AGP Executive Report

Manufacturing & Jobs: Janicki Industries will invest $800 million to build a new Great Falls manufacturing campus, aiming for 1,000 jobs in five years and more than 2,000 total, as Montana pitches itself as “open for business.” Energy Policy: The Trump administration is preparing nearly $700 million in federal support for coal, including Defense Production Act funding for existing plants and grants for new builds—plus a potential California export terminal. Power & Data Centers: Missoula-area groups warned at a public meeting that data centers could consume 850 to 1,400 megawatts by 2030, straining Montana’s electricity supply. Public Lands & Recreation: A draft Forest Service order would expand year-round off-road vehicle access on millions of acres, with major implications for Montana and Idaho. Forestry: Montana expanded a Shared Stewardship forest management partnership, adding a new Lolo National Forest landscape to bring the total near one million acres. Politics: Montana’s Democratic Senate race took shape after Alani Bankhead’s primary win, setting up a general election against GOP Kurt Alme and independent Seth Bodnar. Local Government Procurement: Bozeman reissued an RFP for a Bridger Parking Garage sewer line reroute, with bids due June 25. Healthcare: CMS data shows Yellowstone River Nursing and Rehabilitation in Yellowstone County received a 1-star overall rating in Q1 2026, with multiple fines and penalties.

Big Business & Jobs: Janicki Industries will invest about $800 million in a new Great Falls manufacturing campus, adding 2 million sq. ft. of production space and targeting 1,000 jobs in five years (and 2,000+ long term), as Gov. Greg Gianforte pitches Montana as “open for business.” Forest & Wildfire Risk: Montana expanded its Shared Stewardship forest management partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, adding a third landscape in the Lolo National Forest and bringing the total to nearly 1 million acres under shared stewardship. Cost of Living: A new national look at EIA data shows Montana electricity prices up about 13% year over year, with electricity becoming a faster-rising household expense. Rural Health: The UW School of Medicine received a $25 million gift to fund rural and Indigenous medical scholarships across the WWAMI region, including Montana. Local Community & Health Access: Bozeman opened an accessible Lindley Park trail funded through a $42,000 city grant with Ability Montana. Legal Tech: Florida amended court rules to require attorneys to verify AI-cited legal authorities, after “hallucinated” cases made it into filings.

Social Security Crunch: A new analysis warns the retirement trust fund could run out by 2032, triggering automatic benefit cuts averaging about $500 a month, with nearly 1 million Alabamians potentially affected—an issue that will ripple into household spending and local economies. Flathead Lake Development Watch: DEQ held a virtual public hearing on sanitary and water facilities for phase one of a luxury resort near Flathead Lake (Territory 1889), with residents and watchdog groups pressing for deeper review of wastewater and long-term lake impacts. Tribal Small-Business Relief: The SBA announced low-interest disaster loans for Crow Tribe and Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes businesses, nonprofits, and residents hit by severe winter storms and straight-line winds. Montana Energy & Costs: GasBuddy price reports show Montana regular and midgrade prices mostly hovering in the mid-$4s to low-$5s statewide in the week ending May 30, underscoring continued volatility tied to global oil and refinery conditions. Agriculture Stress: Montana farm bankruptcies under Chapter 12 tripled in 2025, and economists warn 2026 could be worse without more support. Livestock Biosecurity: Montana issued an emergency order restricting animal imports after a New World Screwworm detection in Texas, requiring permits and strict entry conditions. Local Retail: Billings Hardware announced it’s closing June 9, followed by a liquidation sale starting June 11.

Energy Policy: President Trump announced nearly $700M in new support for the struggling U.S. coal industry, using Cold War-era national defense authority to back 13 coal plants, restart a Maryland facility, and fund a long-delayed export terminal in Oakland—aimed at extending plant life and boosting jobs. Critical Minerals & Manufacturing: Sibanye-Stillwater said it’s restarting full-scale Montana platinum group metals production at Stillwater West and returning East Boulder to pre-2024 capacity, citing improving market fundamentals. Local Business & Jobs: Janicki Industries selected Great Falls for an $800M manufacturing campus expected to create thousands of jobs. Tech & Defense Supply Chain: Mobix Labs signed a binding intent to acquire Montana-based drone maker Vision Aerial, expanding into global drone and aerial intelligence markets. Healthcare & Philanthropy: A $25M gift to UW’s medical education program will expand rural and Indigenous primary-care training across the WWAMI region, including Montana. Infrastructure: MDT will begin replacing five timber bridges near Lewistown with detours and reduced speeds starting this month. Community & Consumer: A Billings boutique launched a youth program pairing fashion with financial literacy and mentorship for young women. Weather & Water: Warm May temperatures rapidly melted Montana snowpack, with statewide levels largely below 50% of median for June 1.

