Author: Press Room

MEDA Announces 2020 Impact Winners

21 October 2020
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Each year the Montana Economic Developers Association recognizes economic development achievements through its 2020 MEDA Award Winners.

There are two categories of awards: Impact Awards and the Anthony J. Preite Champion of Economic Development Award. Impact Awards recognize member organizations that demonstrate valuable and effective approaches to regional economic and community development. The Anthony J. Preite Award recognizes an economic developer who has significantly contributed to the profession, to the association, their economic development organization, and to the communities they serve as a whole.

The seven MEDA 2020 Impact Award Winners include:

Southeastern Montana Development Corporation (SEMDC) Powder River County Bridge Disaster Recovery Effort: SEMDC and Great West Engineering lead a recovery team to assist Powder River County in receiving a $7 million dollar grant to replace and or upgrade four bridges and resurface 18 miles of roads for $8.75 million dollar disaster effort.

Anaconda Local Development Corporation launched a multi-pronged approach to mitigate the effects of the economic shutdown due to COVID-19. ALDC acted quickly with its partners to mitigate the effects of the shutdown on businesses and stood at the forefront of information for opportunities and resources for businesses to keep employees on the payroll. Ultimately, ALDC aided over 30 businesses to make it through the initial COVID closure and reopening. A second Impact Award is given to Anaconda Local Development Corporation for its Anaconda Historic Signs & App Project. Historic building plaques were mounted on over 20 downtown buildings to increase historic education and tourism. In addition, an accompanying app with Montana Historical Society’s Historic Montana website takes users on a virtual tour of selected buildings, neighborhoods, and cultural sites. The Historic Signs project has brought people to the heart of Anaconda to be educated in a whole new light about the culture and history within the central business district.

Big Sky Economic Development’s Space2Place program, created through its Community Development Department, offers micro-grants up to $5000 to individuals and community organizations for creative placemaking projects. The program emphasizes how individual and community efforts can create incremental changes that enhance the beauty, vibrancy, and activation of our spaces, transforming them into engaging places. Space2Place has assisted in the development of twenty-three unique and engaging community assets which has transformed ugly to attractive, underutilized to engaging, and bland to vibrant.

Big Sky Economic Development (BSED) Coulson Park Project is a second MEDA Impact Award for this organization. Big Sky Economic Development, collaborating with the City of Billings and community stakeholders, plan to design and develop Coulson Park which sits next to the Yellowstone River back dropped by the sandstone rimrocks. Through BSED’s hard work, grant writing, community participation and local and city leadership, Coulson Park has recently concluded a master plan and begun the funding process towards development. It was through many public outreach meetings, presentations, and conversations that the vision was not only identified, but passed on throughout the community.

The Choteau Area Port Authority (CAPA) has made great strides in community and economic development as a result of key partnerships, including holding a MEDA Community Review. As a result, CAPA has been able to assess, target, and implement economic development strategies for the community. Progress has been made in four key areas of focus: community enhancement, infrastructure, business support, and tourism and recreation. CAPA initiated the MEDA assessment and has been a supporter, facilitator, and driver of many projects and generated over $100,000 in grants for projects.

Great Falls Development Authority (GFDA) Bridge Financing Project is a prime example of economic development impact. Bridge financing is an effective way to make limited economic development loan capital create greater impact. In the ten years since GFDA’s bridge loan product, it has closed 11 bridge loan packages totaling $16,314,289 which has leveraged more than $121,617,469 in private investment in the Great Falls trade area. Every dollar of bridge loans has leveraged over $7 of investment. Because of their unique nature, each bridge loan project has required services of GFDA in business coaching, business development and lending staff to be involved, as well as a number of volunteer leaders. To date, no loan capital on bridge loans has been lost, and none of the current bridge loans are delinquent.

The MEDA Anthony J. Preite Champion of Economic Development Award is intended for a Montanan who has practiced economic development full-time who has significantly contributed to the profession, to the association, their economic development organization, and to their communities as a whole. MEDA announced the Anthony J. Preite Champion of Economic Development for 2020 is Jim Atchison, Executive Director, Southeastern Montana Development Corporation, located in Colstrip. Atchison has served in economic development for over 20 years and thrived through challenges of boom, bust, fire, flood, and pandemic. In making the 700 mile round trip to Helena to testify on key issues, Atchison will now have this very special award to add to his renown “tool box” for Montana economic development.

