Big Sky Economic Development

Creating Montana Business Opportunities

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Jan 5, 2012
CDBG Public Hearing Notice
YELLOWSTONE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD FIRST PUBLIC HEARING FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDS TUESDAY, JANUARY 10 The Board of County Commissioners, Yellowstone County, Montana will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, January 10, 20...
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Dec 15, 2011
Bad economy? Farmers have one of best years ever (Associated Press)
An Illinois farmer made so much money this year he made loan payments on one tractor a year in advance and exchanged some older ones for newer models. An Iowa farmer upgraded his combine and also paid off debt, while an elderly Oregon farmer poured into r...
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Dec 11, 2011
Online holiday sales rise 15 percent to $24.6B (MSNBC.com)
U.S. online sales in the holiday season to date are up 15 percent to $24.6 billion, according to comScore. The research firm said Sunday sales on six individual days during the first 39 days of the November-to-December shopping season have exceeded $1...
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Dec 10, 2011
Gulfstream International Airlines will consider Billings-to-Williston service (Billings Gazette)
Officials from Gulfstream International Airlines say they’ll carefully consider a pitch to add direct flights between Billings and Williston, N.D., the epicenter of a historic oil boom that has sent thousands of people flocking to western North Dakota a...
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Nov 30, 2011
Employers added 206,000 private-sector jobs in November (MSNBC.com)
Private employers added 206,000 jobs in November, according to a new report released Wednesday from payrolls processor ADP. The monthly number was better than expected. Analysts had expected a smaller gain in November. October’s monthly gain in priva...
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Nov 29, 2011
$2.5M heading to Montana to repair flood damage (Billings Gazette)
HELENA — The U.S. Department of Transportation is providing $2.5 million in emergency relief to Montana for flood damage. U.S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester say the money came as part of requests they made to the federal agency Click Read More

Nov 28, 2011
Cyber Monday brings big sales for Montana company (KTVQ Television)
BILLINGS - This year could likely be a record breaking Cyber Monday for retailers. Analysts expect as much as $1.2 billion dollars in sales, with many stores offering deep discounts. With just about every online retailer, large and small, participat...
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Nov 27, 2011
Montana banks see more profits, fewer loans in third quarter (Independent Record)
HELENA — The health of Montana’s banks is improving, but in areas of asset quality and loan growth it’s struggling to catch up with the rest of the country. That’s the determination of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minnesota, according to its third ...
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Nov 10, 2011
SBA's Regional Administrator to Visit Billings
NOVEMBER 10, 2011 (Billings, MT) – The SBA’s Region 8 Administrator, Dan Hannaher is traveling to Billings to meet with area business owners and leaders. Mr. Hannaher will be discussing the American Jobs Act and other Executive actions from the White ...
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Nov 7, 2011
Ready or Not—The Holidays Are Here! Are You Ready?
by Joe Michels, PhD, P.E., C.P.L. Managing Principal, Solomon Bruce Consulting LLC® November is here and the holiday seasons is upon us—are you ready? For many businesses, this is the “Harvest” time of year with the sales made in Nove...
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Nov 1, 2011
220,000 sq ft Scheels Coming in 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MEDIA CONTACT: Jason Loney 701.364.5695 media@scheelssports.com SCHEELS to Open New Store in Billings, MT Billings, MT – Scheels is thrilled to announce a new 220,000 square foot Scheels at Shiloh Crossing in Billings,...
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Oct 31, 2011
Newly named First Interstate CEO says bank, local economy improving (KTVQ)
BILLINGS - The new Chief Executive Officer for the First Interstate Bancsystem says his bank is recovering from the economic downturn. Earlier this month, First Interstate Bank announced Ed Garding will become the new CEO when Lyle Knight retires in...
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Oct 30, 2011
SBA recognizes local businesses (Billings Business)
The U.S. Small Business Administration Montana District Office recognized 14 small businesses in a graduation ceremony in Helena. The goal of the SBA Emerging 200 initiative is to identify inner-city and Native American businesses across the country that ...
