2023 CAPITOL CONNECTION ROUNDTABLE
TUES, APR 4 - Montana's 68th Legislative Session
|
|
|
|
Up-to-the-minute 'Legislative Tracker' with Chamber Priority Bills - Supported Bills - Opposed Bills and Watch List is available on our website.
JOIN US - VIRTUALLY: Tuesdays at 12 pm throughout the Session
|
|
|
|
Calling Kalispell/Flathead Valley Businesses
Come 'Mix & Mingle'
(Two beer tokens and appetizers included)
|
|
|
|
We will come together to create connection among our statewide members and partners, and to raise a glass to celebrate Gov. Greg Gianforte signing House Bill No. 212 into law. This legislation reduced the business equipment tax by increasing the exemption from $300,000 to $1,000,000 taking 5,000+ businesses from the tax roll. Having worked on this issue for more than a decade, the Montana Chamber is elated with the outcome.
We encourage you to learn more about our (10) Priority Bills introduced during the 68th Montana Legislative Session at MontanaChamber.com, and thank many of you for being our 'Partners in Policy.' This session's bills address ballot initiative modernization, sweeping tort reform, and general policy to improve Montana's business climate. Bills supported and opposed are also listed.
As the state's largest business advocacy organization, we thank you for the continued opportunity to serve you, and hope to see you on April 13th. We will be in Billings on May 2nd and Missoula on May 16. Stay tuned for details.
|
|
|
|
In Gianforte's Female-Dominated Executive Office, Meet 5 Key Players
|
|
|
|
|
|
It's not every day you get to sit down with five of the most influential people keeping Montana running, and all of them are women: Chris Heggem, Chief of Staff, Misty Ann Giles is chief operations officer, a new position now held by a woman. Anita Milanovich serves as general counsel, and Misty Kuhl, is the director of Indian Affairs. |
|
|
|
Each position was appointed by Gianforte, a Republican, and looking back at the vast history of Montana, they're jobs seldom held by women. Montana is prime for placing women in leadership roles. Montana elected the nation’s first female member of Congress, Jeanette Rankin, in 1916. However, "on average Montana women working a full-time, year-round position earn 74% of a man’s salary,' according to the Women’s Foundation of Montana. |
|
|
|
EDA Looks Back, and Ahead, at The American Rescue Plan
By Alejandra Y. Castillo, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development
|
|
|
|
On the first anniversary of the American Rescue Plan (ARP), President Biden noted that, “Few pieces of legislation – no hyperbole – in American history have done more to lift this country out of a crisis…”. A year later, the sentiment not only continues to ring true, but has even more evidence to prove it. This groundbreaking economic development opportunity required the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), its partners, and most importantly,
|
|
|
|
leaders across the entire economic development community, to take transformational and expeditious action. Through unprecedented levels of collaboration, we demonstrated that place-based, regionally-focused economic development works. We met the moment, and we will continue in the years ahead. Now, at the two-year anniversary of ARP, we are more inspired at the commitment – not just at EDA, but across the entire federal government – to invest in the people, places, and potential that power America’s economic success. |
|
|
|
Montana VRBS CSNA Business Partner Survey |
|
|
|
|
|
Montana Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services (VRBS) is committed to providing quality services to Montana businesses and job seekers with disabilities. VRBS works with its partners to support qualified, skilled job seekers with disabilities in meeting the diverse labor needs of Montana businesses. We are seeking your input to better understand how organizations that support job seekers with disabilities can best serve the business community.
Your feedback will be used to improve our services for businesses. It should take less than 10 minutes to complete and all responses will be confidential.
This survey is being conducted by Bloom Consulting on behalf of VRBS. If you have any questions or need help completing this survey, please contact Kirsten Smith at ksmith@bloomconsult.org.
Thank you in advance for your valuable feedback.
|
|
|
|
THURS, JULY 27, 2023
Flathead Valley Community College | 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Tickets: $100 / pp
|
|
|
|
The Montana Chamber Foundation is kicking off the 34th Annual Governors’ Cup Golf Tournament with the Glacier Bank Ace in the Hole Reception & Barbecue. The public is welcome to attend this business development and networking event held at Flathead Valley Community College, to connect with golfers, business leaders, and policy makers. Golfers do not need to register.
Reception and golf tournament sponsorships are selling out quickly. Don’t miss out on promoting your organization at this premier statewide networking event.
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Contact Stacye Dorrington, Events & Office Manager
|
|
|
|
Thank You to Our Sponsors:
ADF Legal; Applied Materials, Blackfoot Communications, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, Century Gaming, Delta Dental, FAST Enterprises, Glacier Bancorp, Inc., Reach Higher Montana, Logan Health, Boeing, Republic Services, SMA Architecture + Design, Pinion; and UBS
|
|
|
|
SAVE THE DATE: Inaugural CONVERGENCE to Celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week
|
|
|
|
WED-FRI, MAY 10-12, 2023 | PARADISE VALLEY, MT
To recognize tourism as one of our state's leading industries, as well as its intersection with the film and outdoor recreation industries, as vehicles to harness the power of place as an economic driver, the Montana Chamber will host its Inaugural 'Convergence" event on May 10-12, 2023.
