well below normal in much of the upper basin. The 2020 calendar year runoff forecast is 30.2 million acre-feet, 117% of average. This winter is setting up for a La Nina pattern, which typically means colder weather across Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas. Looking through January, the outlook is also for above normal precipitation in those states. February through April forecast is trending toward below-normal temperatures and above-average precipitation.

XL Pipeline Awards Contracts, including Bozeman Business

10 November 2020
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TC Energy Corporation has awarded more than $1.6 billion worth of contracts to six major American union contractors to execute pipeline construction across 800 miles in three states in the U.S. on the Keystone XL Pipeline in 2021. A Bozeman company is among the contractors.

The six contractors will be directly responsible for hiring more than 7,000 union workers in 2021, with special emphasis placed on hiring locally first and giving priority to qualified local and Indigenous-owned businesses. When combined with additional 2021 contracts to be announced later, the total number of American union workers constructing Keystone XL in 2021 will exceed 8,000 and $900 million in gross wages. In total, Keystone XL is expected to employ more than 11,000 Americans in 2021, creating more than $1.6 billion in gross wages.

The companies awarded contracts include:

* Barnard Pipeline (Bozeman, MT)

* Associated Pipeline (Houston, TX)

* Michels (Brownsville, WI)

* Precision Pipeline (Eau Claire, WI)

* Price Gregory International (Katy, TX)

* U.S. Pipeline (Houston, TX)

“Barnard Pipeline is very excited and honored to receive the official award on Keystone XL. As a Montana contractor, we are proud to build this important project in our great state and to help ensure energy independence for our nation. We believe our reputation for integrity, safety and quality will meet the expectations of the property owners, communities and TC Energy,” said Marty Jorgensen, President, Barnard Pipeline.

“The awarding of 2021 U.S. construction contracts shows the continued momentum behind Keystone XL. The dedicated members of the Operating Engineers are eager and ready to build this critical piece of modern North American energy infrastructure to the highest quality standards,” said James T. Callahan, General President of the International Union of Operating Engineers. “The 8,000 American union jobs that come with 2021 construction is welcome news and irreplaceable as the U.S. continues our economic recovery.”

“With construction activities well underway in both the U.S. and Canada, Keystone XL is already playing a critical role in contributing to North America’s economic recovery,” said Richard Prior, President, Keystone XL Pipeline. “The selection of our U.S. construction contractors for 2021 is an important next step in employing thousands more American union workers and delivering tangible benefits to local communities and businesses.”

These contractors have extensive experience constructing pipeline and major infrastructure projects in the U.S. and around the world. The contractors were chosen based on TC Energy’s core principles of safety, environmental stewardship and stakeholder engagement along with their financial strength, technical design expertise and contract competitiveness.

Keystone XL remains as critical as ever to meeting today’s economic and energy security needs. The project has announced several significant developments in recent months, including commencing construction and signing the government of Alberta as an equity partner, signing a Project Labor Agreement with four major American unions and creating a US$10 million Green Jobs Training Fund, and offering equity ownership to Indigenous communities across North America. This is in addition to more than $90 million being recorded in the U.S. to date in local and Indigenous spend through TC Energy and the company’s various contractors and suppliers.

Worst Business Plunge

10 November 2020
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It’s been reported before that the economic impacts on Montana of the COVID-19 crisis has been greater than the Great Recession, by Dr. Pat Barkey, Director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research, UM, but a most recent published report in the Montana Business Quarterly, starkly emphasizes the contrast.

According to Barkey, “The economy was barreling along in January and February of 2020, with record low unemployment and respectable growth. Then the world stopped in mid-March. When it resumed, it was on a different course. Much of the economic data, which is released annually or perhaps quarterly, simply can’t describe recent events.”

Total U.S. nonfarm employment declined by more than 22 million jobs from February to April, a decline of about 14.5%.  “… such a decrease has to be among the greatest month-to-month declines in recent history. There is no question that the U.S. economy went into a free fall in the spring of 2020,” writes Barkey in the Montana Business Quarterly.

Using Current Employment Survey date from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals:

—The U.S., Montana and three of the state’s urban areas experienced sharp declines from February to April 2020 and increases from April to August, with moderating growth in July and August. Current employment levels remain mostly below peak values.

