Business

The snow's been falling down all of Friday afternoon, and with more snow in the forecast it can only mean one thing: big business for Missoula’s Open Road.

The Montana Secretary of State’s office has been working since spring to create an online business toolkit to speed up the business license application and renewal process. The new system is designed to help business owners navigate the labyrinth of  necessary state documents.

The Montana Public Service Commission has wrapped up its approval of the $900 million purchase of 11 hydroelectric dams by NorthWestern Energy.

The city of Missoula has passed its fiscal year 2015 budget and Chief Administrative officer Bruce Bender says nearly two-thirds of that budget will go towards one type of expenditure.

Every year since 1989, Montana college and university students have brought their business plans to Missoula for the John Ruffatto Statewide Business Plan Competition. This month, a group of judges composed of entrepreneurs, bankers and business professors crowned a new winner.

On Saturday, Congressman Steve Daines met with Bozeman businesses to talk about future economic opportunities.

USA Today reports that J.C. Penney will close 33 under performing stores and lay off 2,000 employees. Two of those stores are in Montana.

Vann's, Incorporated is closing their stores in Missoula and Hamilton and will be moving their headquarters to Bozeman.

Since 1986, The Learning Tree has been one of the only locally owned toy stores in Missoula. In mid-April, though, The Learning Tree will be closing its doors for good.

The Montana Department of Labor and Industry has seen an usually high number of scams targeting Montana business over the past few months. Now a new deception has been discovered.