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Mid-year Economic Update
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- Created on Wednesday, 20 June 2012 10:34
- Written by Press Room
The Mid-Year Update to the Economic Outlook will be presented in Billings on August 7 at the Crowne Plaza, 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
The event is an update to the annual Economic Outlook Seminar held each year by the University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research. It is being sponsored by the Montana Chamber Foundation.
2% Pay Raise for County Officials
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- Created on Wednesday, 20 June 2012 10:22
- Written by Press Room
Yellowstone County Commissioners approved a two percent pay increase for elected county officials as recommended by the elected Officials compensation Committee, for the 2012-13 fiscal year.
The recommendation followed two public hearings of the committee, which were headed by County Attorney Scott Twito. "I think that is a fair raise," said Twito, who said that over the last four years the salaries of elected officials in Yellowstone County have only increased on average 1.19 percent annually.
Economic Development Organizations Face Tight Budget Crunches
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- Created on Wednesday, 20 June 2012 10:30
- Written by Press Room
Tax protests, along with other changes in government resources, are taking their toll on the budget for the Big Sky Economic Development Authority (EDA).
Forced to set aside some $60,000 in tax revenues, annually, in anticipation of the possible outcome of tax protests cases that have been filed by local refineries and telecommunication companies, BSEDA faces operating deficits as soon as 2013, according to Jim Tevlin, Comptroller for both BSEDA and its sister organization, Big Sky Economic Development Corporation (EDC).
Read more: Economic Development Organizations Face Tight Budget Crunches
Billings Air Transportation - Hub for Region
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- Created on Monday, 11 June 2012 09:04
- Written by Press Room
Billings is the air transportation hub for the state and region, in a comparison of data from the Federal Transportation Board.
Billings has 29 percent more scheduled flights than Bozeman, 41 percent more than Missoula, 38 percent more than Great Falls, 52.6 percent more than Bismarck ND, and 31.6 percent more than Rapid City.
Commissioners Support Coal Development
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- Created on Wednesday, 20 June 2012 10:28
- Written by Press Room
Yellowstone County Commissioners made clear their support for the development and use of coal with the passage of a resolution declaring as much.
At the urging of Greg Kohn, speaking on behalf of the Billings Chamber of Commerce /Convention & Visitor Bureau, the commissioners adopted a resolution, which is being promoted by the Montana Count on Coal Coalition.
Williston Honors Billings
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- Created on Wednesday, 23 May 2012 09:16
- Written by Press Room
The city of Billings was honored as Williston, North Dakota’s 2012 Community Partner. The award was given as part of Williston Economic Development’s Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon.
North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple, various Williston city and economic officials, and well as over 200 area business people were in attendance.
Coal Train Impacts in Downtown Heighten Coal Development Debate
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- Created on Wednesday, 20 June 2012 10:27
- Written by Press Room
There will be no new studies on train traffic through Billings, at least not until the recommendations of previous studies have been implemented.
A push by environmentalists, led by the Northern Plains Resource Council (NPRC), to convince local governmental entities to pursue a study, either regionally or locally, of the potential impacts of increased coal train traffic through downtown Billings, fizzled into something less than which they hoped.
Read more: Coal Train Impacts in Downtown Heighten Coal Development Debate
What will Happen with Battin Building?
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- Created on Wednesday, 23 May 2012 09:15
What to do with the Battin Building?
It's a concern that local governmental entities should be concerned about even if they don't submit any proposals for its use, emphasized Steve Arveschoug, Director of Big Sky Economic Development (EDA), as he advised his board members to "pass", on making any proposals to acquire the building. His recommendation was unanimously accepted by the board members of EDA and the Economic Development Corporation at their meeting last week, with several commenting that they would like to see the property returned to the private sector and go back onto the tax rolls.