—The employment declines in the U.S., Montana and the urban areas were much greater than were experienced during the Great Recession. These decreases were probably larger than at any time in recent history.

—The changes in employment in the U.S., Montana and the MSAs were concentrated in a few industries. Leisure, health care and retail trade accounted for most of the declines and subsequent increases during 2020.

According to Barkey, “The concentration of 2020 impacts in a few industries suggests that they may mostly reflect the lockdowns and subsequent (partial) re-openings associated with the pandemic. Recessions, on the other hand, usually involve simultaneous trends in a wide variety of industries. If the events identified here spread to the rest of the economy, the COVID-19 recession may have a long way to go. If the impacts are confined to several industries (perhaps due to government fiscal and monetary policies), the recession may be shorter.”

Seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment in Montana declined sharply during the spring on 2020. The number of workers decreased from 489,400 in February to about 425,100 in April, down about 13.1%. The corresponding drop in U.S. employment was 14.5%. As with the nation, Montana experienced sizable increases in the April to August period, but the latest employment figures were still slightly more than 5% below the February peak, and the July and August growth was modest.

Wise Wonders Gets $50,000 Matching Grant

10 November 2020
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Wise Wonders Science and Discovery Museum, a children’s museum in Billings, 3024 2nd Avenue N., has received a gift from the AJ Blain Foundation for the Vision Campaign the Museum launched earlier this summer.

The AJ Blain Foundation has agreed to make a $50,000 gift to pose as a matching challenge for the campaign. Any gift made in the next two months will be matched 100% by the Foundation, up to a total of $50,000.

“We are extremely excited about this investment in the museum,” said Executive Director Pete Bolenbaugh. “We have a strong vision for the future of Wise Wonders and our place in the Billings community. Having support of this kind not only helps make that vision a reality, but affirms our path forward. There is a lot of work ahead of us, but we are energized for the challenges ahead.”

Included in future plans for the Museum are exhibits and programming content that will focus on science, inquiry-based education, and interactive play, as well as a fully functioning maker space and workshop. The vision creates new spaces for older children, tweens and teens and enhances the experience for younger children. In keeping with the mission of the organization, all plans encourage interactive learning through play and exploration.

For more info, please visit at wisewonders.org/ vision, facebook.com/wisewondersmuseum, and instgram.com/wisewonders/

Ronda Wiggers to Head Montana NFIB

10 November 2020
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Ronda Wiggers has been announced as the new state director or the Montana Federation of  Independent Business, (NFIB) a small-business advocacy association. She will be in charge of lobbying, educational outreach and political efforts.

Wiggers will be taking up the torch for Riley Johnson who has served in that position for 38 years.

“Ronda’s lobbying experience combined with her grassroots organizing abilities made her an ideal fit for the job,” said Gary Selvy, executive director of state public policy for NFIB. “Our main educational mission for the 77 years of our existence, and all that entails, is to instruct and remind state and federal policymakers that small businesses are not smaller versions of big businesses and do not always benefit — and are more often harmed — from one-size-fits-all laws, rules, and regulations. As a small-business owner herself, Ronda fundamentally understands that, and, given her grassroots organizing abilities, can drive home the point with more emphasis.”

A native Montanan, Wiggers was raised on a farm in the heart of the state’s Golden Triangle. She attended the University of Montana, has held local elected offices, and is very active in her community.

“Since the time I first became actively involved in politics and policy,” said Wiggers, “NFIB has always had a stellar reputation in Montana, and I attribute that to the man I will be replacing. I’m honored to take the hand-off of the torch for Main Street, mom-and-pop enterprises that are the engine of every economy in the world. I’m looking forward to getting started working on small-business issues when the 2021 session of the Montana Legislature commences.”

Added Selvy, “It was with equal feelings of delight in getting someone of Ronda’s caliber to join our team and sadness in losing a great friend and mentor in Riley Johnson, who for 38 years has been the voice of small business in Montana. So much can be learned about someone in those unguarded moments, and when Riley and his fellow state directors would gather at a conference, I would always notice how they delighted in seeing him and valued his wise counsel on difficult issues they were dealing with back in their states.” 