Letters to the Editor

21 October 2020
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Letters to the Editor – Webb

Extreme Kathleen a campaign finance hypocrite

If you’ve ever heard Extreme Kathleen Williams speak, you have heard her decry the influence of outside money in politics, and even claim to lead by example on the issue of campaign finance. Unfortunately, her record shows she fails to practice what she preaches.

Her campaign is being supported by over $2 million in outside money from Nancy Pelosi and national Democrat groups – and is even bankrolling her campaign with money from radical groups who are pushing to defund the police!

While Extreme Kathleen touts the need for campaign finance reform, what she means is forcing taxpayers to foot the bill for her political campaign – to the tune of up to $5 million. She has vocally supported a bill before Congress to do just that.

This is coming from the same person that pays herself a salary from her campaign, lining her own pockets despite telling her campaign contributors that “every dollar donated goes right back to the campaign.”

From scamming her own donors, to wanting to use your tax dollars to fund her political aspirations, to accepting money from the very dark money groups she decries, it is clear Extreme Kathleen isn’t independent—she’s just another self-serving politician.

Representative Peggy Webb

House District 43

Billings, MT

Letter to the Editor – O’Leary

Montana cannot afford

Kathleen Williams

With our economy still reeling from COVID-19 and the ensuing shutdown, it is critical our lone voice in the U.S. House of Representative be someone with a proven record of supporting pro-growth policies that will get our economy moving again and get Montanans back to work. After examining her record, it is clear that is not Kathleen Williams.

Extreme Kathleen is a liberal tax-and-spend politician who thinks she knows how to spend your money better than you do. She supports slapping a massive, new tax on retirement accounts and pension plans and wants to repeal the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act, which would mean a tax hike of over $2,200 for the average Montana family.

During her time in the Montana legislature, she had a disastrous record when it came to taxes. Extreme Kathleen voted against 10 major tax cut bills totaling over $1 billion in much needed tax relief for Montanans, even voting against an income tax cut for Montana’s poorest citizens.

Electing Extreme Kathleen to Congress would mean more government and higher taxes for Montana families and small businesses, at a time when we can afford it least. I urge all Montanans to reject her radical agenda.

Brandon O’Leary

Helena, MT

Letter to the Editor – Voigtlander

Williams doesn’t support law enforcement 

At a time when violent attacks against law enforcement are on the rise, our police deserve to know they have the support of our elected leaders. Therefore, it is deeply troubling that despite repeated calls to do so, Extreme Kathleen Williams has refused to say she supports Montana law enforcement.

You see, Extreme Kathleen is bankrolling her campaign with donations from radical groups pushing to defund the police. No wonder as cities across our nation burned and dangerous movements to defund the police began to grow in Helena, Bozeman, and Missoula – she has continued to remain silent.

Radical activists have bought her silence, but make no mistake Extreme Kathleen would vote in lockstep with Nancy Pelosi and far-left Democrats to strip funding from our police departments. Her willingness to pander to far-left ideologies is a slap in the face to our police and puts public safety at risk.

Montana law enforcement deserves better. This once again proves why Matt Rosendale is the best choice to represent us in Congress. Matt unabashedly backs the blue, and he has spoken out strongly against these irresponsible efforts to defund police. I encourage all Montanans to join me in supporting Matt Rosendale for Congress. 

Kyle Voigtlander, Bozeman, MT

County Commissioners Reject Cherry Creek Zone Change

21 October 2020
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County Commissioners rejected the request for a zone change by Cherry Creek Estates in the Heights, following extensive testimony from residents opposed to the change, which would have enabled the proposed development of 33 two –family townhomes.

“My strongest opposition is that it would de-value properties,” said Commissioner Don Jones. His motion to deny was seconded by Commissioner John Ostlund, who said he agreed.

Commissioner Denis Pitman said he opposed the request because it would increase density, which would impact transportation and contribute to school overcrowding, and because the developers do not plan to build walking trails.

The request was to change the zoning from “Public” to “R-80”, by Cherry Island, LLC, which is managed by the Jock Clause  family who developed and managed the adjacent development of Cherry Creek Manufactured Home Park in 2001.

