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Economic Outlook Seminar
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- Created on Tuesday, 19 January 2010 11:38
- Written by Press Room
A look at what Montana’s economy may hold in 2010 will, as always, top the agenda of The Montana Economic Outlook Seminars, which will be held in nine communities in the state.
Sponsored by the University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research, the half-day seminar will be held in Billings on February 2, at the MSU Billings, Student Union Ballroom.
Bureau economists and other experts offer presentations about the economic status of Montana, including detailed information about various industries such as health care, forest products, nonresident travel, manufacturing, agriculture, and services.
Montanans Getting Older
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- Created on Wednesday, 06 January 2010 10:00
- Written by Barbara Wagner, MT Department of Labor and Industry
Montanans Getting Older
By Barbara Wagner, Economist
Montana Department of Labor and Industry
Even as Montana exits the current recession, another issue looms. Montana’s aging population poses a large challenge to our economic growth, particularly to certain industries, and this challenge can no longer be avoided as something that will occur in the far distant future. The aging workforce will start to affect Montana’s labor markets in the next few years, much sooner than other places in the country.
Although natural market mechanisms will encourage greater labor force participation through higher wages and greater opportunities, both workers and businesses will be forced to adapt to a more diverse and flexible workplace. Now is the time to plan for these changes by developing flexible worker training and adopting new workplace practices.
With a median age of 39.3 compared to the national average of 36.8, Montana has the 8th oldest population in the country. If these 2.3 years seem insignificant, consider that the traditional working age population aged 16 to 65 is expected to start declining in Montana starting in 2012, just over two years from now (the U.S. population aged 16 to 65 is not expected to decline before 2030). Over 19.3% of Montana’s workers are over the age of 55 and approaching retirement.
Construction Projects for Highway 212
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- Created on Tuesday, 19 January 2010 11:35
- Written by Press Room
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) has announced its detailed design on projects to reconstruct U.S. Highway 212 from Red Lodge to Boyd. Design will be based on the Environmental Assessment (EA), Section 4(f) Evaluation, and subsequent Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) that was recently completed. These documents can be found on MDT’s internet site at:
http://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/docs/eis_ea/fonsi_redlodge.pdf
Four individual segments have been identified to complete reconstruction of this corridor. These segments were segregated in order for MDT to effectively design and construct specific areas in a prioritized manner. Additionally, by splitting the corridor into four distinguishable sections, MDT can more effectively manage the projects so that they can be built in an expedient manner. The four segments are as follows:
1. Red Lodge – 2 Mile Road
* This project begins at 8th Street in Red Lodge (reference marker 69.8) and proceeds north approximately 1.8 miles to the 2 Mile Bridge Road, just north of Red Lodge (reference marker 71.6).
Hoop Houses Could Help Ag Production
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- Created on Wednesday, 06 January 2010 09:54
- Written by Press Room
Hoop Houses Could Help Ag Production
Montana is participating in a 3-year, 38 state study designed to verify if high tunnels, also known as hoop houses, are effective in reducing pesticide use, keeping vital nutrients in the soil, extending the growing season, increasing yields, and providing other benefits to growers.
USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced the project under the “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” initiative for farmers to establish high tunnels to increase the availability of locally grown produce in a conservation-friendly way.
“There is a great potential for high tunnels to expand the availability of healthy, locally-grown crops – a win for producers and consumers,” said Merrigan. “This pilot project is going to give us real-world information that farmers all over the country can use to decide if they want to add high tunnels to their operations. We know that these fixtures can help producers extend their growing season and hopefully add to their bottom line.” ”
Construction for U.S. Highway 212 – Carbon County
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- Created on Friday, 08 January 2010 08:44
- Written by Press Room
Red Lodge – The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) announces its detailed design on projects to reconstruct U.S. Highway 212 from Red Lodge to Boyd. Design will be based on the Environmental Assessment (EA), Section 4(f) Evaluation, and subsequent Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) that was recently completed. These documents can be found on MDT’s internet site at:
http://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/docs/eis_ea/fonsi_redlodge.pdf
Four individual segments have been identified to complete reconstruction of this corridor. These segments were segregated in order for MDT to effectively design and construct specific areas in a prioritized manner. Additionally, by splitting the corridor into four distinguishable sections, MDT can more effectively manage the projects so that they can be built in an expedient manner. The four segments are as follows:
1. Red Lodge – 2 Mile Road
* This project begins at 8th Street in Red Lodge (reference marker 69.8) and proceeds north approximately 1.8 miles to the 2 Mile Bridge Road, just north of Red Lodge (reference marker 71.6).
