Welcome to the 85th edition of the Bozeman Build Report covering business and trade events happening in the Northern Rockies.

**Authors Note - Please Read**

I am putting a temporary pause on the Bozeman Build Report starting this week edition #85 through end of January 2026. Daniel will be in Nebraska and South Dakota completing renovation projects on the family farm and spending time catching up with direct and extended family around the area. I’ve written some Bozeman Build Reports while away and found the quality of the work degrades while absent from Montana and that’s why were pausing. We plan to resume with Bozeman Build #86 first week of February 2026 with a few pivots. Feel free to follow me on LinkedIn , Youtube, or send me an email if you want to keep in touch in the meantime!

I cant thank you enough for reading the Bozeman Build every week and It’s been a complete joy learning and sharing resources, will see you in February.

Sincerely,

Daniel Zavadil - Author of the bozemanbuild.com

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana Trade Pulse

October 2025 Montana Manufacturing News (MMEC)

New Posts from Montana Logging Association

Oct. 15, 2025 Commerce’s Opportunities in Rural Economies Planning Grant Program Now Accepting Applications (Commerce MT)

Oct 15, 2025 Hunters will again have the opportunity to thank landowners who allow hunting access on their land. The “Thank a Landowner” web portal is an easy way for hunters to pass on a note of thanks and a photo to landowners who have allowed them access. (FWP)

Oct 15, 2025 HELENA — Montana has become the first state to release comprehensive guidelines for how schools can safely use artificial intelligence, creating a roadmap that prioritizes student privacy and human oversight while helping educators harness new technology to improve learning. (Western Montana Independent)

October 15, 2025 UM Awarded $1.2M Grant to Launch Rural Youth Behavioral Health Career Pathways (UM News)

October 15, 2025 Federal officials have rejected an offer to mine coal on federal lands in southeastern Montana. The U.S. Department of the Interior turned down a bid from the Navajo Transitional Energy Company to mine over 160 million tons of coal in the Powder River Basin. Had it gone forward, it would have been the largest federal coal lease sale in over a decade. (MTPR)

Oct 15, 2025 Norwegian battery materials company says Butte only site if U.S. expansion occurs (Montana Right Now)

Oct 16, 2025 John LaFave has been named interim director of the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology (MBMG), filling a vacancy created by the departure of Dr. John Metesh. (Montana Tech News)

October 16, 2025 State livestock department working to trap feral pigs in Philips County (MTPR)

Oct 16, 2025 The law took effect in October and allows short-term leasing of water, letting water holders temporarily share their supply without permanently giving up their rights. (Montana Ag Network)

Oct 16, 2025 Blaming 1970s infrastructure that apparently has not been properly maintained, the Montana Department of Corrections presented the beginning of a plan to permanently address water issues at the Montana State Prison. (Daily Montanan)

In a late Wednesday news release, the department said it would “begin installing new, modern and permanent water infrastructure” with a $21 million appropriation after receiving approval from Gov. Greg Gianforte.

October 16 2025 The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) today launched the Montana forest products manufacturers map, an interactive dashboard that displays wood products facilities across the state. (DNRC)

October 17 2025 Governor Greg Gianforte today announced he will lead a trade mission to South Korea and Japan with representatives from Montana’s agricultural, manufacturing, photonics, and bioscience industries. (State of Montana Newsroom)

Montana Department of Transportation News

MDT News from Last Week

• Open House to be held for Sixmile Creek Wildlife Crossing Study

• Eastside Highway Construction Set for Next Year - 2026 Stevensville roadwork nears, public invited to attend pop-up event

• Upgrades on 7th Avenue in Bozeman is pausing until 2026.

• The Watson Coulee Road Reconstruction project open house will be held on Wednesday, October 29.

Bozeman Trade Pulse

2025 Fall Leaf Pickup October 16th to November 12th. (City of Bozeman)

Oct 14, 2025 Construction crews are working in the Madison River to improve spawning opportunities for trout populations that have declined in recent years. (KBZK)

Hollywoods

Visible from Hwy 191 film set for the Madison show, theres also some lights camera action around Three Forks. Photo sourced from a Reddit post.

Northern Rockies Misc

September 2025 Steady progress will extend through the fall on the Expanded Excellence initiative, which encompasses more than doubling the resort’s skiable terrain. This winter, Deer Valley Utah will debut a total of seven new chairlifts and 80 new ski runs, bringing the resort’s total to 10 new lifts and nearly 100 new runs since December 2024. (Deer Valley (Deer Valley)

October 13, 2025 Radiant Industries has scrapped its proposal to build a nuclear microreactor manufacturing facility outside the Natrona County town of Bar Nunn and announced it plans to build “its first mass-produced Kaleidos microreactor” facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, “on a Manhattan Project site.” (WyoFile)

October 15, 2025 A new poll reveals that 63 percent of Bay Area workers are now back at the office full time, reports Ethan Baron in The Mercury News. This stands in contrast to last year, when half of the region’s workers were working fully in person. (Planetizen)

October 15, 2025 Cannan to build 2.5MW gas flared powered Bitcoin mining facility in Calgary, Canada (Data Center Dynamics)

October Snotel

Some above average snowpack’s observed across the Rockies for this time of year, will see how this winter plays out! (Natural Resources Conservation Service)

Thanks for reading and will see you in February!

