Bozeman Build #43
December 16th - 22nd 2024
Happy Monday and welcome back to the Bozeman Build Report covering blue collar/build news around Montana. Todays edition will be a scooch longer than normal assuming many businesses are flushing out year end projects, stay tuned for some great content that lies ahead, as always thank you for reading!
Today, we will cover USDA MT and Montana Manufacturing December newsletters, Teton River Bridge up for adoption, Montana energy roundtable, Laurel water rates, Northwestern to electrify a Butte data center, Montana Climate Office Adds 37 New Monitoring Stations in 2024, Helena water provider fined, 100 year old pool player, $3.5M in relief for Sibanye-Stillwater employees to re-gear, Kalispell Christmas tree farm, hardrock mine remediation act signed into law, new State Park approved, new Stockgrowers Association president, three Montana commerce grant winners announced, Montana flight numbers, Lost Trails, Right to Repair documentary filmed in Montana.
On the Bozeman side, we will cover reducing US dependence on rare earth metals used in quantum computing, both Bozeman highschools to kick off a new Construction Academy, tagging Gallatin elk, new Bozeman multi family, Cats, and some New Year weather updates.
Merry Christmas!
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When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trades. We are not a financial or building advisors.
Bozeman and Montana Trade Pulse
Montana and Bozeman specific section (Bozeman & Montana trade pulse)
Montana trade pulse
December 17 2024 CHOTEAU, Mont. — The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) would like to announce that the Teton River Bridge is available for adoption and relocation to interested public and/or private entities. MDT plans to construct a new bridge that spans the Teton River just south of Choteau, replacing the Teton River Bridge, as part of the Choteau US 89 Road Improvements project. (MDT News)
December 17 2024 Governor Greg Gianforte today held a roundtable with energy suppliers, large energy consumers, public utility companies, transmission stakeholders, prospective business investors, and legislators to discuss how Montana can unleash the production of American-made energy to meet growing demand across the region. Listen to Gov. Gianforte’s full roundtable discussion here. (State of Montana Newsroom)
Dec 17, 2024 LAUREL, Mont. – The Laurel City Council is holding a special meeting to discuss potential changes to water and wastewater rates. During the meeting, the council is presenting a proposal to implement a tiered water rate structure. This new system would adjust charges based on the amount of water used by each household. (KULR)
December 17, 2024 SIOUX FALLS, S.D. & BUTTE, Mont.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (Nasdaq: NWE) is pleased to announce it signed a letter of intent to provide energy services for a developer planning new data centers in Montana. (Business Wire)
December 18, 2024 MISSOULA – The Montana Climate Office at the University of Montana has officially completed the 2024 Montana Mesonet build season, adding 37 new stations to its expansive and growing network of weather, snowpack and soil moisture monitoring instrumentation across Montana. There are now 177 active Montana Mesonet stations: 88 HydroMet stations (primarily east of the Rocky Mountains) and 89 AgriMet stations. (UMT News)
December 18, 2024 Montana Public Service Commission to fine North Star, Helena subdivision water utility for “significant service and reliability issues” in handling water for a Helena subdivision (Daily Montanan)
Dec 18, 2024 Montana pool player hits 100, still shooting five days a week (KBZK)
Dec 19, 2024 Montana awarded $3.5 million federal grant to help laid off Sibanye-Stillwater mine workers. (News from the States)
Dec 19, 2024 KALISPELL — A long-standing business in the Flathead will be closing this Sunday. Bojangles Diner, which has been a staple in the Flathead since the mid-90s, will be closing on December 22. (KPAX)
Big Sky Bravery Service Member Retreat KALISPELL — Ray Robinson and his family have been growing and selling Christmas Trees in Flathead County for more than 70 years. Robinson's trees are distributed across the state to Polson, Great Falls, and even Havre. (Montana Ag Network)
Dec 19, 2024 The Department has received nominations for the March 4, 2025 Oil and Gas Lease Sale to be held from February 26 through March 4, 2025, and is requesting comments from interested parties. (DNRC News)
December 20, 2024 Bill to clean up abandoned mines signed into law. The Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024, co-sponsored by Montana’s U.S. Sens. Steve Daines, a Republican, and Jon Tester, a Democrat, was signed into law by President Joe Biden on Tuesday, creating a pilot permitting program to bolster not-for-profit cleanup efforts at mining sites across the country. (Daily Montanan)
Dec 20, 2024 Montana will soon have a new state park the state’s first new park in three years. On Friday afternoon, the Montana State Parks and Recreation Board approved the acquisition of a 109-acre parcel of land near the confluence of the Missouri and Judith rivers, which will be donated to the state. (Montana Ag Network)
A concept plan for Judith Landing State Park from FWP's environmental assessment draft.
