Wednesday, April 29, 2026 | |
| Quarterly Capitol Connection Update Recording Available | |
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The government relations team at the Montana Chamber of Commerce shared an update on our work this interim, including in the courts.
In the recording linked below, we share:
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| Employer Forum for Child Care Solutions in Kalispell on June 11 | | | | |
Join us in Kalispell on Thursday, June 11 for the Employer Forum for Childcare Solutions, designed for businesses, employers, workforce professionals, community partners, and anyone invested in solving child care challenges. Register for this FREE event here.
This event is brought to you by the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, Montana Chamber of Commerce, and Zero to Five Montana, made possible by funding from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
We can't wait to see you there!
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| 2026 National Small Business Week Next Week, May 3-9 | | |
National Small Business Week, a celebration of America’s 36 million small businesses, kicks off on May 3!
As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration will host a free virtual summit Tuesday, May 5 – Wednesday, May 6. The summit will include co-sponsor workshops on AI, e-commerce, financing, and other important business topics. Find out more and register at the link below!
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| Montana Chamber Foundation News | | The Prospects Virtual Awards Announced Thursday, April 23 | |
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The Prospects Awards Show, hosted by the Montana Chamber Foundation, celebrated Montana’s next generation of entrepreneurs, showcasing innovative ideas and student-run businesses statewide in a virtual event on Thursday, April 23. This program highlights creativity and real-world impact while awarding scholarships and cash prizes to outstanding K–12 innovators. Check out the recorded event and the press release at the links below.
| | Follow the Montana Chamber Foundation on Social Media! | |
| Flathead Electric Cooperative announces plans for long-term power supply from new generation project | |
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Flathead Electric Cooperative (FEC) has announced plans to participate in a new advanced natural gas generation facility, marking an important step toward maintaining a reliable and affordable power supply for its members into the future as regional demand for electricity continues to rise.
The facility is being developed in Northern Idaho by PNGC Power and Kindle Energy to provide a dispatchable resource that can generate power when needed to help meet growing demand across the Pacific Northwest.
Planned as a state-of-the-art combined-cycle facility, the project is expected to be among the most efficient and lowest-emitting gas-fired generation resources in the United States. By using advanced generation technology, the plant is intended to produce more electricity with less fuel and water than older thermal resources, lowering emissions intensity while providing the dependable power needed to support a modern grid. Purchasing a portion of the power generated by this facility is part of FEC’s long-term power supply strategy.
Read the full press release here.
| | Gov. Gianforte Celebrates New BHE Montana Office in Great Falls | |
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Governor Greg Gianforte recently joined BHE Montana to celebrate the opening of its new Great Falls office and to highlight the importance of unleashing affordable, reliable energy for Montanans.
Established in 2022, BHE Montana is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy that supplies energy to its customers in Montana and across the region. The company’s energy portfolio includes wind and solar battery technology. The new Great Falls office will support customer service, operations, and regional engagement as the company expands across the state.
Read the press release from Governor Gianforte's office here.
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Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Applications Due May 18 | |
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The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program is coming back to Montana! This is an amazing, fully funded program designed to help small businesses grow and scale their businesses. It has a 15-year proven track record!
Through a mix of online and in-person workshops, you’ll gain practical tools, connect with experienced advisors, and join a powerful community of entrepreneurs from across the country.
The Montana program begins in September 2026. The application is quick—it takes less than 15 minutes to complete.
👉 Learn more and apply here: https://gs.com/10ksb-montana [goldmansachs.com]
👉 Watch these video to learn what 10KSB alum got out of this valuable program:
Reach out if you have questions to the Mountain West Executive Director, Amie Thompson at amie.thompson@gfcmsu.edu.
| | Upcoming Chamber & Foundation Events | | 2026 Montana Chamber Foundation Governors' Cup Golf Tournament | Thursday, July 30 - Saturday, August 1 | | | | |
The 37th Annual Governors' Cup Golf Tournament will tee off with the Montana Chamber Foundation and Glacier Bank's Ace in the Hole Reception & Barbecue. Set in the beautiful Flathead Valley, the event serves as the largest networking and business development gathering. Open to the public, this is your opportunity to forge connections with over 600 professionals and policy makers.
Thursday, July 30, 2026
Flathead Valley Community College
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Contact stacye@montanachamber.com for sponsorship information.
| | For non-golfers looking to participate in the Ace in the Hole and leverage your time in the Flathead, we are excited to announce the 3rd Annual Stockman Bank Give It a Shot Trap Shooting Tournament on Friday, July 31. Spend the day at Flathead Valley Clay Target Club competing and meet up with your golf enthusiast friends in the evening. | | | Montana Bioscience Alliance Hosting Innovator's Bootcamp on May 5 | |
Join the Montana Bioscience Alliance for a full-day, in-person Innovator’s Bootcamp designed to help Montana startups navigate the legal, funding, and strategic decisions that shape early-stage growth. Space is limited and advance registration is required.
