Montana Chamber of Commerce’s Post

Today the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Economic Development Administration announced the Headwaters Tech Hub will receive $41 million for photonics, sensing, and quantum industry development here in #Montana. We at the Montana Chamber are honored to represent the voice of business in the transformational opportunity and look forward to the work ahead including building a homegrown #workforce, so we can keep our most valuable resource - our students - in the state. Montana Department of Commerce Montana University System Accelerate MT University of Montana Montana State University-Bozeman Montana Chamber Foundation #EDATechHubs #photonics #sensing #quantum #quantumcomputing #MadeinMontana #workforcedevelopment

FOR MONTANA CHAMBER MEMBERS ONLY MONTANA CHAMBER TO ANNOUNCE MONTANA SUPREME COURT CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENTS 📆On Thursday, September 5th from 10:00-11:00 a.m. MST, the Montana Chamber will host a VIRTUAL meeting with its membership to announce the Montana Supreme Court Candidates it has selected to endorse in the upcoming election cycle. ⚖️Be sure to check out the Montana Chamber's 2024 Judicial Review on our website (montanachamber.com). It covers a two-year period (2022-2023) of Montana Supreme Court decisions that impacted the business community and how each of the seven Justices voted. Issues include: Employment, Landlord-Tenant, Land Use/Natural Resources, Medical Malpractice, Tort, Workers' Compensation, and "Other." 🏛️Register here for the VIRTUAL Announcement session HERE: https://bit.ly/4g0dFSY #judiciary #judiciarySystem

The second round of voting to choose "The Coolest Thing Made in Montana" ends THIS SATURDAY, August 31. The final round of voting will begin on September 1. Small and large business designations will be made then with the winners to be announced at the Montana Chamber's 2024 Annual Meeting on Wednesday, October 30 in #Billings. Vote daily to see your choice win. Good luck to Acela, Inc. and all nominees! Montana Department of Commerce Montana Manufacturing Extension Center Montana High Tech Business Alliance Scaling Montana Billings Chamber Of Commerce Big Sky Economic Development

On Wednesday, Governor Greg Gianforte met with his Housing Task Force, co-chaired by Montana Chamber's President & CEO Todd O'Hair, at the Montana State Capital. This bipartisan group, tasked with figuring out how to increase the supply of affordable, attainable workforce housing in Montana, presented its third round of recommendations. The task force’s recommendations in 2022 provided a roadmap for lawmakers ahead of the 2023 legislative session, leading to a successful housing agenda that some have dubbed the “Montana Miracle.” In June 2023, the governor extended the task force through 2025. Ingredients for success in the upcoming legislative session are bipartisanship and industry collaboration. “During historic inflation and skyrocketing interest rates, owning a home has become increasing difficult for Montanans over the last decade,” Gov. Gianforte said. “The Housing Task Force has a proven track record of delivering innovative ideas to increase housing supply. I am grateful to Director Chris Dorrington and Task Force members for once again delivering a set of recommendations agency leaders and local officials can consider to address housing challenges.” Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/3T1qLWe #housing #AffordableHousing #attainablehousing

Check out the REAL Women Co-Lab at UM's newly published micro report on Access to Finance for Montana Women-Owned Businesses. According to Crunchbase, in 2023, women-led startups received 24% of all venture capital funding or $34.7 billion, which was a record-high. All-female founded startups only received 2%. Conversely, all-male founding teams received $114.8 billion, demonstrating the gap in the distribution of capital. Read more about the state of funding in Montana in the report. 👇

Manufacturing in Montana is booming. Check out this job opportunity shared by Montana Chamber Board Member Paddy Fleming with the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center in Great Falls. #MTBiz #MTManufacturing