We will celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week - #NTTW23 (May 7-13) along with the U.S. Travel Association and industry partners from around the nation. To honor the resilience of the Greater Yellowstone and its Gateway Communities from Livingston, Paradise Valley, Gardiner, and Cooke City/Silver Gate to West Yellowstone, which were negatively impacted by the 500-year historic flooding event in early June 2022, we will host the inaugural event in the Paradise Valley. It is our intention for this to become an annual celebration to be held each year in a different location.
TICKETS & SPONSORSHIPS:
-
THURS, MAY 11: NTTW23 Luncheon ONLY Open Seating Tickets - $75/pp for Chamber members of any local Montana Chamber, and $125 for non-members.
-
THURS, MAY 11: NTTW23 Luncheon Reserved Seats $150/pp - Includes the Yellowstone Film Ranch Tour & Talk and Reception at Sage Lodge Sponsored by Visit Billings.
-
WED-THURS, MAY 10-11: Sponsorships begin at $1,500 for (4) people = Include VIP Reception at Yellowstone Valley Lodge & Grill (Wed) Sponsored by Montana's Yellowstone Country, a Reserved Half Table of (8) at the NTTW23 Luncheon, YFR Tour & Talk, VIP Reception at Sage Lodge (Thurs) Sponsored by Visit Billings.
-
FRI, MAY 12: Yellowstone National Park Tour - $20/pp - Covers transportation costs and lunch. Space is Limited.
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
Contact: Candace Strauss - VP, Marketing & Communications
|
|
|
|
What Employees Really Want: Personalized Perks
Written by: Jackie Swiesz – HR Business Partner, Associated Employers
With the rapidly changing landscape of our workforce in the past year, employers are constantly on the hunt for people to hire, and, once on board, how to keep them. This isn’t easy in the competitive labor market we’re experiencing. That’s where “personalized perks” come into play. There are thousands of lists out there touting the top perks that employees want – so how to sift through them to end up with sought-after freebies? First, prioritize perks based on the nature of your business, your company brand, and the type of candidates you want to attract. For example, if you own an outdoor equipment store, you’ll want to hire outdoor enthusiasts. How about offering a perk like discounted ski passes or deals on sports equipment?
Likewise, if you have a software company, prospective candidates may value a healthy lifestyle and are tech savvy. For this workforce, what if you offered Fitbits or other techy fitness devices?
A recent MetLife study on this year’s trends in employee benefits showed that employees are concerned about aspects of their wellbeing (financial, psychological, and social). Ready or not, employers now have an expanded role as a safety net for these needs. Recognizing this and offering perks and programs to ensure wellness can build workforce resilience (and loyalty to the company). A reasonably inexpensive yet effective resource is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which can offer free coaching/counseling sessions to the employee to help address stress, workplace worries, or financial fears. As for a social safety net, consider hosting a live and/or virtual game room. Having a friend or two or ten at work ensures better engagement and a sense of belonging, and builds a culture that people want to take part in!
As we begin to acknowledge that the hybrid workplace is here to stay, perks will look very different for the remote worker versus the non-remote worker. If you allow occasional telecommuting, try offering work-from-home Wednesdays. However, top perks requested by non-remote workers are things like free food (breakfast/lunch and/or snacks), greater recognition for work, flexible working hours, and subsidized commuting costs. While this last request to supplement commuting expenses may commit an employer to a cost they can’t financially sustain, consider an alternative perk such as coupons for free oil changes.
Now, to be a front-runner company with a dependable workforce, employers need to come up with creative solutions. If you focus on the “3 C’s” – Connection, Caring, and Customization – those will go a long way to attract and hold onto the talent needed to sustain your business.
|
|
|
|
Livestock make it possible to be agriculturally productive while maintaining and improving the fertility of land over time (i.e. capacity for water capture, hosting of robust microbial, vegetative and wildlife communities). Old Salt ranches monitor changes in key ecological indicators, working to discern the degree to which management is responsible and to continuously improve stewardship. The idea is to work with nature rather than fighting it with chemicals.
Ultimately, animal-based agriculture has the power to produce nourishing food while maintaining and improving long term ecological health, leaving space for the wildlife that share the landscape. That's a win-win, that's Old Salt.
|
|
|
MT BUSINESS NEWS & RESOURCES |
|
|
|
First Interstate Bank Receives SBA Award...Read here.
'It's a dream': Film production set in Pray bringing new opportunities to Southwestern Montana...Read here.
|
|
|
|
THIS BUSINESS BRIEF IS SPONSORED BY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