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Oct 27, 2011
Think Billings! Energy's Strategic Play
Alberta is Energy! A promise to travel the province to connect with Albertans and discuss the role that energy plays in our daily lives. by Steve Arveschoug I discovered this plan in the Business is Calgary magazine on a recent trade mission ...
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Oct 20, 2011
Position Announcement: Part-Time Community Development Specialist
Part-time Community Development Specialist Wanted: Team-oriented communicator, skilled in detailed, persuasive writing. Facilitate collaborative community projects that contribute to successful business operations, job creation, and desirable q...
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Oct 19, 2011
First Interstate selects next CEO (Billings Business)
The next leader of the First Interstate BancSystem Inc., based in Billings will be longtime employee Edward Garding. The bank's board this morning chose Garding to replace Lyle R. Knight as chief executive and president. Knight is retiring April 1, 2012,...
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Oct 17, 2011
Montana and Wyoming spared Lowe's closures (Billings Gazette)
None of the Lowe’s Home Improvement stores in Montana or Wyoming will be closed as part of the corporation’s decision to shutter 20 underperforming stores in 15 states. “The 10 stores closed last night,” said Lowe’s spokesperson Colleen Maiur...
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Sep 20, 2011
Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund (BSTF) - Aid in the development of good paying jobs for Montana residents (Montana Dept. of Commerce)
The Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund (BSEDTF) program is a state-funded program created by the 2005 Legislature. It is designed to aid in the development of good paying jobs for Montana residents and promote long-term stable economic growth in Mont...
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Sep 20, 2011
NorthWestern Energy Giving Away Free Weatherization Kits to Qualifying Customers in Montana (Montana Dept. of Commerce)
In an effort to help Montana residents become more energy efficient this winter, NorthWestern Energy is inviting qualifying natural gas customers to attend a Weatherization Event in their area. At the events, NorthWestern Energy will be distributing free ...
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Sep 19, 2011
Downtown group to move forward on parking garage (Billings Gazette)
The Downtown Billings Partnership won the tacit approval of the City Council Monday night to pursue plans to build a 533-car parking garage on Montana Avenue. The council didn't vote on the issue, since the meeting was an informal work session, but no ...
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Sep 13, 2011
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Juneau Promotes Community-Based Efforts to Reduce the Dropout Rate (MATR)
Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau has taken her initiative to graduate more students ready for college and careers on the road this summer, and her efforts to support community-based strategies to reduce the dropout rate have resulted in ...
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Sep 12, 2011
Federal courthouse construction update (Billings Gazette)
Work continues on the 147,000-square-foot federal courthouse in downtown Billings. Scheduled for completion by the end of 2012, the $59 million courthouse will house the U.S. District Court, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the U.S. Marshals Service. The ...
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Sep 7, 2011
Roscoe Steel sells to North Dakota company (Billings Gazette)
A steel company based in Fargo, N.D., has purchased Roscoe Steel & Culvert Co., of Billings, which has been run by the Roscoe family for 58 years. The Rommesmo Cos., which started business in 1945 as Fargo Tank, completed the purchase of Roscoe Steel o...
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Sep 4, 2011
Have You Heard: Architect, builders riding N.D. boom (Billings Gazette)
Alex Tommerup opened AT Architecture Inc., in the Heights in 2002 and seven years later decided to open a second office in Williston, N.D., to take advantage of the Bakken oil boom. He helped design a Motel 6 in Williston where construction started ...
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Aug 27, 2011
Baucus listens to oil industry concerns (Sidney Herald)
U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., said he would do what he could to help alleviate difficulties the oil industry faces in eastern Montana. The Democratic legislator briefly visited Sidney Tuesday for a roundtable discussion and what he called a “fact-fi...
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Aug 25, 2011
Halliburton adding 11,000 jobs (Los Angeles Times)
Halliburton has some good news for the dire U.S. employment picture. The oil services and equipment company expects to hire 11,000 workers in North America in 2011, said Jim Brown, president of Halliburton's Western Hemisphere division. In an interv...
