Bozeman Build #36
October 21st - 27th 2024
Howdy makers of Montana
Welcome back to the Bozeman Build Report covering trade related activities happening in Montana. Today we’re covering proposed vehicle registration increases, Aspen 8, Bozeman courthouse nearing completion, old grocery space, scissors lift box trucks, Gallatin County lot costs, park numbers, Nov FFA Ag Expo, Southeast Montana energy country, big four meat processers, Montana knife co, Main Street regen grant, State Farm Montana settlement, Montana milk, Island Park short term rentals, and flat bed fun. Enjoy the next 5 minutes covering what Montana is made of.
Southwest View of Bozeman, MT captured from the roof of the Sky Shed.
When, what, and who is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered every Monday morning focused on mountain West trades with an emphasis on Montana. We are not a financial or building advisors.
Bozeman and Montana Trade Pulse
Bozeman trade pulse
Oct 21, 2024 Voters in Gallatin County are facing a proposed tax increase on motor vehicle registration as ballots are being sent out. The current motor vehicle tax is set at 0.5% and the proposed hike its to 0.7%. Raising the tax to 0.7% could generate an extra $3 million annually. (Montana Right Now)
Oct 22, 2024 Plans have been submitted to the city for a new 288-unit housing development in Midtown Bozeman. The project is being developed by Starman Development. (Bozeman Real Estate Group)
Oct 23, 2024 Construction on the new Gallatin County courts project in Bozeman is nearing completion. The project, which began in October 2022, is expected to wrap up in the next few months, with move-in slated for January. (Montana Right Now)
Town and Kiln
The old Town and Country space off 19th was acquired by a co-working company called Kiln anticipating to open Summer of 2025 memberships starting around $395/mo. Another co-working business opened its doors in Early October 2024 known as Thrive located off W. Babcock.
Source: Kiln CEO Arian Lewis provided tours during a Scaling Montana event
Box truck scissors lift
Sickler Roofing Service of Bozeman uses this box truck with a scissors lift to service their clients roofs, I can see this being a game changer, load everything up in the box truck, have all tools + materials at working elevation!
Gallatin lot comps Fall 2024
We visited an open house in South Bozeman a few weekends ago where the realtor mentioned their lots in Manhattan (Meadows) making me curious to discover what comparable lots are selling for around the Gallatin Valley as of October 2024. Here's a chart comparing 6 different developments around the Valley from Bozeman to Manhattan, MT ordered by price per square foot. (Block Biome Research)
Montana trade pulse
Oct 21 2024 Glacier, Yellowstone national parks see boost in visitor numbers. (Daily Montanan)
Glacier - More than 600,000 visitors passed through one of Glacier’s entrances during September, nearly 50,000 more than in 2023. So far in 2024, 3,001,595 people have visited the park, just the third time that number has eclipsed 3 million and a 9% increase over last year.
Yellowstone National Park hosted 838,458 visitors last month, the second highest September on record, according to National Park Service data. So far in 2024, the park has hosted 4,349,689 recreation visits, up 5% from 2023. The year-to-date numbers are just 120,000 lower than in 2021, the park’s record-setting year.
Oct 21, 2024 Montana State University will host nearly 1,800 high school and middle school students from across the state Nov. 14-16 for the annual Montana FFA Ag Expo. (MSU News)
Oct 22 2024 The future of coal country: Money, power, politics, and tradition (MFP)
Oct 22, 2024 The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) started the rule-making process this summer for a law that was passed by Congress more than 100 years ago. That USDA report," Interim Report: Competition and Fair Practices in Meat Merchanidsing," states four beef packers harvesting 81 percent of the nation's beef in 2021. (Montana AG Network)
Oct 23, 2024 Montana Knife Company breaks ground on a new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Wye with plans to employ between 150 to 200 people manufacturing knives for various purposes. The Montana Knife Company site is located on the former Five Valleys Livestock yard. (KPAX)
October 23 2024 Kanduch Logging, Inc. has successfully secured a $300,000 loan from Commerce’s Wood Products Revolving Loan Fund. This loan matches the United States Forest Service Wood Innovations Grant previously awarded to the company. With this funding, an electric firewood processor can be purchased – a vital tool for Kanduch Logging’s new firewood processing facility in Anaconda. (Commerce.mt)
October 23 2024 The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that ten Montana communities will share $1.5 million in grant funding to regenerate Main Street businesses and downtown locations. (Commerce.mt)
The City of Billings will receive $300,000 of MMS grant funding in support of the Billings Masonic Temple Building adaptive reuse and mixed-use project.
