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News about co- hosting a two-day conference on energy development in Montana topped the agenda, of the joint meeting of the executive committees of Big Sky Economic Development Authority (EDA) and the Big Sky Economic Development Corporation (EDC).

Big Sky Economic Development will join with the Montana Contractors’ Association (MCA), the Montana Petroleum Association, and Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson (KL&J) to jointly host Montana Energy 2012, on April 3-4, 2012 at the Expo Center at MetraPark in Billings.

The two-day comprehensive energy conference and tradeshow will uncover opportunities for energy development throughout Montana. The event will bring together industry leaders to discuss fossil fuels, the future of alternative energy resources and the impact energy development brings to Big Sky Country. To date, over 100 booths of the 300 available in the tradeshow are committed, reported Jeremy Vannatta.

Steve Arveschoug, executive director of Big Sky Economic Development, said that it will be an opportunity for businesses in the area who want to know how they can better connect to opportunities presented by energy development, “Montana, and Billings in particular, is primed to seize opportunities all around us – from oil, coal, gas and wind development. We’re right in the middle of the action,” he said.

Additional information may be obtained by visiting www.montanaenergy.net or calling 406 256-6871. For information on reserving a booth in the tradeshow, contact Sue Hennessey at 406-899-2099.

Other Business

In other business, Arveschoug reported efforts, during January, to solicit contributions from area businesses for EDC’s Opportunity Fund. The fund is one which EDC hopes to use in efforts to recruit businesses and/or invest in economic development endeavors.  Arveschoug said that they hope to have a list of the initial contributors to present to the Board in February. He gained the ascent of the executive committee to set up an ad hoc committee to help in “moving the process forward.”

EDA/EDC Comptroller Jim Tevlin reported that the audits for the sister organizations are complete, but they are ironing out an understanding with the auditors, Anderson Zurmuehlen & Co.,   about how the two organizations are affiliated with each other. He said that they will present the audits – which had no findings – to the boards when they have completed that discussion.

Tevlin noted that the tax revenues being protested by the refineries in Yellowstone County have increased significantly. He said that he and the accountants were in agreement that they should fully reserve for the protested taxes until the protests are resolved. They, therefore, increased the allowance for “doubtful accounts,” from $12,000 to $96,224.

Arveschoug said that a Portland, Oregon firm, Williams Records, which conducts research “on behalf of environmental groups seeking to thwart industrial projects,” has made inquiry to search BSEDA records. They are specifically interested in any incentives the agency has supported on behalf of Bay Limited. Arveschoug said, “I have been in contact with John Williams and will facilitate his review of our public records.” Arveschoug said that he has notified Bay Limited of the request; but, he said, all of BSEDA clients are routinely informed that, except for proprietary information, all of their activities with the economic development agency are open to public scrutiny.

Board member, Jim Walker, commented, “I get a kick out of these guys, they don’t even live in Montana but they sure want to control it.”

The joint meeting of the board in March has been set to be a half –day planning session, beginning at 7:30 to 2 p.m. on March 8.

It was announced that Shelley Pierce, EDC’s Member Investor Coordinator, is leaving her position to take up a new job as Executive Director of St. John Lutheran Ministries. EDC will be advertising to fill her position.

Jason Porch with the Montana Procurement Technical Assistance Center, which functions under the Yellowstone Economic Development umbrella, will also be leaving his position.