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Aug 22, 2011
'Complete streets' plan wins City Council approval (Billings Gazette)
A resolution establishing a “complete streets” policy for the city of Billings won the unanimous approval of the City Council Monday night. The council also approved a resolution to charge Bresnan Communications subscribers 25 cents a month to m...
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Aug 21, 2011
Oxx in a box: Red Oxx imagines using shipping containers to build business campus that could revive east end
From the Billings Gazette Jim Markel might look like a kid playing with a toy train set, but he is a businessman with big plans. The units he’s busy stacking and reconfiguring aren’t scale-model trains. They are small replicas of steel shippi...
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Aug 7, 2011
Three finalists compete for downtown office building (Billings Business)
The bid to build a new $30 million office building downtown was supposed to be awarded in July, but now the federal General Services Administration said it will pick a winner by the end of August. The privately owned building will complement the new fe...
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Aug 6, 2011
MSUB students outline business plan for ZooMontana (Billings Gazette)
After months of research, a group of Montana State University Billings students has created a business plan intended to point ZooMontana toward a promising financial future. It is another in what is expected to be many steps to improve the zoo, whic...
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Jul 25, 2011
Conoco megaloads back on the road (KTVQ)
BILLINGS- After a long hiatus from traveling, the ConocoPhillips megaloads are once again on the move. Representatives from ConocoPhillips say the Montana Department of Transportation wanted to make sure the bridges the tranports were traveling on were...
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Jul 24, 2011
California gold: Billings company joins rush to lure overtaxed California companies (Billings Business)
A Billings company that has gone prospecting in the rich lodes of Silicon Valley is starting to unearth a few nuggets, and more success could be on the way if California technology companies continue to think that the grass may be greener elsewhere. ...
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Jul 21, 2011
7 Government Incentive Programs Entrepreneurs Should Be Exploring (OpenForum.com)
I'm often asked if there are any government incentive programs available to young entrepreneurs that most new business owners don't know about. The following answers are provided by the Young Entrepreneur Council. Founded by Scott Gerber, the Y.E.C. is...
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Jul 11, 2011
Survey reveals need for tech skills in college, workforce (eschoolnews.com)
A new survey reinforces the concern that while students must have technology skills to succeed as they enter college and the workforce, their schools are not meeting this important need. Click Read More

Jul 10, 2011
Bright new day for Montana Silversmiths (Billings Business)
COLUMBUS — For weeks now, the Yellowstone River has churned at the riverbank just behind Montana Silversmiths headquarters in Columbus. Only a few miles downstream, the same torrent has raged past the Special K Ranch. The two entities, linked by t...
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Jul 10, 2011
Oil Boom Causes Housing Shortage in NE Montana (KULR8)
MILES CITY - Contractors in northeastern Montana are building 72 mobile housing units in Miles City to alleviate what officials say is a serious housing shortage for oil field workers based in Bainville. Click Read More

Jul 7, 2011
Jobs: 2 hopeful signs (CNNMoney)
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The job market got two optimistic signs Thursday as private sector employers added 157,000 positions in June and fewer people filed new claims for unemployment benefits, according to two reports. Payroll processing company ADP sa...
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Jul 7, 2011
Retailers post strong June sales (Associated Press)
Retailers are reporting robust sales as deep discounts on summer merchandise pulled in shoppers in June. But the concern is that the momentum may not continue heading into the back-to-school shopping season when consumers are likely to find higher prices...
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Jul 4, 2011
Billings Businesses Look to the Oil Patch (Big Sky Business Journal)
The Bakken is booming, and so are Billings businesses. How much opportunity is there in the Bakken for businesses in Billings or other areas of the state? That was the question for a group of people who went on tour of the Bakken recently, sponsored...