Dec 20, 2024 BILLINGS, Mont. – The City of Billings has reached an interim agreement with the owner of the Colonial Apartments on 27th Street. This agreement aims to address ongoing issues with the property. (KULR)
December 20, 2024 Montana Stockgrowers Association Elects Lesley Robinson As President (Drovers)
Dec 21, 2024 A proposal to put nearly 33,000 acres of working forestland in Northwest Montana into a conservation easement has cleared its last major hurdle. In a 3-1 vote on Monday, the Montana Land Board adopted language amending an agreement between timber company Green Diamond and Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks that closes the book on a conservation project that took four years and nearly $40 million to finalize. (KPAX)
Montana Commerce announces winners of three State grants this week
December 17 2024 HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that 49 local event organizations will share more than $740,000 of grant funding to support destination events that will help increase tourism in Montana communities. The funding is through Commerce’s Economic Impact and Destination Event Grant Program. (Commerce MT)
December 18 2024 HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that over $350,000 of grant funding will be divided among 17 agricultural businesses and communities throughout Montana. These funds will support diversification, agricultural opportunities and tourism revenue across the state. The funding is through Commerce’s Agritourism Grant Program. (Commerce MT)
December 19 2024 HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Commerce announced today more than $37 million in federal housing tax credits will be allocated to six developments to build new affordable homes in five Montana communities. (Commerce MT)
December Newsletters
USDA Farm Service Agency Montana December 2024 Newsletter
Montana Airport Holiday Stats
Airport arrival and departure numbers as of Friday December 20th.
Block Biome Research
Montana Hardware stores suited up for Christmas
More Christmas themes seen around, this doesn’t scratch the surface.
Lost Trail Ski Area
A few images of their tow rope and generator station.
Right to Repair documentary featuring a Montana Rancher
Located this mini documentary covering the right to repair movement, I’m not taking sides on this issue however, I wanted to point out the introduction to this film started off by interviewing a rancher of Geyser, Montana.
Bozeman trade pulse
Dec 17, 2024 Aurora, a self-driving trucking company, is making waves in Bozeman with its innovative technology and job creation. Aurora has already introduced 70 tech jobs to the Bozeman area, with more on the horizon. (Montana Right Now)
December 17, 2024 MITRE and Montana State University are conducting joint research that aims to reduce U.S. dependence on Chinese sources for the rare earth elements used in developing quantum technology applications. (MSU News)
December 17, 2024 BOZEMAN — Montana State University Extension will host its annual cropping seminar series Jan. 6-10 in the Golden Triangle area of north-central Montana. Speakers will cover topics such as noxious weeds, pulse insect management, pesticide updates and winter barley. (MSU News)
December 19th 2024 Bozeman and Gallatin High School students will get a dual-credit opportunity with the creation of a Construction Academy. The academy starts next school year and will provide hands-on experience in the construction field.
**The program will be self-sufficient long-term but will require funding to get off the ground. Donations of any kind are accepted and will go toward ensuring the success of the program. (NBC Montana)
Dec 20, 2024 A 5-story, mixed used development (Bozeman Yards) has been proposed for Northeast Bozeman, across from the old Northern Pacific Depot. (Bozeman Real Estate Group)
December 20, 2024 Wildlife biologists with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks are collaring elk on private land south of Bozeman this winter to gather herd migration data that will inform elk management and land-use planning in parts of the Gallatin Valley. (Montana Outdoor)
December 21, 2024 Crash Champions has acquired Miami’s South Motors Collision and Big Sky Collision Center in Bozeman, Mont. (Body Shop Business)
Classifieds
From Bozeman Daily Chronicles Legal Classifieds page
Dec 21, 2024 The Gallatin Canyon/Big Sky Zoning Advisory Committee (“BSZAC”) will consider the following items at its monthly meeting on Monday, January 6, 2025.
Big Sky Bravery Service Member Retreat Center CUP (Z2024-039). The purpose of this public hearing is to consider a Conditional Use Permit
The purpose of this public work session is to allow the Gallatin Canyon/Big Sky Zoning Advisory Committee and interested members of the public to review and provide comments or suggestions on the first draft of Gallatin County Planning Staff-proposed updates to the Gallatin Canyon/Big Sky Zoning Regulation.
Dec 21, 2024 The City of Bozeman provides notice of a proposal to amend its land use and development regulations within Chapter 38 of the Bozeman Municipal Code (BMC) related to affordable housing incentives. On Monday, January 13, 2025, at 6:00 p.m
Cats and Athletic Building Progress
Montana State advanced to the FCS Playoff Semifinals for the fourth time in five seasons, hosting fourth-seeded South Dakota on Saturday beating South Dakota Coyotes of Vermillion, SD 31-17. MSU will face North Dakota State Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas.
Westward expansion
Contrast of a farmstead with a new development in the background (Highmark)
Highmark Bozeman is building out a seriously large project in South Bozeman off 19th and Stucky prices starting at $2,245 for a 1bed/1bath 672 square foot condo maxing out at $4,145 for a 3 bed 2 bath 1,881 square foot unit with a 2 car garage. High Country Farm House seems to be the architectural style of every new project.
Weather
This week will be wetter coupled with some potential snow before Christmas but the warm will persist through the end of this week. Transitioning into the New Year models, we may see colder and wetter conditions. Weather models were pulled from ag-wx.com part of Nutrien Ag Solutions put together by Andrew Pritchard.
History of the week
Engine 1530 of the Northern Pacific at Red Lodge, Montana. (Montana State Library History Portal)
