Category: Government
-
Nominations have opened for the 2025 National Small Business Week Awards.
For more than 60 years the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has been uplifting small businesses in America, and the annual NSBW awards recognize the exemplary achievements, triumphs, contributions, and resilience of SBA-assisted individuals and businesses that help to drive the American economy. “From corner shops to innovation hubs, American entrepreneurs create jobs, invent and…
-
Yellowstone County “Grew like Crazy!”
By Evelyn Pyburn Montana’s economy is not doing too badly, and Yellowstone County’s economy “grew like crazy” over the past few months, according to economist Pat Barkey, Director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER), University of Montana. He called the economy for Billings “a Goldilocks recovery,” following several years of lackluster performance…
-
State Study Will Set Funding Levels for Housing for People in Behavior System
The state of Montana will be conducting a statewide study to determine what level of funding is needed to subsidize housing costs for low-income Montanans who are served in the state’s behavioral health system. Governor Greg Gianforte announced that $1 million of public funds will be made available to conduct the study which will direct…
-
Montana First State in the Nation to Open BEAD Portal
Montana will be the first state in the nation to open its Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) application portal. On August 1, Gov. Greg Gianforte announced the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) had given final approval to Montana’s BEAD proposal, allocating nearly $629 million to increase the state’s connectivity. “This…
-
Farm Bureau Urges Action on Water Settlement Act
The Montana Farm Bureau has submitted a letter to U.S. House of Representatives leadership urging them to take up the Fort Belknap Indian Community (FBIC) Water Settlement Act of 2024 (S.1987). “The Milk River Project in north central Montana is aptly referred to as the “Lifeline of the Highline” because it provides water to over…
-
Center Square Reports on Threats to Honest Elections
The news agency, The Center Square is concerned about keeping America’s election honest, and have focused reporting on what is happening in various states. While we are routinely assured there is nothing to worry about in regard to the integrity of our elections, Center Square has found that is not true. The Center Square recently…
-
Attorneys General Get into the Weeds Over Popular Pesticide Labeling
By Kim Jarrett, The Center Square Weed killer or possible carcinogen? The attorneys general of Iowa and Nebraska say glyphosate, an ingredient used widely in pesticides, is safe. But California officials want to label pesticides with glyphosate as carcinogens. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers said the state is relying…
-
Firefighters Stand Against Proposed OSHA Mandates
Governor Greg Gianforte recently raised the alarm about a proposed federal rule which could have a “catastrophic” impact on firefighting in the state. In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed replacing the existing “Fire Brigade Standard” with the new “Emergency Response” standard, unprecedentedly expanding the agency’s role over…
-
State’s Senior Health Care Tops List
Montana’s primary strength is its healthcare accessibility for older citizens, reports Senior Living. With a population of just over 1.1 million, Montana’s healthcare access score was second among all states – a number aided by the Montana Rural Physician Incentive Program that subsidizes and attracts medical professionals. Montana also had many Medicare hospitals per resident…
-
SBA Offers Grants for Cybersecurity
Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced $3 million in new funding under the Cybersecurity for Small Businesses Pilot Program. Three grants will be awarded to state agencies to provide training, counseling, and other tailored cybersecurity services for startups and emerging entrepreneurs. “With small businesses accounting for 99.9 percent…