Montana Chamber of Commerce & Montana Chamber Foundation Boards of Directors Meet for Spring Board Meeting | | | | |
The Montana Chamber of Commerce and Montana Chamber Foundation Boards of Directors met for their spring board retreat in Meagher County this week, covering staff updates, financials, and finalizing our next strategic plan as Envision 2026 comes to a close.
The meeting kicked off with a tour of the Black Butte Copper Mine, led by Nancy Schlepp, past Montana Chamber Board Chair and VP of Communications at Sandfire Resources America. Our meetings took place at the renovated & historic Ringling Church, overlooking the town of Ringling.
2026 is off to a strong start and we're excited for what the second half of the year will bring!
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| Registration Open for Midyear Economic Update Tour by BBER | | |
A Midyear Assessment of the Outlook for the U.S. and Montana Economies with a Special Focus on High Tech, Data Centers, and the Digital Economy, Presented by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research
The tech boom seems to be creating a modern-day gold rush across the nation, with AI and data centers at the forefront. Our latest research findings tell us that Montana’s high-tech industry is growing much faster than the statewide economy. And while investment in data centers has been driving U.S. economic growth for the past two years, the phenomenon has mostly bypassed Montana…until now.
Join us this summer as our President & CEO, Todd O'Hair, joins the BBER and the Montana High Tech Business Alliance as they travel to seven cities to deliver a midyear update on the state and national outlook. In addition to the overall economic outlook, the event will feature an updated profile of Montana’s high-tech industry and a new BBER analysis of the potential economic impacts of data centers in Montana.
The seminar series is scheduled in various cities from July 28 through August 6, including a stop in Kalispell just before our Ace in the Hole Reception at the Governors' Cup!
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Tomorrow: Employer Forum for Child Care Solutions in Kalispell | | | | |
Join us in Kalispell thisThursday, 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!
| | You're Invited: Judge Dan Wilson Fundraiser for the Supreme Court | | |
The Montana Chamber of Commerce recently announced their endorsement of Judge Dan Wilson in the race for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
You're invited to an evening fundraising reception benefiting Dan Wilson's campaign for Montana Supreme Court on Thursday, June 18th at 5:30 pm. Please see the details below and the attached invitation. To contribute via credit card, please do so online HERE.
Thursday, June 18th, 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Montana Mining Association, 1 S Dakota Street, Helena, MT 59601
Donations appreciated. Contribution limits are $830 per person.
Checks can be mailed to:
Wilson for Justice
PO Box 1598
Helena, MT 59601
Kindy RSVP to danielle@montanagroup.net or text/call 406-241-8268.
Read more about the Montana Chamber's endorsement of Judge Wilson in our press release and editorial announcement.
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| | All Data Center Webinar Recordings Available | |
| Through the spring, the Montana Chamber has hosted seven informational webinars on data center issues. Our webinars have covered data centers and electricity, water, permitting, construction, tax revenue, the national landscape, and what they might mean for Montana. All of the recordings are available on our YouTube channel linked below. | |
| Montana Chamber Foundation News | | Support the Work of the Montana Chamber Foundation! | |
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After a busy spring of events, school is out for the summer, but the Montana Chamber Foundation is still hard at work!
The Governors' Cup Golf Tournament, a fundraiser for the Montana Chamber Foundation, is on the horizon at the end of July, followed by upcoming teacher professional development.
If you can't join us for the Governors' Cup, please consider donating directly to The Prospects competition of the Montana Chamber Foundation at the link below. Dollars given through this link go directly to cash prizes and scholarships for students.
| | | Follow the Montana Chamber Foundation on Social Media! | |
| Protect Local Lending & Credit for Montana Businesses | |
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Community banks power local economies by turning deposits into small business loans, farm financing, mortgages, and the credit that consumers rely on every day.
Congress is now finalizing the CLARITY Act, which will set the rules for stablecoins. But, as written, the bill leaves a key loophole: it allows certain stablecoin “rewards” to function like interest outside the banking system through affiliates or third parties.
Regulators warn this could pull funding out of community banks, reducing lending capacity and leading to fewer loans and higher borrowing costs for small businesses, farmers, and families.
The U.S. Treasury has warned that if stablecoin rewards are allowed to function as interest, whether directly or indirectly through affiliates, up to $6.6 trillion could be pulled out of insured bank deposits. Crypto platforms are not positioned—or obligated—to replace this lending.
Closing this loophole will help ensure clear, consistent rules that protect both innovation and the local credit our communities depend on.
Please take a moment to tell Senator Daines and Senator Sheehy to protect local lending and credit for Montana businesses.
| | Meta launches America's Workforce Academy: Free skilled trades training, guaranteed jobs, no experience needed | |
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Meta recently announced their new program, America’s Workforce Academy – a Meta-sponsored program to fast-track skills training at no cost to the participant with a guaranteed job at a Meta-partner site upon completion. The program launches in partnership with the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and CBRE and will be the first guaranteed-employment training pipeline connecting Americans to AI infrastructure jobs.
This fast-track to a long-term career in a skilled trade is powered by an initial $115 million first year investment. Louisiana, Ohio, Indiana, and Texas are the 2026 pilot locations, but the program is open to applicants in all 50 states. The program is completely free to participants — Meta covers all travel and provides a daily stipend. Every graduate will leave with a verified, industry-standard credential in high-demand fields such as electrical work, mechanical systems and plumbing — and a job waiting for them with a Meta partner at one of our sites.
| | 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. | | 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. | | | |
The Montana Chamber of Commerce welcomes HDR, Inc. as our newest Visionary Level Member!
About HDR: We believe that the way we work can add meaning and value to the world. That ideas inspire positive change. That coloring outside the lines can illuminate fresh perspectives. And that small details yield important realizations. Above all, we believe that collaboration is the best way forward.
We specialize in architecture, engineering, environmental and construction services. While we are most well-known for adding beauty and structure to communities through high-performance buildings and smart infrastructure, we provide much more than that. We create an unshakable foundation for progress because our multidisciplinary teams also include scientists, economists, builders, analysts and artists.
Our employees, working in more than 200 locations around the world, push open the doors to what's possible each and every day.
Learn more at https://www.hdrinc.com/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 | | | | | |