Those testifying in opposition said that the earlier development is today a source of much public criticism regarding how it is maintained and managed. It is seen as a source of much crime in the area.

Contractors Association Endorses Gianforte for Governor

21 October 2020
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The Montana Contractors’ Association (MCA) Board of Directors has announced its support for Greg Gianforte as Governor. MCA President Bob Warren stated that the board chose Gianforte based on his opposition to I-190 and his support of career technical education.

“The recreational marijuana initiative is a very, very troubling initiative. The MCA board voted to fight this with all our strength and financial resources,” Warren said. “We chose to support the Gianforte campaign because of his similar opposition. If I-190 passes, all our efforts to change the workforce culture will be damaged or for naught.“

Warren applauded Gianforte for his platform to combat the drug epidemic. “We see the problems that drugs create in our workplace and our communities. The MCA’s vision is to improve the quality of life and safety in our communities.”

Gianforte’s economic development plan emphasizes trades and apprenticeships, another MCA priority.

“As contractors know very well, a four-year degree is not the right solution for every young person,” Warren said. “We are very encouraged that Greg will promote trades education opportunities, and the potential for higher earnings, with no student loan debt.

The Montana Contractors’ Association is a membership organization representing Montana’s construction industry and professionals.

Consumers Willing to Fly

21 October 2020
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Most consumers plan to fly internationally and are open to air travel, according to a new survey conducted by OAG, a global travel data provider that says it monitors the world’s largest network of schedules and travel status data.

More than 4,000 global users of OAG’s flightview travel app indicated that overall fear levels over catching COVID-19 while flying are tepid, and most consumers are open to air travel.

Of those surveyed, 69 percent said they plan on flying internationally within the next six months; 79 percent have plans to fly domestically.

Airlines and tourism companies can potentially capitalize on this trend, OAG suggests, by prioritizing their efforts around domestic travel, particularly focusing on cities with low transmission rates.

“The coronavirus has devastated the aviation and travel market,” OAG says in the report, “causing consistent and severe capacity cuts week after week. Globally, overall capacity is down nearly 50 million seats or 47 percent.”

Bozeman Clinic Prepares to Build

21 October 2020
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Site preparation work is commencing for the new Billings Clinic Bozeman campus along I-90 near the 19th Street interchange.  The first phase features a 125,000 square foot destination ambulatory center. The initial work includes grading and installing the structural pier system needed for foundation work. 

 “We are so excited this work is underway on our 58-acre site for this important project to serve residents of Gallatin Valley,” said Dr. Sam Sillitti, Billings Clinic Bozeman OB/GYN. “Having lived and practiced with Billings Clinic in Bozeman for many years, I’ve seen the need for health care services grow exponentially.”

 Billings Clinic has been working closely with the City of Bozeman during the planning phases of the project and held listening sessions with Bozeman community members to inspire the planning process. 

  The first phase includes a three-story multispecialty clinic and urgent care with an adjacent one-story surgery center that can accommodate brief overnight stays. The design features a modern, mountain aesthetic that will be filled with natural light and views of the Bridger Mountains. The clinic will house OB/GYN and pediatric practices that have been in the Bozeman community for many years in addition to a compliment of additional specialty and primary care services. Radiology, laboratory, and pharmacy services are included. This new medical destination center will employee 260.  Roughly 25% of the new physician specialists have already been recruited to eventually provide enhanced services for the Bozeman community.

 Bozeman-based Martel Construction has been chosen as general contractor for the project. The site work will be done by Duneman Construction.

Martel Construction will  deconstruct the large red barn on the property. The barn’s steel structure is being donated to Heroes and Horses, a 41-day reintegration program and local non-profit that works with combat veterans.