Energy & Jobs: Trump is expected to announce nearly $700M to prop up coal-fired power plants and coal exports, using Cold War-era national defense authority to back 13 plants, build new capacity in Alaska and West Virginia, restart a Maryland plant, and advance an Oakland export terminal—aiming to support 14,000+ jobs across coal, construction, rail and maritime. Healthcare Tech: A Trump-backed push is moving AI into medicine, with officials working to expand AI-driven clinical tools despite limits on fully autonomous practice. Public Health & Research: Federal prosecutors charged two NIH Rocky Mountain Laboratory scientists with allegedly smuggling mpox into the U.S., after customs flagged undeclared samples. Montana Business & Growth: Janicki Industries selected Great Falls for an $800M manufacturing campus expected to create 2,000+ jobs. Local Economy: Gas prices stayed volatile statewide, with Montana’s regular average around $4.56/gallon in the week ending May 30. Policy Watch: A Montana access fight over “corner crossing” is intensifying as landowners threaten to pull out of state programs while a citizen council weighs pilot solutions. Workforce & Agriculture: NRCS is urging Montana producers to start or update conservation plans this summer. Community: Chick-fil-A’s Butte opening is set for June 11, with 400+ jobs and a $25,000 donation to the Montana Food Bank. Elections: Yellowstone County legislative primaries show tight races, including Senate District 19 with Chris Rindal leading Barry Usher. Finance: A new analysis warns Social Security benefits could drop about $500/month on average if the trust fund runs out in 2032.

Healthcare & Tech Investment: Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene installed the da Vinci 5 robotic-assisted surgery platform, a $3M-plus upgrade aimed at expanding specialized care. Water & Rural Economy: The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ CSKT-Montana Water Compact won final approval from the Montana Water Court, integrating about 300 tribal water rights into the state system. Local Governance & Public Funding: Ronan City Council advanced CDBG planning for projects ranging from affordable housing and youth services to major sewer and downtown upgrades. Workforce & Training: MSU Gallatin College launched Montana’s first new law enforcement academy since statehood, building a pipeline from basic academy training through field evaluation. Business & Community Banking: Valley Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank awarded $8,574 grants to seven Western Montana nonprofits supporting housing, healthcare access, youth programs, and economic development. Agriculture & Water Rights: A Montana Stockgrowers Association push highlights risks to ranchers if a court challenge to exempt wells succeeds, potentially tightening permitting for stockwater wells. Policy Watch: A new analysis warns Social Security trust fund exhaustion in 2032 could cut benefits by about $500 per month on average, with Montana among the states facing smaller-but-still-significant impacts. Wildfire Outlook: State and federal officials warned Montana’s fire season could “turn on a dime” despite recent rain, with warm conditions and wind factors still in play.

Big Business in Montana: Janicki Industries picked Great Falls for an $800 million manufacturing campus expansion, adding 2 million square feet over 10 years and positioning the aerospace/defense supplier for long-term growth. Energy & Utilities: NorthWestern Energy filed its 2026 Electric Integrated Resource Plan with the Montana Public Service Commission, saying it has enough capacity now but sees a winter 2027 need tied to expiring contracts and demand growth; public comments are due July 28. Housing & Workforce: A new look at Montana’s housing crunch highlights how teachers can’t afford to live locally, with knock-on risks for other essential workers. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Gov. Greg Gianforte urged drivers to slow down and follow construction rules as highway work ramps up, spotlighting the U.S. 89 bridge replacement project near Choteau. Land Policy: Montana’s land exchange process is getting more political, with changes shifting more authority to the Land Board and limiting DNRC’s ability to block deals. Health & Research: NIH Rocky Mountain Laboratory researchers face federal charges tied to alleged mpox sample smuggling into the U.S. Social Security: A new analysis warns Social Security could trigger an average $500-a-month cut for retirees starting in 2032 if lawmakers don’t act.

Montana Manufacturing: Janicki Industries is picking Great Falls for an $800 million manufacturing campus expansion, adding two million square feet over 10 years and creating more than 1,000 jobs—an economic-development win for Montana’s aerospace/defense supply chain. Housing & Growth: Columbia Falls approved a 421-unit Teakettle Heights subdivision on former aluminum company land, but residents and council members flagged wildlife impacts and concerns about building near an EPA Superfund site. Water Infrastructure: The U.S. House passed a bill extending authorization for the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System through 2028, keeping northeastern Montana water projects moving. Energy & Policy: A Montana-related media study finds many residents get news passively via social media rather than seeking it out, raising concerns about echo chambers. Elections: Montana’s GOP Senate primary is set after Kurt Alme’s win, while the Western U.S. House race remains tight on early counts among Ryan Busse, Sam Forstag, Russ Cleveland and Matt Rains. Courts & Climate: The Ninth Circuit rejected a young Americans’ lawsuit challenging Trump-era moves to expand fossil fuel development.