NWE Announced Electric Vehicle Fleet

10 November 2020
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NorthWestern Energy announced that it plans to include electric vehicles in the company’s fleet.

They also plan to make investments in the infrastructure to locate electric vehicle charging stations in the company’s Montana and South Dakota service territories.

The change is being made because “electric vehicles are efficient and the electricity we provide is about 60% carbon free,” explains Bob Rowe, CEO NorthWestern Energy. He said electric vehicles “are efficient and the electricity and fleet electrification is a good way to reduce carbon.  Electric vehicles will also help lower fuel and maintenance costs, making it a solid business decision.”

Rowe went on to explain, advances in electric vehicle technology and price drops make this the right time to begin making a transition to electric.

NorthWestern Energy’s fleet includes two electric power take-off bucket trucks, one in Huron, S.D. and the other in Billings, and a Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle in Bozeman, today.

Bozeman Division Manager Pat Patterson uses the Bolt EV, added to the fleet in August. The NorthWestern Energy Bozeman Service Center has a charging station that is available for public use.

“I’ve used it to go to NorthWestern Energy’s sites in Yellowstone National Park, a 240 mile round trip, and I had plenty of range,” Patterson said.

By 2030, NorthWestern Energy will replace 30% of light-duty class vehicles, about 100 cars and light trucks, with battery electric vehicles and plug-in electric hybrids. NorthWestern Energy will begin replacing vehicles and equipment at the end of its life with electric alternatives in 2021. By 2030, 20% of new medium and heavy-duty vehicles and 30% of new bucket trucks will be electric vehicles. All new forklifts replacements will be electric by 2030.

WHO Rejects Lockdowns

10 November 2020
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The Center Square

After previously suggesting that governments should be careful about reopening too quickly, the World Health Organization is now urging leaders not to use lockdowns as a primary means to curtail the spread of the coronavirus.

Dr. David Nabarro, a medical doctor who has worked for the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Director-General of the World Health Organization, told the British magazine, the Spectator, in a video interview that lockdowns should only be used as a last resort.

“We in the World Health Organization do not advocate lockdowns as the primary means of control of this virus,” Nabarro said.

Nabarro has been the WHO’s Special Envoy on COVID-19 since February. He told the Spectator’s Andrew Neil, “We really do appeal to all world leaders: stop using lockdown as your primary control method.”

“The only time we believe a lockdown is justified is to buy you time to reorganize, regroup, rebalance your resources, protect your health workers who are exhausted, but by and large, we’d rather not do it,” he said.

Nabarro added that ongoing and indefinite restrictions imposed on local, state and national governments by government officials are causing significant financial harm and negatively impacting the global economy.

“Lockdowns just have one consequence that you must never, ever belittle, and that is making poor people an awful lot poorer,” he said.

In May, the Trump administration announced the U.S. was “terminating” its relationship with the embattled WHO and freezing its funding, which has been to the tune of roughly $450 million every year.

“Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs,” President Donald Trump told reporters at a Rose Garden event in March.

U.S. officials had raised concerns about the WHO’s mishandling of information about the virus over the last several months, about WHO officials allegedly ignoring Taiwan’s warnings about the virus, and about WHO officials who repeated claims made by Chinese officials that the virus could not be spread from person-to-person, among other issues.

Stockman Bank Offers $50,000 Challenge for Nursing Apprentice Fellowship Donations

10 November 2020
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St. John’s Foundation announced it has received a $50,000 Challenge donation from Stockman Bank in support of the Nursing Apprentice Fellowship program to help address the growing demand for nurses to meet the health care needs of Montanans. Stockman will match donations up to a total of $50,000.  

The Stockman Challenge gift will help St. John’s Foundation meet its fundraising goal for the Apprentice Fellowship program, which makes it possible for students to pursue a career in nursing, receive on-the-job training, and graduate free from tuition debt. St. John’s President and CEO David Trost observes, “Many nursing students I meet struggle accepting tuition assistance that requires work commitments. Our apprenticeship offers a graduate the freedom to seek employment in the specialty of their choice.”