2. Red Lodge – Roberts
* This project begins at the 2 Mile Bridge Road, just north of Red Lodge (reference marker 71.6) and proceeds north approximately 10.3 miles to a point just south of the unincorporated town of Roberts (reference marker 81.9).
3. Roberts
* This project begins a point just south of the unincorporated town of Roberts (reference marker 81.9) and proceeds north through town approximately 0.7 miles to a point just north of Roberts (reference marker 82.6).
4. Roberts – Boyd
* This project begins at a point just north of Roberts (reference marker 82.6) and proceeds north approximately 8.4 miles to the unincorporated town of Boyd (reference marker 91).
It is anticipated that the construction for projects 1 and 3 will begin in 2013, with projects 2 and 4 to follow in future years. It is reasonable to expect these dates to move up or back due to variables including environmental permitting, funding, design, right-of-way acquisition, and utility relocation. These variables are often beyond MDT’s control, but the Department does everything possible to keep projects moving toward target dates.
For more information, please contact Stefan Streeter, Billings District Administrator at (406) 657-0268, 1-888-863-8465, or Ryan Dahlke, Project Design Manager at (406) 444-6226. For the hearing impaired, the TTY number is (406) 4447696 or 1-800-335-7592, or call the Montana Relay at 711. People may submit written comments to the Montana Department of Transportation Billings office at PO Box 20437, Billings, MT 59104-0437, or online at
www.mdt.mt.gov/mdt/comment_form.shtml
Study: Montana's Highway System among Most Efficient
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- Created on Tuesday, 22 December 2009 14:32
- Written by Michael Noyes
Montana Policy Institue
A study released last week puts the Montana highway system among the top five in the nation for overall efficiency and cost-effectivenessReason Foundation's 18th Annual Highway Report ranks each state highway system based on eleven different factors that include congestion, fatalities, and total spending. Montana ranked fifth overall, with North Dakota and New Mexico first and second.
Montana Department of Transportation Director Jim Lynch said it's difficult to compare states.
"I think it's commendable for us to be number five, (but) there are 50 different apples out there," Lynch said. "We're not all the same."
Instead, he said it is useful to look at the study in terms of what it says about Montana. For instance, Massachusetts ranks first in the lowest number of fatalities per million miles driven. Accidents in that state are more likely to happen in an urban area, closer to emergency centers where rescue workers can arrive on the scene in relatively short time. That's in contrast to Montana's geography and relatively sparse population.
“That's why we push the importance of wearing a seatbelt and not driving impaired," Lynch said.
The study examined numbers the states provided from 2007. Lynch said the number of fatalities on Montana's roads have dropped since then. In 2008 there were 48 fewer fatalities than the year before. So far this year, the number of fatalities is also down, at 212 on December 21, compared to a year ago on the same date, 226.
"We're going in the right direction," Lynch said.
At roughly $500 million a year, the Montana Department of Transportation also maintains a budget that is nearly the same as it was in 2005, Lynch said.
The department has kept its budget flat in part by streamlining administration, according to Lynch. He said 26 positions were eliminated in the latest budget. Another $10 million in "vacancy savings" over the next two years were realized through efficiencies equal to the wages of 158 full time equivalent employees. The department employs a total of 2,250.
Lynch also credits the performance based highway management system the department adopted in 1999 in keeping costs down. Under that system every mile of state roads is analyzed yearly and projects are prioritized. The system also allows them to project future work and costs.
Montana placed fifth among all states in the maintenance per state-controlled mile category, with $8,360 spent. That compares with top-ranked North Dakota, which spent $2,765 and last placed New Jersey at $132,071.
"It's encouraging to see we can hold our maintenance numbers down," Lynch said.
Montana Chamber of Commerce Government Relations Director Jon Bennion said it's important for the state to remain forward-looking and not fall back in the rankings as other states have in recent years. He said businesses recognize the need for good infrastructure along with holding the line on the tax burden.
"(Montana should) think long term and get the most bang for our buck when it comes to infrastructure," Bennion said. "In this case (businesses are) happy to see those investments are being used wisely and efficiently."
The Reason Foundation is a nonprofit, libertarian think tank headquartered in Los Angeles, California. To read their full report go to: http://reason.org/news/show/18th-annual-highway-report