Manufacturing Boom: Janicki Industries is picking Great Falls for a new $800 million aerospace/defense/space manufacturing campus, targeting 1,000 jobs in five years and more than 2,000 over the decade, with construction set to start in July and the first phase opening by end of 2027. Ag Supply Relief: The federal government granted fertilizer haulers a broader Hours-of-Service waiver, letting drivers go up to 16 hours in 24 with a required sleeper-berth break, easing pressure during the May 26–Aug. 26 window. Cost of Living Pressure: A new analysis finds EVs cost about 42% more to insure than gas cars overall, though the gap narrows for newer models—another affordability headwind for Montana drivers weighing vehicle choices. Labor & Wages: More states are raising minimum wages in 2026, including Montana, underscoring a widening gap from the unchanged federal $7.25 floor. Food Safety: Montanans are urged to check freezers for recalled Motor City Pizza Co. 5 Cheese Bread tied to potential salmonella contamination sold at major retailers like Costco. Business Growth & Services: PacificSource announced it’s shutting down its Montana operations and laying off 97 Oregon workers, signaling continued shakeups in regional health insurance markets.

Rail & Competition: The federal government paused the Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger, asking for more details and more public input before any environmental review can move forward. Energy & Costs: Montana gas prices stayed above the national average at about $4.48 a gallon, even as the national average dipped to $4.32 amid shifting oil-market expectations. Health Insurance: PacificSource said it’s exiting Montana’s individual health insurance market and will lay off 97 Oregon workers as it pulls back from those plans. Real Estate & Growth: Touro University is expanding in Great Falls with an approved law school campus and a nursing program, targeting a 2027 start to address a regional attorney shortage. Local Business: Stacked, a downtown Billings restaurant, is closing after 11 years, with owners citing financial strain and health issues while continuing catering. Sports Facilities: Daylis Stadium renovation in Billings hit a major milestone as new grandstands were delivered, with turf and track work next. Water & Recreation: A new FishCast tool in Montana aims to forecast drought impacts on trout and flag likely fishing closures up to a month ahead. Housing Stability: Missoula Housing Authority and Veterans Inc. helped a veteran secure stable housing after months in a homeless shelter.

Energy & Grid: Minnkota Power Cooperative is joining the North Plains Connector utility consortium, securing 150 MW of capacity on a new HVDC transmission line aimed at boosting regional reliability and power flexibility. Electricity Costs: A new map using EIA data shows residential power prices rising sharply in parts of the East, with Maryland up 89% year over year, while some Western states saw flat or falling costs—an issue as grid upgrades and demand grow. Public Lands & Recreation: Federal agencies finalized a long-term management plan for the Flathead Wild and Scenic River’s Three Forks, moving the project toward a new conservation-and-recreation era after years of review. Montana Housing Pressure: UM’s University Villages will raise rent effective July 1, 2026, adding another hit for students already squeezed by high living costs. Business Investment in Montana: Montana’s state auditor is promoting an “Investing in Montana Summit” in Bozeman to connect startups and small businesses with investors and regulators. Mining & Exploration: American Pacific Mining started a 15,000-meter drilling program at its Madison copper-gold project, while Klondike Gold reported royalty receipts tied to placer operations in Montana Creek.

Health Insurance Shake-Up: PacificSource says it’s shutting down all Montana operations—ACA marketplace, employer plans, and Medicare Advantage—by Dec. 31, 2026, leaving about 42,000 members with only two carrier options in 2027. Local Economy & Housing: Billings City Council dropped “Magic City,” plus “diverse” and “welcoming,” replacing its vision statement with “Leading the Big Sky, Boldly inspiring opportunities for our community.” Public Safety & Infrastructure: Cascade County issued a flood advisory as rain pushes near-flood conditions; officials urged drivers to avoid flooded roads and noted Sun River levels just below bank breach. Energy & Business Climate: Montana’s unemployment rate fell to 3.5% in April, continuing a broader labor trend. Mining & Markets: Taylor Collison raised its price target for Stellar Resources to 5.5c after Metals X’s $17m placement and improved tin resource and recovery figures tied to Heemskirk. Recreation & Access: A new grant partnership will fund off-highway vehicle access and safety on Bureau of Land Management land, including $700,000 in impact at Nevada’s Moon Rocks.