Co-hosted by the Montana Bioscience Alliance, the Montana Photonics & Quantum Alliance (MPQA), and the Montana Technology Innovation Partnership (MTIP), this workshop features experienced attorneys from Sheppard Mullin, a nationally recognized law firm advising emerging growth companies, investors, and research institutions across the country.
Whether you are forming your company, preparing for investment, protecting intellectual property, or negotiating agreements, this bootcamp provides practical, founder-focused guidance you can immediately apply.
Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Time: 9AM - 4PM MDT with optional 1-1 legal sessions from 4-5PM MDT
Where: EngineWorks MSU Innovation Campus, Bozeman, Montana
Catered lunch provided
Cost: Free
More information and registration available at the link below.
| 2026 Montana Infrastructure Summit to be held in Billings on May 20-21 | | |
The Montana Infrastructure Coalition will host its inaugural Infrastructure Summit on May 20–21 in Billings. This event will bring together leaders, professionals, and stakeholders from across Montana to exchange knowledge, discuss key infrastructure issues, and explore the state’s priorities.
View the draft agenda HERE!
Room blocks are available HERE at the Northern Hotel.
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| Do you have news to share about your business or organization? Let us know - we'd love to share it! Send your press releases or articles to Sheridan Hoyer at sheridan@montanachamber.com. | | |
Busy Summer Months = Seasonal Hiring & Summer Help
Written By Josie Teegarden, HR Business Partner
As summer fast approaches, employers often enter their “busy season” in which additional help is needed. Coincidently, the typical school season ceases as seasonal work begins. While students on summer break are a wonderful resource for filling employment gaps, it may be wise to review these cautions when hiring minors.
Initial Reminders
Minors are limited in the workplace in the numbers of hours they are allowed to work and the tasks they are allowed to perform, as established by the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA). Restrictions vary based on the minor’s age and task. However, states do have their own specific laws regarding minors. Check out https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/child-labor for more specific state restrictions. If state law overlaps with the FLSA, the law most protective of the minor applies.
Protecting the Safety of Minors
Beyond direct legalities, there are several workplace concerns to keep in mind as minors enter the workforce with adult employees. One of the more prominent concerns is whether minors will be spending a significant amount of time with adults in circumstances that create the potential for sexual harassment or misconduct to occur.
- Ride sharing
- Social media contact
- Work-related travel
- Off-duty contact
- Alcohol consumption in presence of a minor; and
- Unlawful distribution of alcohol to minors
Remember, minor employees are new to the workforce. They may be unaware of their ability to refuse unsafe work conditions or afraid/embarrassed to speak up for themselves. Spending time to train minors (and adults) and documenting their training may prove useful as they enter unfamiliar situations.
Protecting the Company
While much attention is (rightfully) given to ensuring the safety of minors in the workplace, it is equally important to consider that minors can pose just as much risk to the company as other employees. Before hiring, employers should carefully consider what systems, information, or responsibilities the minor will have access to—such as confidential company data, work-related technology, or customer interactions—and ensure that appropriate workplace policies are applied and enforced.
Minors are often entrusted with great responsibility in their summer jobs, such as lifeguarding or camp leadership. It’s important to note that most criminal records are sealed for minors and require the consent of parents or guardians to access. With this in mind, employers should rely on a consistent and thorough hiring process. This includes conducting reference checks, utilizing multiple interviewers, and clearly communicating hiring procedures to all applicants. Employers should also take time to review important policies, such as those related to drugs and alcohol, workplace violence, or weapons in the workplace. Most employers cover these topics in the new hire process anyway, but it’s important to review policy recognition and standards to remain equally enforced across the company. Written acknowledgements and documented trainings are worth the time and help protect both the employee and the organization!
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The Montana Chamber of Commerce welcomes General Motors as our new Capital Level Member.
General Motors - More than 90,000 employees driving global impact. 150+ facilities sparking progress for communities and economies across America. Four iconic vehicle brands providing the one for every drive.
Learn more here: https://www.gm.com/company/about-us
| | Are you interested in joining the Montana Chamber of Commerce? Fill out the form below and we'll be in touch! | | This Business Brief is Sponsored by Treasure State Member | | To learn more about Treasure State Membership benefits for your business, contact Matt Olson, Chief Strategy Officer, at Matthew@montanachamber.com | 406.360.6443 | | Follow us on Social Media | | | | | |
