Bozeman Build Report #18
June 18 - 24th 2024
Howdy makers of Montana
Welcome back to the Bozeman Build Report covering trade related activities happening in Montana and around the Northern Rockies. Today were talking about new luxury developments, water lines, Billings Coca-Cola, grizzle’s and cows. Stay tuned and enjoy the next 5 minutes of blue collar updates.
Fully loaded double parked near Judeth Gap, MT
Keep the saw sharp and enjoy these long hot summer days,
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. The author Daniel Z has a background in accounting, commodities, construction, trucking, and operates a small business called blockbiome. Daniel is not a financial or building advisor.
Sponsors and business spotlight of the week…
Don’t forget to check out Saw Dust and Steel if your ever find yourself Three Forks!
Commodities
Scrap prices from Pacific Recycling (as of Mid May - not current and not a quote!)
Montana Commodities
Commodity prices below as of June 21 around 11am. The Bozeman Build is not financial advice.
Large swings last week
Wheat futures traded around $5.8 per bushel, marking a six-week low, due to expectations of increased wheat supply from the United States. (Down -8.20% WoW)
Lumber prices fell to below $480 per thousand board feet in June, marking their lowest point in over a year, driven by US data showing weaker demand for wood and housing construction materials. (Down -7.47% WoW)
Local, State, Northern Rockies Trade Pulse
Bozeman trade pulse
MT 64 TIGER Grant - MDT
June 24-28, 2024 Gallatin County, the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), and Riverside Contracting Inc. are resuming work on the MT 64 TIGER Grant project. Here are the anticipated activities for the week of June 24.
New “Luxury Student Housing” Development Coming to Bozeman
A new off-campus housing development for Montana State University students is underway. The Boötes Apartments will be located south of Bobcat Stadium at the corner of 11th Avenue and Opportunity Way.
According to the project plans, there will be 15 buildings with 71 dwellings plus a clubhouse. The housing options will include 4BD/4BA townhomes as well as 3BD/3BA and 2BD/2BA apartments. - Bozeman Real Estate Group
Photo sourced from Bozeman Real Estate Group
Montana trade pulse
Beartooth Basin for sale
20-year permit allowing year-round operations to 90 acres / 1000+ vertical feet. This is the exclusive ski area permit on the Beartooth Highway.
2 high-speed Doppelmayr surface lifts, 3 Snowcats, portable diesel generator, 7 trailers, all tools and equipment needed to operate ski area.
Contact beartoothbasin@gmail.com and read more on their website
MDT News released last week
20240620-150558 | Rehab Project on I-115 in Butte is Substantially Complete
20240617-092215 | Proposed Resurfacing On Foys Lake Road
20240617-075308 | West Main Street - Laurel Project To Begin
PGE joins Grid United and ALLETE in 3,000 megawatt east-west transmission line The North Plains Connector transmission line will more than double the transfer capacity between the eastern and western U.S. electric grids, providing PGE access to new, diverse resources and bolstering reliability for customers. - Portland General
Montana ranching group working to reduce conflicts between grizzly bears and livestock ENNIS — For over a decade, Madison Valley Ranchlands Group has been working to decrease conflict between wildlife and livestock. And in part, thanks to their early successes, new investments are being made to address the problem. - KTVQ
Wyoming, Delaware, and Montana are the most entrepreneurial states of 2024 so far. It might be due to business-friendly taxes. Wyoming, Delaware, and Montana have had the most new businesses per 100,000 residents open this year, per Census Bureau data - Business Insider
Canal pipe breaks, threatening a northern Montana irrigation project and drinking water Two century-old steel pipes that help convey water from a river on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation to a river that helps irrigate northern Montana cropland have failed, causing local flooding and raising concerns about the availability of drinking water for at least 14,000 residents this summer, including in the city of Havre. - ABC News
Coca-Cola manufacturing and distribution facility open on Billings West End BILLINGS — Coca-Cola Bottling Company High Country is now operating in Billings, two years after the company broke ground for the manufacturing and distribution facility on Harnish Boulevard. - KTVQ Billings
Governor Gianforte, Chamber of Commerce Highlight Montana’s Business Climate Talking with Montana Chamber President and CEO Todd O’Hair, the governor outlined his priorities to continue lowering taxes, reducing red tape, attracting new businesses, building the workforce, and addressing Montana’s housing shortage. - Montana Governor’s Office
GE Vernova turbines arrive at Montana wind site GE Vernova has begun delivering turbines for 248MW wind project in Still Water County, Montana. The project is expected to use an estimated 150-200 skilled workers during construction with an expected ongoing need for 10-15 permanent on-site workers during operation. - RE News
Montana Army National Guard loses load on Helena street
Northern Rockies trade pulse
Teton Pass Could Be Paved And Re-Open By Middle Of Next Week The Wyoming Department of Transportation told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday that a newly constructed detour of the collapsed section of Highway 22 over Teton Pass could be paved and ready to drive on by the middle of next week. - Cowboy State Daily
Online finds of the week
Construction of Jacksons Snow King new summit lodge
Hardin, Montana Loves stop
Identified 3 oversized loads of hard to tell steel at a Loves fuel station in Hardin. Also, Loves back in 2021 Loves started building RV stops around their facilities.
“The first RV Stop was installed in July of 2021 in Guthrie, Okla., followed by five more sites that year. In 2022, 20 more locations were added, and Wheeler said he expects 30 or more locations to be put in service in 2023.” - RV Business
Signs of Lander
My favorite blue collar business signs from Main Street.
USA build pulse
Decided to omit this section to maintain focus on Montana and the Northern Rockies. Previously this content was rounded up and sourced from constructiondive.com
History of the week
Homesteading Pamphlet from 1912 Lists the Cost of Living in Montana from the Government Homesteads and How to Secure Them issued by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. - Digital Public Library of America