The City of Boulder will receive $150,000 of MMS grant funding in support of the Boulder Rocks LLC adaptive reuse and mixed-use project.
The City/County of Butte-Silver Bow will receive $200,000 of MMS grant funding in support of the Phoenix Building adaptive reuse and mixed-use project.
The Town of Ekalaka will receive $35,000 of MMS grant funding in support of the feasibility study for the adaptive reuse and mixed-use project at 216 N. Main Street.
The City of Hardin will receive $45,000 of MMS grant funding in support of the Hotel Becker preliminary architectural report adaptive reuse and mixed-use project.
The City of Libby will receive $150,000 of MMS grant funding in support of the Kootenai Float Company, Inc. adaptive reuse and mixed-use project.
The City of Miles City will receive $100,000 of MMS grant funding in support of the Mountain States Telephone Building adaptive reuse and mixed-use project.
The City of Ronan will receive $100,000 of MMS grant funding in support of the Spring Creek Kitchen Project adaptive reuse and mixed-use project.
The City of Roundup will receive $290,000 of MMS grant funding in support of the Wier Building adaptive reuse and mixed-use project.
The City of Shelby will receive $130,000 of MMS grant funding in support of the Roxy Theater adaptive reuse and mixed-use project.
Oct 24, 2024 State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. has paid back $5.2-million to Montana policyholders after completing a necessary 18,000 claim reviews as part of a settlement with the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI). The settlement, which was concluded in February 2024, addresses unfair claim practices discovered in a two-year review of the company's methods by the state regulator. The carrier was penalized $4 million as part of the settlement with the potential deduction of $2 million in lieu of compliance measures. (Insurance Business Mag)
State Farm has the largest market share in Montana's private passenger auto insurance market with 22.63%, while Progressive Insurance Group follows with 19.96%.
MDT News
20241024-082155 | Construction Substantially Complete On Malta-South
20241023-102153 | MT 78 Safety Improvements Project Near Roscoe Reevaluated
20241023-095028 | Proposed I-90 Resurfacing Near Whitehall
20241023-092533 | Proposed Path Preservation On US 93 In Ravalli County
20241023-090935 | Proposed Shared-Use Path Preservation South Of Missoula
20241022-164318 | Northbound Lanes Reopen On I-15 In Wolf Creek
20241022-164235 | MDT Closes Highway 91 Bridge Over Big Hole River
20241022-145040 | Gov. Gianforte Highlights Infrastructure Investment
Montana Milk
Have you ever questioned the “MONTANA SELL BY” and “WYOMING BEST BY” dates listed on milk jugs? According to an NPR article Milk in Montana has to be sold within 12 days of pasteurization while the industry standard for milk is 21 to 24 days. (NPR)
Island Park Hospitality
Drove to Idaho Falls last weekend to visit family near Idaho Falls and was amazed with (A) how fast IF is growing and (B) at the large number of one room rentals located around Island Park. Below I’m mentioning the Blue Buffalo Resort and the more deluxe Yellowstone Peaks claim to fame being Island Parks First Boutique Hotel.
Transportation watch
Flatbed offloading hot tubs at the Gallatin Valley Fairgrounds and a flatbed fully occupied with the most essential toys including and not limited to a skid steer, two side by sides, and 3 motorcycles spotted in Four Corners.
Weather
Cooler cloudier weather this week with small chances of rain/snow throughout the week.
History of the week
Interstate 90 construction near the Clark Fork River between Alberton and Superior, Montana, 1964 (Montana History Portal)