Billings Building Permits: Commercial and New Residential October 15, 2020

21 October 2020
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Commercial

Eggart Enterprises Llc/Infinity Roofing & Siding Inc, 1711 6th Ave N, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $92,862

Red Fox Apartments Lllp/All Seasons Roofing, 332 Sioux Ln, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $67,500.00

Mt Heights Senior 4% Lllp/Wegner Homes, 230 Starner Ln, Com Fence/Roof/Siding,   $107,800.00

Church Of The Open Bible Of Bi /Donahue Roofing Llc, 302 19th St W, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $41,570.00

Hope United Methodist Church /Sprague Construction Roofing Division, 244 Wicks Ln,   Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $50,400.00

Mountrail Properties Llc/Wyomont Exterior Design, 124 N 24th St, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $60,000   Side

Stock Investment Group Iii Llc, 149 Shiloh Rd, Com Remodel, $50,000.00

Fagg Family Properties Llc, 235 N 32nd St, Com Remodel, $8,000.00

Safetech, Inc/ CTA Building Llp, 312 N 22nd St, Demolition Permit Commercial, $4,000.00

Sisters Of Charity Of Lvnwrth/Sprague Construction Roofing Division, 1230 N 30th St, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $47,615

Steel Properties Inc/Lennick Bros. Roofing & Sheetm, 3210 Henesta Dr, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $18,000

Billings Properties Llc/Kirkness Roofing Inc, 3042 King Ave W, Com Fence/Roof/Siding  $22,248

Briar Rock Group Llc/Perfect 10 Roofing & Construction, 2208 Central Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $60,000

Berst, David/Sprague Construction Roofing Division, 1211 1st Ave N, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $4,800

Leo C Schwehr Bypass Trust & /Billings Pavement Services Llc, 4 32nd St W, Com New Parking Lot/Non-Building Structure, $35,000

Jpk3m1 Llc/Jares Fence Company, Inc, 5364 Midland Rd, Com Remodel, $21,000

STV Building Partnership, 1139 N 27th St, Com Remodel – Change In Use, $23,650

Rimrock Owner LP/Neumann Construction, 300 S 24th St W, Com Remodel – Change In Use,  $38,600

Residential

Aldrich, Richard K & Katherine/Freyenhagen Construction, Inc.743 Park Ln, Res Addition Single/Duplex/Garage, $1,000

Dunn, Matthew T & Chris A/Braaton Construction & Home Repair Inc, 2173 Pheasant Pl, Res Addition Single/Duplex/Garage, $0.00

Koprek, Reed A & Cynthia D/Big Sky Custom Builders, 2919 38th St W, Res New Accessory Structure, $60,000

Montplaisir, Michael & Marjori, 1236 Harvard Ave, Res New Accessory Structure, $48,000

Zweegman, Brian , 1119 Pepper Ln, Res New Accessory Structure,     $5,000

Diverse Construction Llc,2133 Gleneagles Blvd,   Res New Single Family, $263,284

Buscher Construction Ltd, 3110 Falcon Cir, Res New Single Family,    $237,000

Lorenz Construction, 3364 Pipestone Dr, Res New Single Family,    $233,117

Formation Inc, 2521 Mountain Range Ct, Res New Single Family,   $299,752

Formation Inc, 2514 Mountain Range Ct, Res New Single Family,     $208,092

Oakland Built Homes Inc, 1448 Las Palmas Ave, Res New Single Family    $205,020

Green Jeans Llc, 1306 Jean Ave, Res New Single Family, $254,686

High Sierra II Inc, 2412 Bonito Loop, Res New Single Family, $207,088

Mark  Allen/Trailhead Builders Of Montana Llc, 1512 Columbine Dr, Res New Two Family, $0.00

Handlos, Ronald K & Sylvia Bar/Environmental Contractors Llc, 525 Clark Ave,   Demolition Permit Residential, $3,800

Farrier Curt J & Donna M, 2045 Constellation Trl, Res New Accessory Structure, $40,000

Donald L Harr Survivor Trust/Mike Mjelstad Construction, 3010 Wendimere Ln, Res New Accessory Structure, $6,900

Sterup, Robert L & Carolyn I, 4406 Laredo Pl, Res New Accessory Structure, $12,000

Infinity Home Llc, 3107 70th St W, Res New Single Family, $0.00

Blanding, Nathan & Kristen, 537 Clark Ave, Res New Single Family, $189,302

Manley, Gerald B & Jane R/Steadfast Builders, 2722 Cornell Cir, Res New Single Family, $300,000

Trails West Homes Llc, 920 Bitterbrush St, Res New Single Family, $247,732.00

Airport Expansion Continues

21 October 2020
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Billings Airport will be receiving more grant funding and anticipates new business expansion.