 “Even though Montana has 14 schools accredited by the Montana Board of Nursing, we continue to experience a shortage of nurses and certified nursing assistants in our state,” said Bill Coffee, CEO of Stockman Bank. “As Montana’s premier community bank, we are committed to supporting the health and well-being of the communities we serve.  We are honored to be a part of this Apprentice Fellowship program which will play a key role in supporting the need for health care professionals in our region, especially for our growing population of older Montanans.”

The Apprentice Fellowship program launched this fall with five students enrolled as nursing students at Miles Community College, Montana State University – Billings, and City College – Billings. “Miles Community College is so appreciative of our strong partnership with St. John’s. The Apprentice Fellowship Program is a wonderful opportunity offered to students who work to build their education and skills, ranging from Certified Nursing Aid to Licensed Practical or Registered Nurse. Miles Community College has an outstanding Associate of Nursing Science (ASN) Registered Nursing (RN) program, and our partnership with St. John’s has allowed our nursing students to gain valuable clinical experiences at St. John’s facilities,” said Rita Kratky, Vice President of Academic Affairs for Miles Community College.

 The Fellowship provides college tuition payment, along with health care clinical work experience at St. John’s United for exceptional students pursuing LPN, RN, and BSN degrees. Apprentice–Fellows are free to work anywhere after completion of their degree and will have no repayment requirements to St. John’s United.   

How to Donate

Donations for the Nursing Apprentice Fellowship program may be sent by mail to The St. John’s Foundation at 2429 Mission Way – Billings, Montana 59102. Or, gifting may be completed online – GIVING@STJOHNSUNITE.ORG.

Be sure to indicate that your gift is for the Nursing Apprentice Fellowship program.

Montana Highlights November 1, 2020

10 November 2020
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The City of Kalispell’s Building Department has issued 234 permits for single family and duplex housing projects. This number is approaching double the 121 permits the department had issued by this time last year. Multi-family permits have increased from 84 multi-family permits during all of 2019 to 132 multi-family housing units approved so far in 2020. compared to 84 multi-family units in all of 2019.

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services has lodged complaints against four Flathead County businesses alleging the entities violated COVID-19 directives by failing to ensure employees and patrons wore masks and that the establishments displayed proper signage related to COVID-19 protocols. The lawsuits were filed against Sykes Diner in Kalispell, The Remington Bar in Whitefish and the Ferndale Market and Your Turn Mercantile/Your Lucky Turn Casino in Bigfork. The businesses have been given 21 days to respond to the complaints.

U.S. senators have questioned the chief of Amtrak about job cuts and service reductions on the carrier’s long-distance passenger train routes, including the Empire Builder line that serves a dozen mostly rural communities in northern Montana. Amtrak CEO, William Flynn, testified that ridership remains down about 80% due to the coronavirus pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic forced Amtrak to reduce service on most of its long-distance trains to just three days a week. Flynn sought to assure senators the cuts are intended to be temporary.

Yellowstone National Park announced this week that it will begin testing a low-speed automated shuttle system in 2021. The automated shuttle will serve the Canyon Village campground, visitor services, and the visitor lodging. Canyon Village is a popular area north of Yellowstone Lake. The most popular roads in the park are over capacity by about 29% during July. Those roads include the West Entrance to Madison Junction, Madison Junction to Old Faithful and to Norris Junction, Old Faithful to West Thumb and Norris Junction to Canyon Village. The park has tested out a few different ways to help relieve that congestion, like having extra staff stationed in extra-congested parking areas. A 2019 pilot project at Norris Junction stationed staff to help test the efficiency of the overflow parking on the Grand Loop Road. That project showed that staffing can help visitors safely access areas where parking is limited.

Montana’s unemployment rate returned to a near-normal level of 5.3 percent in September after dropping from 5.6 percent in August. Economists typically consider normal unemployment levels to be between 4 percent to 5 percent. The national unemployment rate has remained higher than Montana’s, at 7.9 percent for September. Montana has the 9th lowest unemployment rate in the nation. 

MSU has received a $498,217 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to help Montana food and beverage manufacturers reduce waste and adopt strategies that can lessen environmental impact. MSU, working with the Montana Pollution Prevention Program and Montana Manufacturing Extension Center, will use the grant to provide small businesses in the food and beverage industry with on-site technical assistance and training on pollution prevention.

