The planning horizon of the Montana Chamber's Envision 2026 Strategic Plan is nearing the end of its timeline so Montana Chamber and Montana Chamber Foundation Board members convened last week at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish, to begin strategic planning discussions about the next iteration of the plan. Particular focus was on Workforce Development and Entrepreneurship. Pictured here at Two Bear Capital hosted reception thanks to Liz Marchi, Montana Chamber Board Director.

Thank you for entrusting us to serve you as your partner in policy and the voice of business in Helena. We look forward to continuing to work with you to make Montana the #lastbestplace to live, work, play, visit, and do business.

The Montana Chamber in partnership with the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) works to elevate the voice of the manufacturing industry nationally. Join us, the Board and staff of the MMEC, and our colleagues at the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, July 13 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at El Conejo Cantina @ The Wild Hare as we convene members of the largest network of manufacturing stakeholders affecting change at the Capitol. Our victory with HB 212 which increased the Business Equipment Tax Exemption from $300,000 to $1,000,000 during the 68th Legislative Session is a demonstration of how when we use our voice, we can get things done to improve Montana's business climate.

IMPORTANT: AS AN EMPLOYER, WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MEDICAID UNWINDING

During the pandemic, states did not process eligibility renewals for those enrolled in Medicaid. Here in Montana, that included Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids. This spring, states were given the green light to restart the eligibility renewal process and as a result, over the next ten months (by January 2024), all 320,000+ Montanans will be reassessed for their Medicaid eligibility and some Montanans will lose Medicaid coverage in that process. They may then be looking to enroll in other health insurance coverage options. Loss of Medicaid or Healthy Montana Kids triggers a special enrollment period, but only for a limited time. Montana businesses can help provide information to their employees about the Medicaid unwinding so that employees who lose Medicaid coverage are able to successfully transition to other health insurance coverage. 

TUES, JULY 11, 2023 | 4:00 - 6:00 PM

C2M Beta is a 12-week program delivering the foundational and modern skills required to transform influential ideas into thriving businesses. Join C2RM for an evening of networking, entrepreneurship and business pitches from their Spring 2023 Cohort at "The Chateau" Event Center near Four Corners. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. with pitches starting at 4:30 p.m. The event is free, however an RSVP is requested.

JULY 12,19 & 26, 2023 - Pre-Application Trainings

Community MT is hosting a series of trainings for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Community and Public Facilities applications. These presentations will focus on criteria from the CDBG Application Guidelines found on Community MT’s website. The next application round of CDBG Public and Community Facilities funding closes on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 5 p.m. MST. 

These trainings will be held both in person at the Montana Department of Commerce at 301 S. Park Ave in Helena, and on Zoom. To register to attend in person, or any additional questions, please email CDBG Coordinator Rosie Goldich at rose.goldich@mt.gov or call 406.841.2770.

The festival site is situated in the heart of the nation’s largest National Historic Landmark District. Open-air and tented sites will provide a variety of performance venues ranging from intimate stages to amphitheater-sized venues. The Original Stage, which offers a panoramic view of Butte’s historic high rise buildings and the surrounding mountains, is located on the site of the historic Original Mineyard, with its dramatic headframe that is a remnant of Butte’s early days as an underground copper mining center.

Save the date and head on out to Butte for the Montana Folk Festival! Learn more here and at

On Tuesday, June 27, Montana Commissioner of Securities & Insurance, Troy Downing welcomed more than 100 attendees for the first "Investing in Montana: - Raising Capital & Finding Investment Opportunities" to the AC Hotel Bozeman Downtown. Todd O'Hair, our President/CEO participated on the "Business Models & Networks" panel with the Montana Department of Commerce - Business MT and Marketing, U.S. Small Business Administration, and the Montana Cooperative Development Center. Other panels featuring a number of Montana Chamber members spoke to Small Business & Startup Experiences, Capital Formation from a Legal Perspective, and Private Equity. Check out the full agenda here to learn more and be sure to watch for next year's event.

On Tuesday-Wednesday, June 27-28, the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) hosted a "Montana Ready Industry Connections" seminar at Dick Anderson Construction in Bozeman.

Thanks to our fellow private industry sector partners who are working to bridge the gap between industry and education.

Read the full press release here: Superintendent Arntzen Thanks Dick Anderson Construction for Hosting Regional Career Coach Training

 

BEAD is a new program which Tester secured in his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and is a cornerstone of the overall effort to finally close the digital divide and ensure every corner of Montana has internet access. Tester worked with five Republicans and four Democrats to negotiate the IIJA.

Over the next three years, Montana will receive $24 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the Montana Bright Futures project at DPHHS.

The project is designed to increase access to quality child care, promote strong, healthy families, and address child care workforce availability, recruitment, and retention.

The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce invites Montana Chamber Foundation Governors’ Cup attendees to a mid-year economic update luncheon on Thursday, July 27 beginning at 11:30 a.m. Speakers include James Williamson, Sage Strategy & Appraisals, Dr. Pat Barkey, Bureau of Business & Economic Research, and special guest, Governor Greg Gianforte. The Kalispell Chamber will also unveil their local Flathead Valley survey results. Thanks to Applied Materials for co-sponsoring along with the Montana Chamber Foundation.

Join the Montana Chamber Foundation for the Glacier Bank Ace in the Hole Reception & BBQ at Flathead Valley Community College.

Don't miss the power networking event of the summer. The public is welcome to attend to connect with golfers, business leaders, and policy makers. Golfers do not need to register.

FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Contact Stacye Dorrington, Events & Office Manager at Stacye@MontanaChamber.com | 406.439.4220

SPECIAL OFFER FOR PARTICIPANTS: FRI, JULY 28, 2023 | 8:00 PM

As an added bonus to the weekend, the Wachholz College Center at Flathead Valley Community College is graciously offering 20% off for Governors' Cup attendees to the Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives concert on Friday, July 28 at 8 p.m.

Started as the Centennial Golf Classic during the 100th Celebration of Montana’s statehood in 1989, the Governors’ Cup, organized by the Montana Chamber Foundation, annually plays host to more than 400 golfers, private industry and government leaders, as well as policy makers for the two-day tournament in the Flathead Valley at Buffalo Hill, Meadow Lake, and Whitefish Lake Golf Courses facilitating business development and networking.

Masters – Fidelity Diagnostics, Logan Health, Montana Bankers Association, Westmoreland

Governors’ Circle – Applied Materials, Blackfoot Communications, BlueCross BlueShield of Montana, Delta Airlines, Delta Dental, Reach Higher Montana, Sibanye-Stillwater, Southern Airways, UBS

Birdie – Bridger Aerospace, FAST Enterprises, Montana Department of Commerce, Town Pump

Eagle – Century Gaming, Montana Secretary of State, Montana's Credit Unions, Navajo Transitional Energy, Republic Services, SMA Architecture + Design

Par – ADF Legal, MERCK, Next Era Energy, Pinion, Reach Higher Montana, Signal Peak Energy

FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Contact Stacye Dorrington, Events & Office Manager at Stacye@MontanaChamber.com | 406.439.4220

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