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Jun 27, 2011
White House considers big boost to fuel economy (Associated Press)
WASHINGTON – The Obama administration is telling American automakers that it would like cars and light trucks to average 56.2 miles per gallon by 2025 — a boost to fuel economy that would save consumers money at the pump and help with global warming b...
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Jun 27, 2011
Consumer spending in May weakest in a year (Associated Press)
For the first time in a year, Americans have stopped spending more. Consumer spending failed to budge from April to May, evidence that high gas prices and unemployment are squeezing household budgets. When adjusted for inflation, spending actually dro...
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Jun 26, 2011
Have You Heard: Local couple builds medical clinic (Billings Gazette)
Internal medicine Dr. Brad Fuller and his wife, Melissa Fuller, are building a 4,500-square-foot clinic at the corner of Avenue B and 41st St. W. Jones Construction Inc., of Billings started work in April and workers are painting the walls now. Full...
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May 31, 2011
Montana gas prices dip (KTVQ)
BILLINGS - We usually see gas prices jump up as the Memorial Day weekend ushers in the start of the summer driving season, but it was a bit different this time around. Average retail gasoline prices in Montana fell 0.2 cents per gallon in the past week...
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May 29, 2011
A Tow-tal success: Mining products put Montana on the global map (Billings Gazette)
Spring Creek Mine in southeast Montana is built on muscle, not on hustle. Its giant mining shovels chew through coal seams voraciously, but have a top-end cruising speed of about 2 mph. Maybe “cruise” isn’t the right word to describe a mining...
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May 23, 2011
Billings gas prices remain stable (Billings Gazette)
Gasoline prices remained stable last week in the Billings area. The average retail gas price in Billings rose 0.2 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.74 per gallon on Sunday. This compares with the national average that has fallen 8.8 cents p...
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May 23, 2011
College graduates face improving job market (Billings Gazette)
Erin Jensvold, 34, landed a job with Aspen Air in Lockwood earlier this year, a few weeks before finishing college. A 1994 graduate of Skyview High, Jensvold became interested in how local refineries and power plants operated when she worked there a...
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May 17, 2011
Gulfstream air service links Montana towns (Montana News)
GREAT FALLS- Gulfstream International Airlines began new air service on Sunday, linking the final three of seven Montana cities with Billings Logan International Airport. Gulfstream began providing flights Sunday from Glendive, Miles City and Sidney t...
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May 17, 2011
Crews work to finish Metra construction before Father's Day tornado anniversary (KTVQ)
BILLINGS- Audiences have given the Metra a big thumbs up so far, and now construction is dedicated to finishing the arena's administrative offices. Workers are installing wiring, sheet-rock, and other hardware to that part of the building. Crews wi...
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May 16, 2011
Economists: Lower growth, higher oil prices coming (Associated Press)
Economists are dialing back their expectations for U.S. economic growth this year. A survey from the National Association for Business Economics predicts GDP will grow 2.8 percent this year — down from the group's February prediction that it would...
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May 10, 2011
Microsoft buys Skype for $8.5B (CBS News)
NEW YORK - Microsoft has agreed to buy the popular Internet telephone service Skype for $8.5 billion in the biggest deal in the software maker's 36-year history. Buying Skype would give Microsoft a potentially valuable communications tool as it tries t...
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May 10, 2011
Crowded coupon industry competes for users (MSNBC)
Call it group coupon overload. These days it is nearly impossible to browse Facebook, accept an Evite or read a local news website without being tempted to get a massage for 70 percent off, a dozen cupcakes at half price or a skydiving lesson for one-...
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May 9, 2011
MSU Billings student shines in business competition (Billings Business)
Anyone who has done it for any length of time will tell you that running a business is difficult. Inventory, cash flow, marketing strategies and personnel decisions can be challenging. Success depends on making hard decisions and perseverance. A...
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Apr 26, 2011
Questions you should ask your web designer
Today's article is written by Brenda Segna from BLaST creative. Brenda serves as a resource member on our Business Assessment Team. Questions you Should Ask Your Web Designer Getting results for your website can be difficult, but it al...
