Governors' Cup Weekend A Success

Montana Tech Industry Generated $7.9 Billion in Revenue, Report Show

Montana's high-tech industry grew twice as fast as the overall Montana economy from 2014 to 2024, increasing its share of state GDP from 3.6 percent to 5 percent, according to a new report released by the Montana High Tech Business Alliance and the University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER). In 2024, the industry generated $7.9 billion in revenue and contributed $4.4 billion in value added to Montana’s economy, underscoring its growing role as a driver of the state’s prosperity.

The 2026 Montana High Tech Industries Report combines an analysis of industry trends using federal and private economic data with a statewide survey of Montana high-tech businesses to provide the most comprehensive assessment of Montana's technology economy since 2020.

Find the full press release and the full report below!

A Day Without Data Centers

Data centers have had a lot of attention in the news and social media lately. But what exactly do they do for our increasingly digital and connected world?

The video linked below takes an interesting look at what a day in our lives would look like without data centers - check it out here.

The 37th Annual Governors' Cup Golf Tournament, Ace in the Hole Barbecue, and Give It A Shot Trap Shooting Tournament would not be possible without the support of our many sponsors. Thank you again!

Ace In The Hole Reception Sponsor: Glacier Bank 

Photo Booth Sponsor: Montana Department of Commerce

Governors' Cup Sponsors

Masters: BHE Montana, Dick Anderson Construction, Fidelity Diagnostics, Westmoreland Mining LLC

Governors' Circle: Americans for Prosperity Montana, Atlantic Richfield Company Arco Petroleum Products, Applied Materials, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, Delta Dental Ins., Delta Air Lines, FastDemocracy, EquipmentShare, Quantica Infrastructure, UBS, WSIA: Water Sports Industry Association

Birdie: Bloom Montana, Fast Enterprises, LLC, Town Pump Company

Eagle: Baker Commodities Inc., Line49 Rifle, Republic Services, A&E + SMA Design, Water & Environmental Technologies

Tee It Up: Alliance Defending Freedom, Bozeman Health, Montana Bankers Association, Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, Navajo Transitional Energy Company, LLC

Putting Contest: NextEra Energy Resources, Signal Peak Energy, LLC, Westmoreland Mining LLC

Give It A Shot Sponsors

Title: Stockman Bank

Lunch: Montana Association of REALTORS

Prize: NextEra Energy Resources, Treasure State Strategies

All Station: Charter Communications

Montana Department of Commerce Seeking SHOT Show Sponsors

The Montana Department of Commerce is seeking sponsors for Montana's presence at SHOT Show 2027 in Las Vegas, one of the nation's premier trade shows for the shooting sports, hunting and outdoor recreation industries.

SHOT Show provides a unique opportunity to showcase Montana's growing manufacturing sector while connecting with industry leaders, prospective businesses, media and partners from across the country. Sponsorship opportunities are available for signature networking events, the Montana Room experience and additional brand recognition throughout the show.

By becoming a sponsor, you're helping elevate Montana's outdoor recreation and manufacturing industries while increasing your organization's visibility among key decision-makers and influencers.

The full sponsorship flyer is linked below. Interested in learning more? Contact: 

Cameron Johnson

Business Attraction Coordinator, Montana Department of Commerce

camjohnson@mt.gov | 406-471-4418

U.S. Small Business Administration Opens Applications for New $9 Million Supply Chain Grant Program

Organizations that support small businesses have until this Friday, August 7 to apply for funding through the U.S. Small Business Administration's new Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement (SCALE) Program. The SBA will award approximately 20 grants of up to $500,000 to organizations that provide technical assistance, workforce development, supplier readiness, and other services that help small businesses strengthen their role in critical domestic supply chains. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, educational institutions, tribal organizations, and other entities that support small business growth.

Register for the Big Sky, Bright Future Economic Summit - Oct. 15, 2026

Join business leaders, policymakers, economic development partners, and community stakeholders at the 2026 Big Sky, Bright Future Economic Summit, co-hosted by Governor Greg Gianforte and the Montana Chamber of Commerce.

Taking place October 15 in Bozeman, the Summit will feature timely discussions on Montana's economic future, opportunities to connect with key decision-makers, and insights into the issues shaping our state's business climate. Secure your spot today and be part of the conversation.

Sponsorship information is available here. For any questions, please contact Stacye Dorrington at stacye@montanachamber.com.

MMEC to host Montana Smart Manufacturing Roadshow

Montana Smart Manufacturing Roadshow

Wednesday, August 26, 2026 | 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Delta Hotels Helena Colonial

2301 Colonial Dr, Helena, Montana, 59601, USA

The Roadshow is designed to help Montana manufacturers start, expand, or ramp up efforts to integrate new technologies into their operations. It’s a unique opportunity to learn about automation and other advanced technologies, then connect with people and resources who can get projects off to a great start.

At this one-day workshop, participants will:

• Discover cutting-edge Smart Manufacturing technologies through expert presentations and live demonstrations.
• Hear from a panel of fellow Montana manufacturers about what they are implementing and what they’ve learned.
• Connect with technology vendors, consultants, and integrators, and get their questions answered.
• Learn about partner organizations and resources available in Montana that can support implementation projects. 

Thanks to the generous support of the U.S. Department of Energy, this inaugural event is available to Montana manufacturers at no cost. Visit the event website now to see the agenda and learn more.

The Montana Chamber is excited to welcome our newest Visionary level member, Capital One!

Stay tuned for some exciting content from a May 2026 convening that we co-hosted together in Bozeman supporting entrepreneurship and small businesses.

More than 25 years ago, Capital One revolutionized the credit card industry with data and technology. Today, we are one of the most widely recognized brands in banking — serving more than 100 million customers across a diverse set of businesses. Learn more here: https://www.capitalone.com/about/

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