SAVE THE DATE: Registration opens SEPTEMBER 16th 🤠Announcing the Montana Chamber’s 2025 Blazing Trails: Montana Women in Business Summit to be held March 5-7, 2025 in beautiful downtown Bozeman at the AC Hotel by Marriott Bozeman Downtown, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants - Armory, and NEW this year, the Element Bozeman. Our inaugural event in March 2024 was a smashing success. It SOLD OUT with 240 women from across the Treasure State convening in Bozeman for 2 ½ days to celebrate International Women’s Day and each other. Here is a rundown of the program: 🟧WEDNESDAY, March 5: Welcome Reception sponsored by Mountain Health CO-OP at the AC Benchmark rooftop restaurant, 🟧THURSDAY, March 6: A full day of Keynotes and Breakout Sessions with a Networking Reception sponsored by Rocky Mountain Women's Business Center at the Kimpton Sky Shed before dinner on your own, 🟧FRIDAY, March 7: Extended programming with morning Workshops beginning at 9:00 a.m. to provide even more inspiration and opportunity for connection for Montana’s pioneering women, wrapping up the day with the Keynote at the International Women’s Day Luncheon. 🟧ADDED this year, the 🌟Saddle Club VIP Experience🌟 for Sponsors, an Indigenous Makers Market thanks to the Native Women Launch Program (Accelerate Montana), a Summit Swag Bag, and more! 🚸Proceeds from the Summit will support the Montana Chamber’s #childcare initiatives in the upcoming 2025 Legislative Session and beyond. 💰We will again award five scholarships to Rural & Indigenous Women, covering the cost of the Summit and 2-nights lodging thanks to the generosity of Two Bear Capital. 🐎Trailblazing ladies, “Let’s Ride!" Register on September 16th or you might get left in the dust! https://bit.ly/3SbXkAm TAG A FEMALE #Trailblazer to tell her about the Summit. Guarantee your spot NOW and gain visibility for your company by sponsoring the Summit. Contact Candace Carr Strauss, Head Wrangler at [email protected]. You will be in good company. FOUNDING SPONSORS: First Interstate Northern Broadcasting System Par Montana The University of Montana - College of Business UNDERWRITING SPONSORS: Billings Clinic Bozeman First Security Bank Montana - Div. of Glacier Bank NorthWestern Energy Stockman of Montana #MTWomenInBusinessSummit #MTWIB2025 #womenleading #womenleadingchange #internationalwomensday #iwd2025 #childcare

Here is a great way to get to know our new Montana Department of Commerce Director, Paul Green. Listen to his conversation with Kayla Vokral and Marcell Bruski of Big Sky Economic Development on their podcast, The Vault at 201 N Broadway. Listen now, wherever you podcast at The Vault at 201 N Broadway, or find it here: https://hubs.la/Q02LBPyW0

Yesterday afternoon, our President & CEO Todd O'Hair, and VP, Marketing & Communications, Candace Carr Strauss attended the Kampgrounds of America, Inc. Headquarters Dedication Ceremony wherein they shared that the newly constructed building has achieved LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Peter Templeton, President & CEO flew in from Washington, D.C. to be a part of the ceremony which also acknowledged partner Kath Williams of Kath Williams Associates, Inc. Founded in 1962 on the banks of the Yellowstone River in Billings, MT, Kampgrounds of America Inc. (KOA) is the world’s largest family camping company helping families and friends to enjoy the great outdoors for 60 years. In her opening remarks, President & CEO Toby O'Rourke spoke to how the goal for the company’s new home was to have the architecture support their mission of “connecting people to the outdoors and each other.” She noted that the space is a nod to the future. “Camping is timeless,” she said. “As long as there has been man, there has been camping.” Oscar Tang, owner of the privately-held KOA, Inc. and KOA Board Chair, shared the story of how he came to purchase the company 40 years ago amidst two oil-crisis and the death of his friend and colleague, the former first President of KOA, Darrell Booth. Other partners/representatives in attendance who were recognized for their work included: 🔵 Architects - A&E Design, Dusty Eaton 🔵 General Contractor – Langlas and Associates 🔵 Peterson Quality Office Billings Mayor Bill Cole spoke about how the City of Billings was the first in Montana to achieve USGBC LEED for Cities Gold certification in October of 2022, and how it is such a natural fit to have the KOA LEED Gold HQ located in the Magic City. Artwork throughout the building features Indigenous artists of the western United States including Earl Biss, Kevin Red Star, Randy Lee White, and Ben Pease. Read more about the history of KOA here: https://bit.ly/3WWcBXk #outdoorhospitality #camping #glamping #recreateresponsibly Billings Chamber Of Commerce John Brewer Kelsi Gambill, MSPR, CTA Big Sky Economic Development Marcell Bruski