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Apr 18, 2011
SBA 504 Offers Refinance Program
The SBA has established a temporary program allowing small businesses to refinance eligible fixed assets in its 504 program without requirement of an expansion, as is the case with typical 504 loans. This program will provide small businesses the opportun...
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Feb 24, 2011
What You Need To Know About The Facebook Business Pages Redesign
Facebook started rolling out a series of changes to their Business Pages or Fan Pages this past week. Today it is optional, but on March 11, 2011 all Business Pages/Fan Pages will be switched over to the new page format automatically. So let me share with...
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Feb 22, 2011
Back to the Future -- Looks Good (Big Sky Business Journal
Courtesy of Big Sky Business Journal Written by Evelyn Pyburn “...we are back to where we were when the recession began..” The second half of 2011 will be the best for Montana’s economy since 2006, predicted economists at the Montana E...
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Jan 25, 2011
Bresnan Communications hiring more workers (Billings Gazette)
(Story courtesy Billings Gazettte Communications; Written by Ed Kemmick) Bresnan Communications, whose sale to Cablevision Systems Corp. closed last month, is expanding its presence in Billings. Sean O'Donnell, regional vice president for Bresnan, s...
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Jan 25, 2011
Yellowstone County Commissioners support large loads to Billings (Q2 News)
(Story courtesy of KTVQ-2 News, written by Amanda Venegas) BILLINGS - Yellowstone County Commissioners are throwing their support behind the movement of mega loads from Idaho to Montana for ConocoPhillips refinery. On Tuesday, commissioners supporte...
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Jan 24, 2011
Billings City Council approves new plan for St. Vincent westend development (Q2 News)
(Story courtesy of KTVQ-2) BILLINGS - Billings City Council paved the way for a proposed St. Vincent subdivision that promises a new type of neighborhood. At Monday's meeting the council aprroved a number of zone changes and variences to St. V's Vil...
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Jan 17, 2011
MetraPark arena grand opening on Fathers Day (Q2 News)
(Story courtesy Q2 News) One year to the day a tornado ripped through the MetraPark arena in Billings, a community celebration is being planned to show off the completed construction. Yellowstone County officials are putting together the event planned...
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Jan 16, 2011
Some businesses thriving in recession (Billings Gazette)
(Story courtesy Billings Gazette, Written by Jan Falstad) In the wake of the Great Recession, some Yellowstone County businesses are surviving, even thriving, as the Bakken oil boom sweetens their sales. While real estate agents, builders and many s...
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Jan 5, 2011
NorthWestern Energy to Purchase Wind Project (Big Sky Business Journal)
(Story courtesy Big Sky Business Journal) NorthWestern Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding to purchase a 25-megawatt wind project in central Montana to be developed by Compass Wind. The project, which was submitted to NorthWestern in res...
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Jan 4, 2011
Billings set to become an Energy Star city (Q2 News)
(story courtesy KTVQ-2) BILLINGS - The Magic City is gearing up for a big campaign launch in exactly one week. Energy conservation is the focus as Billings commits to become an energy star city. In October the city council voted to accept the Federa...
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Dec 19, 2010
Canadian company buys former Auto Auction building (Billings Gazette)
(Story courtesy The Billings Gazette, written by Jan Falstad) Two Canadian companies are investing in Billings and one has purchased the former Auto Auction building at 1258 Cordova St., near the Holiday Inn Grand Montana Hotel. MacBain Properties L...
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Nov 18, 2010
Stillwater Mining expanding mines, hiring workers (Billings Gazette)
Stillwater Mining expanding mines, hiring workers by Jan Falstad, Billings Gazette Stillwater Mining Co., an economic powerhouse for south-central Montana, said it will be hiring as many as 200 more workers through next year to expand its two platinum...
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Oct 25, 2010
Big Sky Economic Development Hires Two, Promotes Another
Big Sky Economic Development announced today it has hired two new employees to the staff and promoted another. Shelley Pierce is the organization’s new Member Investor Coordinator. Mac Ketterling fills a newly added position as loan officer. Pierce i...
