A RV is parked on Sacco Drive next to an affordable housing development under construction in Bozeman. (Rachel Leathe, Bozeman Daily Chronicle)

Tackling Housing Affordability in Montana

With few affordable homes available for households earning a low income, many are being priced out of housing markets.
Volunteers build bags of dry goods outside AT&T Stadium during a food distribution event in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo, Tony Gutierrez)

Food Insecurity Rose Steeply During the Pandemic

Food banks have been facing steep challenges in distributing food to a record number of people who fell into poverty and food insecurity due to the nationwide lockdown.
Ryan Hansen, the founder of Lumenad in Missoula, where his software company is based. (Lido Vizzutti)

High-Tech Soars Despite Pandemic

Montana’s high-tech companies not only survived, but even benefited from the dynamics of a pandemic economy, generating more than $2.9 billion in revenue.
Melisia Muscat stands on the front porch of her new home in Billings that she and her husband bought sight unseen before moving from the Seattle area. (Casey Page, Billings Gazette)

The Myth of Montana’s Housing Market Frenzy

Are concerns about a housing shortage and the inability of working families to find reasonably priced housing in Montana related to COVID-19 migration?
Smoke billows from a prescribed burn as part of a 125-square-mile restoration project on the Payette National Forest near McCall, Idaho. (USFS, AP Photo)

Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act on National Forests

A review of U.S. Forest Service land management accomplishments, budget and litigation since complying with the National Environmental Policy Act.
Chinese ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai, left, speaks with U.S. Sen. Steve Daines about ways to expand the Chinese market for Montana beef. (Tom Lutey, Billings Gazette)

Overcoming the Challenges of Going Global

There are a number of obstacles for small and midsized Montana firms to face when looking to expand into international markets.
Katie Kukowski cares for a patient in the intensive care unit at Billings Clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo, Larry Mayer)

Hospitals Make Sizable Impact on Montana’s Economy

Montana's health centers contribute a sizable, ongoing and permanent impact on the state's economy. Spending, demand and an aging population are spurring growth.
New single-family homes under construction in Missoula. (David H. Wells)

Montana’s Unaffordable Housing Crisis

The lack of affordable housing has been an increasingly difficult problem for many Montana communities. A shortage of homes and stagnant incomes have widened the divide.
A crew from Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative work on a power line on Grand Avenue in Billings. (Casey Page, Billings Gazette)

The Economic Contributions of Montana Cooperatives

Cooperatives have been part of the fabric of Montana nearly as long as we have been a state. They employ thousands and make Montana's economy significantly larger.
Bill Calovis watches as lumber is loaded onto his truck at the B&J Sawmill in Reed Point. (AP Photo, James Woodcock)

Lumber Prices Skyrocket During Pandemic

A construction and remodeling boom has driven the demand for lumber and far exceeded the supply, causing lumber prices to rise all over the country.