Welcome Market Hall, opened in Sheridan, Wyoming last May, a first of its kind concept for visitors and locals to enjoy Sheridan’s finest food and beverage offerings in a unique setting. Market Hall was conceptualized by owner Tom Thomson and Stephanie Stalker who were looking to bring a memorable social experience through good food and great conversation, located inside a historic railroad station originally built in 1912. Renovation of the space was a collaborative effort by Stephanie and her father Dan Stalker, a lifelong Sheridan resident and architect. Guests can choose between six different dining concepts including Scipio’s offering pizza, El Cruce bringing a variety of tacos and tapas, O-Ke-Kai which serves poke bowls and fried seafood favorites; Protein for sandwiches and ribs; WMH Brunch for brunch and lunch.  Beverage offerings include coffee shop Up Café; cocktails by CB&Q Lounge, or Grand Bar for beer and wine.

Negotiations are on-going among recreationists, the Crow Tribe, the Forest Service and private landowners, all with interests in the Crazy Mountains. The discussion is hopefully leading to a solution to a long-term conflict over land use in the Crazy Mountains. A community coalition is hoping that a land swap on the east side of the range will alleviate frustrations for all while allowing for more public access. The proposal will give the Forest Service over 5,200 acres of private land, including a new 22-mile trail, paid for by Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, in exchange for 500 acres of expert ski terrain from the Forest Service in Big Sky. Private landowners would get more than 3,600 acres in the land swap, by consolidating public lands already scattered between private lands.

Whole Foods Market is planning their first Montana store in Bozeman at the Gallatin Valley Mall, managed by Steve Corning, as part of the Gallatin Mall Group. Whole Foods Market will join Macy’s, Barnes & Noble, Regal Cinemas and JoAnn Fabrics in anchoring the 365,000 square foot center. 

Gallatin County’s residential real estate market saw large increases in pending sales, closed sales and average sales prices in October, while the inventory of available homes decreased significantly in both the single family and condo/townhome markets compared to 2019. Median sales price increased 18.9%, from $462,000 in September 2019 to $550,000 in September 2020. Closed sales increased 46.9%, from 130 to 191, and pending sales jumped 56.6%, from 113 to 177. The inventory of available homes decreased 60.1% compared to last year, from 537 to 214, and the month’s supply of inventory dropped 65%, from 4.0 to 1.4. The number of new single-family listings decreased 3% compared to September 2019, from 167 to 162. The average days on market increased 56.8%, from 37 to 58. Sellers received 99.1% of their list price last month, up slightly from 98.4% last year.

Salvation Army sets “Rescue Christmas” —an all-day event

10 November 2020
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“Help the Hurting”

Anticipating a drop in donations because of the pandemic, the Salvation Army has set aside a day – November 14 – to kickoff the Red Kettle bell-ringing season and to Help the Hurting in Billings.  

The public is invited to join the Salvation Army to help further their mission to provide hope and help to those who are hurting in the community by joining an all-day mediathon Saturday Nov. 14 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Donations can be made by calling 406-245-4659

A live Facebook event will be held at 6 p.m. featuring Mayor Bill Cole, Russ Palmer, Aaron Flint, moderator of Voices of Montana, officers of the Salvation Army and others. To join the livestream event go to https://www.facebook.com/salvationarmybillings

Donations can be made now at billings.salvationarmy.org, click on the Kettle Kickoff tile.

Since March, the Salvation Army in Montana has provided more than 40,000 meals, 3,600 nights of safe shelter, and emotional and spiritual support to over 7,500 people in need. Now more than ever, they’re making it safer and simpler to donate in order to support the most vulnerable in Montana. The best way to ensure that these vital services continue is to enlist in Love’s Army with a sustaining monthly gift of $25 per month. To help ensure the safety of bell ringers, donors and partners, the Army has adopted nationally mandated safety protocols. Donations can be made digitally with Apple Pay or Google Pay at any red kettle in Montana. Donors can also ask Amazon Alexa to donate by saying, “Alexa, donate to The Salvation Army,” then specifying the amount. 

Donors can give any amount by texting “KETTLES” to 91999

Every donation provides help to those in need, and all gifts stay within the community in which they are given. Visit billings.salvationarmy.org to donate or learn more about what the Salvation Army is doing in Billings.