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Sep 13, 2010
‘Ideas for expansion’: GE Chairman Immelt, Sen. Baucus tour Billings facility
Courtesy Billings Gazette Communications The expansion of General Electric Montana Center of Excellence in Billings is still an idea for now. U.S. Senator Max Baucus and GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt toured the facility Sunday afternoon. The site...
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Sep 7, 2010
Economic Group Shares Latest about Billings Development Project
SEPTEMBER 7, 2010 (Billings, MT) – Big Sky Economic Development, in partnership with the Billings Industrial Revitalization District (BIRD), will be hosting a public information session on Wednesday, September 15. The event is free to the public and wil...
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Sep 3, 2010
Turbine Could Bring Jobs
(courtesy KULR-8, Billings) (view the video here) BILLINGS - Billings could soon be leading the U.S. in wind turbine manufacturing starting with a groundbreaking Fri...
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Aug 24, 2010
Local Experts Share Insights on How to Get Grants
The community development specialists at Big Sky Economic Development will present a free introductory workshop about the grant-seeking process on Wednesday, September 8, from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. in the Big Sky Economic Development conference center locate...
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Aug 17, 2010
SBA 504 Loan Interest Rate Drops Below 5% for Small Business Owners
The Small Business Administration's (SBA) 504 loan program is providing long-term, fixed rate financing for the purchase of commercial real estate at one of the lowest interest rates since the program's inception. The SBA's lending partners, through Certi...
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Jun 1, 2010
Montana & Small Business Subcontractor/Supplier Networking Event
Mortenson Construction will be hosting an informal “Montana and Small Business Subcontractor/Supplier Networking Event” for subcontractors and suppliers on Monday, June 7, 2010 at the Montana State University – Billings (MSUB) Downtown Conference Ce...
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May 21, 2010
Wells Fargo Expanding Billings Service Center
BILLINGS, Mont., May 18, 2010 – Wells Fargo is now taking applications for its next customer service representative training class at its Billings Banker Connection Center. Wells Fargo began increasing team members at the center in Billings earlier thi...
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May 20, 2010
US Chamber Report Ranks Montana #1 for Entrepreneurs!
Montana ranks first in the nation for entrepreneurs and is a top spot for economic growth according to a new report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.The report – Enterprising States: Creating Jobs, Economic Development, and Prosperity in Challenging Ti...
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May 17, 2010
Big Sky Economic Development Hires Community Development Specialist
BIG SKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIRES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST May 17, 2010 (Billings, MT) – Big Sky Economic Development announced today it has hired Sara Hudson to the position of Community Development Specialist. Hudson is a Rocky Mountain C...
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May 11, 2010
What does Healthcare Reform Mean for You?
BIG SKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INVITES YOU TO ATTEND THIS VERY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION... May 18, 2010 - 9AM—11AM At the Billings Clinic Mary Alice Fortin Health Conference Center located next to the Billings Clinic Hospital Cafeteria JOIN Liz Fowler...
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Mar 26, 2010
BIG SKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NAMES DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OUTREACH
BIG SKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NAMES DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OUTREACH Jeremy Vannatta has joined Big Sky Economic Development as the director of New Business Recruitment and Retention. He will also manage the overall marketing and public relations for the...
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Jan 26, 2010
BIG SKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 2009 REPORT CARD
From the Executive Director, Steve Arveschoug = Department reports Built $10 Million GE Building; 225 jobs; closing the loans w/ State of MT and Stockman Bank Implemented the Development Agreement for the Federal Courthouse Project, sold the MDU prop...
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Dec 14, 2009
Brandon Berger, Big Sky Economic Development Loan Officer is #1 for the second time
CONTACT Brandon Berger direct at 406-869-8403. berger@bigskyeda.org www.bigskyeda-edc.org Brandon Berger, Big Sky Economic Development Loan Officer is #1 for the second time Brandon Berger, Loan...
