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Home My WebLink About06-15-26 Correspondence - Montana Department of Commerce - Commerce Quarterly Newsletter_ Q2 2026From:Montana Department of CommerceTo:Bozeman Public CommentSubject:[EXTERNAL]Commerce Quarterly Newsletter: Q2 2026Date:Monday, June 15, 2026 2:01:55 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Commerce News and Success Stories Commerce Quarterly Newsletter Second Quarter 2026 Welcome to the “Commerce Quarterly,” a newsletter designed to provide constituents and stakeholders with long-form updates on the Montana Department of Commerce’s success stories, as well as innovative opportunities to engage with the department and participate in building the future of Montana’s economy. This newsletter is delivered four times per year covering a variety of topics to showcase the many ways Commerce is working with businesses and community leaders across the state. Commerce Coal Board Grant Helps Fund Business Innovation Center in Colstrip Colstrip Business Innovation Center The new Business Innovation Center in Colstrip was partially funded by a Montana Department of Commerce Coal Board Grant. Photo credit: Southeastern Montana Development Corporation. In 2022, the City of Colstrip was awarded a $375,000 Coal Board Grant to build the Business Innovation Center, a multi-functional professional facility to support small business development and retention. The Montana Coal Board, which is administratively attached to the Montana Department of Commerce, awards planning and project grants to coal-impacted communities. FULL ARTICLE Commerce Programs Help Seasonal Attraction Become Year-Round Agritourism Destination Bodhi Farms Kitchen The restaurant at Bodhi Farms Eco Resort will serve vegetables grown on-site, thanks to a greenhouse funded by a Commerce Agritourism Grant. Photo credit: Commerce. On the outskirts of Bozeman, Bodhi Farms Eco Resort is transforming into to a year- round agritourism destination with help from the Montana Department of Commerce’s Agritourism Grant Program and Tourism Development and Enhancement Revolving Loan Fund. This evolution was made possible in part through a public-private partnership between Commerce and the Snowy Mountain Development Corporation. FULL ARTICLE Missoula SBDC Advisor Wins National Award for Excellence State Star Steve Clairmont Missoula SBDC Business Advisor Steve Clairmont was named 2026 Montana State Star and will be honored in September at the national ASBDC conference in Atlanta. Image credit: Steve Clairmont and Destination Missoula. Steve Clairmont, ASBC, EDFP, business advisor at the Missoula Small Business Development Center, was named the 2026 Montana State Star in May. This national honor recognizes exemplary performance, significant contributions to the program and a strong commitment to small businesses by outstanding performers at SBDCs around the country. Clairmont and his fellow State Stars will be honored at the America SBDC conference on Sept. 26-Oct. 4 in Atlanta. FULL ARTICLE Montana Board of Housing Reviews Affordable Housing Funding Applications Bruce Posey Montana Board of Housing Chair Bruce Posey presents a 9% Housing Credit pre-application to the MBOH on May 12. Photo credit: Commerce. The Montana Board of Housing, which is administratively attached to the Montana Department of Commerce, is currently reviewing applications for its 9% Housing Credit and Multifamily Loan Programs. Applications for both programs were due April 13. FULL ARTICLE Commerce Pilot Grant Paves the Way for Big Projects in Big Timber Museum addition The Crazy Mountain Museum addition in Big Timber, funded by a Commerce grant, includes classroom space and room for new exhibits. Photo credit: Commerce. Big Timber is turning vision into reality through the Montana Department of Commerce’s Pilot Community Tourism Grant Program. In 2025, Big Timber celebrated two significant accomplishments funded in part by this statewide initiative: an expansion at the Crazy Mountain Museum and groundbreaking on Sheepherders Square, a community gathering space in the heart of town. FULL ARTICLE Register Soon for the Montana Department of Commerce Governor’s Conference on Tourism Dinosaur Register Soon for the Montana Department of Commerce Governor’s Conference on Tourism Registration is open for the 2026 Montana Department of Commerce Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Great Falls, Sept. 16-18. Registered attendees can also sign up for hands-on activities like the Choteau — pictured here — and Bynum full-day immersive experience. Photo credit: Commerce. Registration is open for the 2026 Montana Department of Commerce Governor’s Conference on Tourism, set for Sept. 16-18 in Great Falls. The event brings together more than 350 tourism and business professionals to educate, network and inspire one another. FULL ARTICLE Small Business Loan Program at Commerce Sparks Growth in Rural Montana K&J Welding Kyle and Justina Marshall pose with one of KJ Welding and Fabrication’s famous Double Diamond flatbeds. Photo credit: Commerce. In the heart of Musselshell County, family-owned and operated KJ Welding and Fabrication is forging a path toward growth