Health Insurance Shake-Up: PacificSource says it’s shutting down all Montana operations—individual ACA plans, employer plans, and Medicare Advantage—by Dec. 31, 2026, leaving about 42,000 members with just two carrier options in 2027. State Budget Pressure: States are balking at Medicaid work requirements as budgets tighten, with lawmakers weighing cuts to health care and education to cover added costs. Agriculture & Rural Economy: Gov. Greg Gianforte’s 56-County Tour highlighted Hi-Line producers, including Flocking Good Farms’ growth plans and Mattson Farms’ export-focused crop operation, with renewed emphasis on in-state processing capacity. Local Business Climate: Billings replaced its vision statement, dropping “Magic City,” “diverse,” and “welcoming,” a change city leaders say better matches where the community is headed. Infrastructure Delivery: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a major contract to replace spillway gates at Albeni Falls Dam, aiming to streamline delivery and improve flood control and recreation management. Energy & Jobs: Montana’s unemployment rate fell to 3.5% in April, adding a fresh data point for the state’s labor market.

Agriculture & Rural Economy: Gov. Greg Gianforte’s 56 County Tour put Montana’s farm and ranch producers in the spotlight, highlighting projects like Flocking Good Farms’ mobile slaughter unit and Mattson Farms’ expansion plans, with state Growth Through Agriculture grants and loans aimed at boosting in-state processing. Healthcare & Housing Finance: VA data shows Montana’s VA home purchase loans fell to 325 in Q1 FY2026 ($139.5M), down from 424 ($195.6M) in the prior quarter—an affordability and housing-demand signal for veterans. Energy & Infrastructure: A proposed Billings-area data center plan is drawing scrutiny over power and water needs, while a separate Missoula County review of a Bonner data center was delayed again after the developer failed to provide required materials. Public Lands & Recreation: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says more than 95% of national refuge lands could be opened to hunting and sport fishing, including new opportunities in the Mountain West. Local Governance: Missoula County’s Bonner data center hearing was canceled again, and Bozeman posted vacancies for multiple city boards, from historic preservation to downtown renewal. Workforce & Business Climate: PacificSource announced 97 Oregon job cuts as it scales back and exits the ACA marketplace in Montana, Idaho and Oregon.

Energy & Industry: A proposed Quantica Infrastructure data-center build near Broadview is raising alarms after reports it could require massive new power and water use, with critics warning rural communities could be “sacrifice zones” for big-tech demand. Public Utilities & Elections: Montana’s June 2 primary will decide races for two Public Service Commissioner seats, with five GOP candidates competing and voters focused on how utility regulators affect power bills. Local Governance: Missoula County approved citizen-proposed zoning in Frenchtown after public hearings, aiming to limit a planned Town Pump travel plaza while still leaving legal questions to county staff. Business & Privacy: Montana Attorney General Tim Griffin led a multistate amicus brief challenging the SEC’s Consolidated Audit Trail, arguing it threatens financial data privacy and exceeds statutory authority. Retail & Safety: Bozeman police and officials responded to bomb threats that shut down Montana malls, including Gallatin Crossing, with Rimrock Mall later reopened after a hoax determination. Ag & Growth: Gov. Gianforte’s Hi-Line tour highlighted ag producers and state grants tied to expanding processing capacity and adding value in Montana’s farm economy. Sports Business: The University of Montana announced Montana Knife Company as an official Griz Football partner and on-field sponsor in an eight-year deal.

Nuclear Deterrence in Montana: Missileers at Malmstrom Air Force Base run a 24/7 “capsule” watch over Minuteman III ICBMs, framing readiness as the mission—so the power is never used. Mental Health Access: A Whitefish nonprofit, Community-MindEd, is cutting barriers with therapy scholarships and workplace workshops that teach basic stress skills for seasonal and service-industry workers. Housing Affordability Politics: Missoula-area U.S. House candidate Sam Forstag rallied with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, pitching affordability—housing, healthcare, childcare—and attacking corporate influence. Local Philanthropy: Friends of the Children–Western Montana is nearing its $250,000 fundraising goal for a permanent Ronan clubhouse to expand long-term mentoring for Flathead Nation youth. Tourism & Inclusion: Billings KOA Holiday renewed its Certified Autism Center designation and added a Sensory Safe Cabin to better serve autistic and sensory-sensitive campers. Water & Fishery Watch: Project Big Wood’s 2026 Big Wood River report warns that earlier spring runoff and low flows could stress fish as summer heats up. Business/Finance Legal Fight: West Virginia AG J.B. McCuskey sued proxy adviser ISS, alleging undisclosed coordination with ESG groups and misleading investors. Wildlife Safety: A bear attacked a hiker near Glacier National Park, the second such incident reported in weeks.