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Nov 1, 2009
FSB Names Billings Best Place to Grow a Business
Fortune Small Business along with the Kauffman Foundation named Billings the #1 small city to launch and grow a business in their November 2009 issue. Read More

Oct 6, 2009
IMPROVING GRADUATION RATES
By MARY PICKETT Billings Gazette | Posted: Thursday, September 24, 2009 10:40 pm BILLINGS - Montana can do more to improve college graduation rates, the leader of a nonprofit higher education organization said Thursday. Dennis Jones, president of the B...
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Oct 6, 2009
FORBES REPORT - BEST STATES TO DO BUSINESS
The Forbes Report Our Best States ranking measures six vital categories for businesses: costs, labor supply, regulatory environment, current economic climate, growth prospects and quality of life. We factor in 33 different points of data to determine the...
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Aug 6, 2009
HELP STATE LEGISLATORS DESIGN A BLUEPRINT FOR MONTANA'S ENERGY FUTURE
Senate Bill 290, approved by the 2009 Legislature, requires the Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee to revise the current state energy policy. To assist the committee in developing a new policy, the ETIC is seeking input from stakeholder...
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Jul 2, 2009
Final EBURD Master Plan Report is now available
The final EBURD Master Plan Report is now available and can be downloaded here....
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May 21, 2009
Borrower and lender funding fees waived for loan approvals through Sept. 2009
The overall effective rate on the 10 year notes to small business borrowers for projects funded in the month of May fell to a record low! Borrower and lender funding fees have been waived for loan approvals through September 2009 For debentures fund...
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May 6, 2009
Public Input Welcomed for EBURD Master Plan
Presentation: DRAFT East Billings Urban Renewal District Master Plan (PDF 5.5MB) Public comment on the plan may be submitted to wales@bigskyeda.org or mailed to Attentio...
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Apr 15, 2009
APRIL INTEREST RATE ON SBA 504 LOANS DECLINES
Brandon Berger, loan officer for Big Sky Economic Development Corporation was notified by NADCO, the trade association for the nation’s Certified Development Companies (CDCs), that The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 504 loan program provided...
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Apr 15, 2009
East Billings Urban Renewal Final Public Input
– The Master Plan process will conclude the end of April. The final Master Planning Public Input Session will be at 5 - 7pm on April 30th in the Lobby/Box office of Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark. The focus will be on implementation strategies...
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Apr 10, 2009
NEW BOARD OFFICERS - NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Jim Gallup, President of Golden Steel & Recycling, will serve as the 2009 Big Sky Economic Development Authority [EDA] Chairman of the Board; Pat Kimmet, CHS Laurel Refinery Manager, as Vice Chair; Greg Kohn, Secretary/Treasure; and Ted White, Regiona...
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Apr 4, 2009
PTAC STAFF HONORED
At the April meeting of the National Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers [PTAC] MT State Director Maureen Jewell was elected by Region 9 members to represent Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Arizona in the association. J...
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Apr 3, 2009
U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Awards
U.S. Small Business Administration, Montana District, notified Big Sky EDA-EDC Small Business Development Center that our nomination for “Family Owned Small Business of the Year” was accepted. Alpine Plumbing and Heating will receive their award on...
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Mar 25, 2009
BIG SKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AWARDED FUNDING FOR BRESNAN
Tony Preite, Director of The Montana Department of Commerce, recently notified Big Sky Economic Development Authority [EDA] that their proposal for $230,000 to assist in the expansion of Bresnan Communications has been awarded. The funding, which...
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Dec 10, 2008
BiILLINGS IS HOT !
BILLINGS IS HOT! “Developer identified six markets that are hot spots for development based on Moody’s Economy.com forecasts for cities with the highest projected job growth over the next 12 months and low unemployment rates. Interestingly, none of t...