and sustainability with the support of Montana’s State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0 Loan Participation Program and Snowy Mountain Development Corporation. The SSBCI 2.0 Program, administered by the Montana Department of Commerce, partners with lenders throughout Montana to help small businesses access capital — especially in rural and underserved areas. FULL ARTICLE Nevada City Living History Program Now Open Living History Nevada City’s Living History Program opened May 25 and runs through Labor Day, Sept. 7. Photo credit: Commerce. Nevada City's Living History Program transforms a museum visit into a true step back in time. From historical cooking and wool spinning to basket making, hands-on demonstrations and historical interpreters bring the gold-rush era town to life to give visitors a first-hand sense of what life in the Old West was really like. Living History in Nevada City opened Memorial Day Weekend and runs every Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m.-3:00 p.m. through Labor Day, Sept. 7. Schedules are posted weekly on Facebook. FULL ARTICLE Photo Feature: Housing Partnership Conference Planning Committee Housing Conference group photo Kudos to this year’s Housing Partnership Planning Committee, which consisted of representatives from the Montana Department of Commerce and NeighborWorks Montana. Committee members are pictured here at the Housing Partnership Conference at Fairmont Hot Springs, held May 18-20. Back row: Michelle Rogers, NeighborWorks marketing and program specialist; Becky McAnally, Commerce Housing MT Division administrative assistant; Joe DeFilippis, Housing MT Division operations manager; Todd Jackson, Commerce Marketing and Communications teams communication coordinator; and Logan Colberg, Housing MT Division executive assistant. Front row: Stephanie Higgins, Housing MT Division administrative assistant; Megan Surginer, Housing MT Division administrative supervisor; Cheryl Cohen, Housing MT Division administrator; and Chelsey Lyle, NeighborWorks communications manager. The Montana Housing Partnership is a group of housing professionals in business and government from across the state who share information and experiences while creating opportunities for peer exchange and collaboration. Conference attendees included affordable housing organizations, housing developers, government agencies and other housing stakeholders. Over 300 people attended this year. Photo credit: Commerce. Q2 Employee Spotlight Jessica John Jessica John Jessica John was recognized in the 2026 second quarter employee spotlight for her success with Commerce’s Made in Montana Program and for her collaborative, positive work ethic. Photo courtesy of Jessica John. Congratulations to our second quarter employee spotlight, Jessica John, Made in Montana Program manager with the Montana Department of Commerce’s Destination MT Division. The employee spotlight recognizes members of the Commerce team for their dedication, hard work and commitment to the agency’s mission. Jessica was chosen for her success with the Made in Montana Program and for her collaborative, positive work ethic. FULL ARTICLE Commerce Sends Delegate to International Mass Timber Conference in Portland Mass Timber Conference group photo Representatives from Montana at the International Mass Timber Conference in Portland on April 1. Photo credit: The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. At the International Mass Timber Conference in Portland from March 31-April 2, the Montana Department of Commerce and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation joined the Montana 21st Century Wood Innovation Group delegation. Justin Bilyeu, international trade specialist, represented Commerce’s Export team. FULL ARTICLE Commerce Funding Helps Ronan Move from Planning to Action Ronan mural The Spring Creek Mural Project in Ronan, commissioned with Native artists Aspen and Cameron Decker, Virginia artist Cheyenne Marcus and Ronan residents, is part of a long-term growth strategy utilizing multiple Commerce programs. Photo credit: Mission West. Aided by a $2.75 million grant from the Montana Department of Commerce’s Pilot Community Tourism Grant Program, Ronan is implementing a long-term economic vision that began in 2016. The 2024 pilot grant was supplemented by a 2024 Montana Main Street Grant for $100,000, over $80,000 that same year from two State-Local Infrastructure Partnership Act grants and a $750,000 Montana Coal Endowment Program Grant for wastewater system upgrades in 2025. FULL ARTICLE Montana Department of Commerce 301 S Park Ave, Helena, MT 59620 Contact Us: 406-841-2700 commerce.mt.gov This email was sent to comments@bozeman.net using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: MontanaDepartment of Commerce · P.O. Box 200501 · Helena, MT 59620-0501 footer View as a webpage Unsubscribe Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on yourSubscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. Discover information about additional topics at Commerce. Sign up for more topics. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. Montana Department of Commerce 301 S Park Ave, Helena, MT 59620 406-841-2700