Kevin Ploehn, Director of Aviation & Transit announced that the Alpine Aviation is interested in building a 20,000 square foot hangar and office space to complement the operations that currently exist at the Airport’s Business Park, during the September meeting of the Billings Aviation and Transit Commission.

Alpine is based in Provo, Utah and operates over 100 cargo routes in the U.S. —with hub operations in Billings, Denver, Sioux Falls and Salt Lake. Alpine primarily hauls freight for UPS and mail for the Postal Service, and operates around 400 flights per month out of Billings, and business continues to grow for them, said Ploehn.

Ploehn said this could be the first of a number of Alpine buildings and he wants to set the stage for any future development by getting the water, sewer, electrical, and road infrastructure planned out now.

Ploehn also reported that Northwestern Energy is interested in a 40-year lease of about 15 acers of airport land at the east end of the airport along the highway next to the existing substation property.

Billings Airport will also be receiving an additional grant from the construction of the Terminal Building. The grant consists of $4,026,476 of Discretionary AIP (Airport Improvement Program) funding, $261,849 of Entitlement AIP funding, and $476,480 of CARES Act local matching funds for a total grant of $4,764,805.

The Airport had received an earlier grant for the Terminal Construction of $2,352,628.

The Airport has applied for a grant with the State Department of Environmental Quality for $25,500 to offset the cost of installing three dual headed electrical vehicle chargers. This grant is part of the Volkswagen Settlement that the State of Montana received for offsetting combustion engine pollution with green sustainable energy. The project would allow six electric vehicles to be charged at the same time.

In earlier reports, Ploehn said that the recovery of Billings Airport and other airports in Montana is better than most other airports in the country. They have gone from doing about only 7 percent of their passenger numbers in the spring to about 50 percent now … while the average for the rest of the nation is about 30 percent. The reason was attributed to traffic to the national parks which drew a lot of people this summer. 

Ploehn noted that in April the Billings Airport only had 2,334 enplanements, which was down 93%. That improved to 7,535 enplanements in May (down 81%) and 13,675 enplanements in June (down 70%). In August enplanements was 24,612, almost exactly 50 percent of last August.

He noted that it appeared that July and possibly August would be closer to being down 50%. Ploehn thinks it may be possible for the year to end at about 70 or 80 percent of last year’s total numbers and that will become the “new normal.”

Year-to-date figures at the end of August was near 160,000 compared to 315,000 YTD last year.

Wise Wonders Gets $50,000 Matching Grant

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

New Program Available for Working Capital

20 October 2020
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A new program called Montana Working Capital program has been put into place by state officials, which builds off the Montana Loan Deferment program by allowing Montana businesses to take out a new loan to support economic recovery. 

Taking advantage of the $1.25 billion the state received from the federal government to deal with COVID-19 impacts on the state’s economy the Montana Loan Deferment program, launched in June, defers payments on existing loans for six to twelve months. Over $36 million has been awarded to over 1,000 Montana businesses to defer $115 million in payments by businesses. For every dollar awarded, Montana businesses receive $3 in direct benefit.

“Bankers in Montana are doing everything they can to assist businesses impacted by the economic crisis, and both the loan deferment and the new working capital program give them vital new tools in their toolboxes to help businesses regain profitability. We have worked closely with the Board of Investments for months in crafting programs that are truly beneficial for business owners and are easily implemented by banks,” said Cary Hegreberg, President/CEO, Montana Bankers Association

The Montana Working Capital program will allow Montana businesses to take out a new loan to be used for payroll, employee benefits, lease or rent, inventory, utilities, and insurance. Utilizing the unused portion of the $125 million allocated to the Montana Loan Deferment program, new borrowers can work through an approved lender to take out a loan with 35 percent of it granted through Coronavirus Relief Funds. The borrower would be responsible for making payments on the remaining 65 percent of the loan. The maximum loan size is $500,000 with a grant of $175,000. The borrower would then be responsible for making payments on the remaining $325,000.

To be eligible, borrowers must have experienced a 15 percent reduction in gross revenue attributed to the direct or indirect impacts of COVID-19. The rates and terms will be determined by the lender and borrower. Like the Montana Loan Deferment program, the new Montana Working Capital program will be run by the Board of Investments, in partnership with Montana banks and credit unions.