New Business Plan Released for Montana

With events held in Billings and Helena on Friday, Governor Steve Bullock and Main Street Montana Project co-chairs Larry Simkins and Bill Johnstone released the business plan for Montana that the Project developed over the last 10 months.  Simkins said the plan aims to boost job creation, encourage business expansion and improve wages in the state.

"We've cited on five different pillars," Simkins said. "Those pillars are, one, train and educate tomorrow's workforce today. The second one was create a climate that attracts and retrains the growth of businesses, and then build on Montana's economic foundation. A fourth one was marketing Montana. Last is to nurture emerging industries and encourage innovation."

The project will create "Key Industry Networks" that will then work with members of Bullock's administration on completing tasks that are outlined in the plan.

"Some of them will lead to just a discussion, potentially, for instance, in education and skilled workers with the two year colleges and the university system," Simkins said. "Other ones may lead to some type of legislation recommendation that is particular to an industry."

Simkins said the project will produce an annual report, updating Montanans on work that is accomplished, tasks still to be completed, and new opportunities and challenges facing the state.

To see the full plan, visit the Main Street Montana website.