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Dec 10, 2008
BILLINGS COT TRAINS ENERGY EMPLOYEES
MSU-B, Idaho State partner on energy degrees Posted on Oct. 21 By the Associated Press BILLINGS - Education officials say state schools in Billings, Great Falls and Havre, through a partnership with Idaho State University, will offer two-year degrees t...
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Dec 10, 2008
BROWN FIELDS CONTRACT AWARDED
At its November 13th Board meeting, Big Sky EDA approved the recommendation of the selection committee to contract with AECOM Environment to conduct the Brownfields Assessment Project in the East Billings Urban Renewal District.  AECOM, with offices in...
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Oct 31, 2008
E-Brief MONTANA WORK COMP COSTS RANKED SECOND HIGHEST
According to a new study released today, Montana has the second highest workers’ compensation premiums in the entire country. The report comes from the Oregon Department of Consumer & Business Services, and can be view at: http://www4.cbs.state.or...
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Oct 29, 2008
U. S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION RECOGNIZES BIG SKY EDC’S LOAN OFFICER – BRANDON BERGER
Citing outstanding performance, the U.S. Small Business Administration [SBA] state director, Michelle Johnston, congratulated the Big Sky Economic Development Corporation, an SBA Certified Development Company [CDC], and in particular their loan officer, B...
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Sep 14, 2008
COME MEET OUR NEW DIRECTOR - STEVE ARVESCHOUG
YOU ARE INVITED TO MEET STEVE ARVESCHOUG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BIG SKY EDA-EDC 4—5:30 PM OCTOBER 2, 2008 GRANITE TOWER –YELLOWSTONE ROOM 1ST FLR 222 NORTH 32ND STREET Steve comes to us from Pueblo West, Colorado. He received his Bachelor of...
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Jun 12, 2008
MAUREEN JEWELL, MT STATE DIRECTOR FOR PTAC, RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS AWARD
Maureen Jewell, statewide director for the Montana Procurement Technical Assistance Center, [PTAC] including sites in Bozeman, Kalispell, Missoula and Billings, has received the Fellowship Award from the National Association of Procurement Technical Ass...
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Jun 1, 2008
BIG SKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY STAFF EARN ADVANCED DEGREES
Big Sky Economic Development Authority [EDA] staff members Dianne Lehm and Jason Porch have recently earned their Masters Degree. Dianne Lehm, Community Development Specialist for Big Sky EDA for the past seven years, graduated from the University of...
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May 21, 2008
Billings 3rd in Best Life survey
The editors of Best Life magazine have ranked Billings third among 257 cities surveyed for its list of the 100 Best Places to Raise a Family. Read the article in the Billings Gazette: Read More

Mar 25, 2008
Big Sky EDA Welcomes New Board Members
Yellowstone County Commissioners have appointed Justin Mills, N.I.L.E.; Gordon Tryan, Browns Auto Service; and Greg Kohn, Avitus; to the Big Sky Economic Development Authority Board. Ted White, Bresnan, serves as Chair, Jim Gallup, Golden Steel and R...
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Mar 25, 2008
Big Sky EDC Elects New Board Members
The corporate membership of the Big Sky Economic Development Corporation has elected Kate Hamlin, Century 21 Brokers; Bill Lundberg, Roscoe Steel and Culvert; and Jon Pierce, Pierce Flooring and Design, to the Big Sky EDC Board. Todd Sherman, Chicag...
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Dec 31, 1969
YES FOR KIDS - PASSES TWO LEVIES
Big Sky EDA-EDC endorsed YES FOR KIDS initiative to pass School mill levies and expressed gratitude to the citizens of Billings for supporting two on the ballot for elementary-level funding and high school technology investment. The technology support fo...
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Dec 31, 1969
MEMBER INVESTORS, MEET THE PRINCIPAL FISCAL ANALYST APRIL 7 - 3:30 FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OPERATIONS CENTER
Terry W. Johnson is a Principal Fiscal Analyst for the Legislative Branch, Legislative Fiscal Division. Terry has worked for the state of Montana for 36 years. He started his state government career in 1973 as an economist/statistician with the Depart...
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