Daniel Zavadil

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com

Welcome back to the Bozeman Build, thanks for opening the 84th edition! Today we will cover pheasant season, Great Falls nursing facility opens, night sky webcam, Montana Energy & Critical Materials, Wyoming data center breaks ground, new head of Osha, Nobel Peace Prize, and much more.

Sincerely,

Daniel Z

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana Trade Pulse

October 06, 2025 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the use of narrative nutrient water quality standards for Montana’s wadable streams and select large river segments. (DEQ MT)

October 6, 2025 BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A Navajo tribe-owned company bid $186,000 to lease 167 million tons of coal on federal lands in southeastern Montana on Monday in the biggest U.S. coal sale in more than a decade. (AP News)

Oct 7, 2025 Pheasant season opens on Saturday, Oct. 11, and FWP is busy with a second round of pheasant releases at several sites across the state. This is the fourth year of the annual pheasant release program. In 2022, the Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the release of up to 50,000 pheasants annually on FWP WMAs through 2026. In 2021, the Legislature authorized spending up to $1 million each year for the program. (FWP)

October 8, 2025 One new law, the Financial Freedom and Innovation Act, took effect in October, paving the way for companies that issue network tokens to do business in Montana, and ensuring the State Auditor’s office has authority to regulate the burgeoning industry and prosecute bad actors. (Daily Montanan)

October 8, 2025 Members of the Montana State University and Great Falls communities celebrate the grand opening of the Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing facility Monday, Oct. 6, 2025 in Great Falls, Mont. (MSU News)

October 9, 2025 Kurt Alme was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, following a bitter, partisan fight in Washington, D.C. Alme is the former head of the Montana Department of Revenue and was also in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Montana between 2003 and 2010. A Great Falls native, Alme grew up in Dillon, Victor and Helena, graduating from Miles City. He holds degrees from the University of Colorado and Harvard University. (Daily Montanan)

October 9, 2025 DNRC Missoula Unit Conducts Planned Prescribed Burn near Kamas Point

October 10, 2025 Montana’s angling adds nearly $1 billion to economy (Daily Montanan)

Oct 10, 2025 Helicopter crew maneuvers replacement bridge from East Rosebud Lake into canyon near Rimrock Lake (KTVQ)

Oct 11, 2025 Montana’s electricity demand projections have doubled in just two years, and now federal and state leaders are gathering Thursday, October 16, to address how to meet this unprecedented growth that could reshape the state’s energy landscape. (Western MT)

Montana Department of AG

From AGR MT last week

• 10/7/2025 Montana Wheat & Barley Committee Fall Board Meeting Notice

• 10/7/2025 Proposals Sought for Potato Research & Market Development Program

• 10/9/2025 Growth Through Agriculture Grant & Loan Program Requesting Proposals

MDT News

From mdtnews.mt.gov/news/ last week

• Additional barrier rail to be installed on I-15 near Wolf Creek

• Proposed resurfacing on US 2 northwest of Glasgow

• Work on I-15 Helena North project is complete

• Proposed chip seal for S 248 west of Scobey

• Work in Anaconda completed for 2025; Work in Deer Lodge ongoing

• Pursuant to House Bill 940 (2025), MDT propose adopting rules to address camping and removal and storage of personal property in the right-of-way of state highways.

Night Sky Cam

Every night the Night Sky Cam takes images every few minutes and merges them into a video. If you can't stay awake to watch the night sky these videos will give you a good idea what Glacier's dark nights have to offer. (Glacier Webcam)

Montana Motorcycles

Even though you can only ride half the year, Montana apparently has the highest motorcycle ownership rate in the US.

Caliper

Montana Energy & Critical Materials Summit by Montana Tech

Incredibly impressed with the panel that was put together for the 2025 Montana Energy & Critical Materials Summit hosted by Montana Tech. The high achieving talent that is born from Montana Tech along with the topics discussed at the various panels was impressive. Overall, this State and private parties are doing terrific work to push the ball forward in our State. Here’s a few take homes from the summit:

• Colstrip is the 2nd largest coal reserve West of the Mississippi

• NWE supplies 75% of the State

• ~31 years remaining in mine life remaining for Montana Resources Continental Mine in Butte. As they dig deeper the ore is harder and less rich.

• “We need to find a way to get paid more in the US to produce and bring stability to the US marketplace” US Producers are susceptible to large price swings due to Russian and Chinese Mineral Manipulation.

• 80% of nations do not have secure energy - Switch Energy

• China intends to build 150 new nuclear reactors between 2020 and 2035, with 27 currently under construction and the average construction timeline for each reactor about seven years, far faster than for most other nations.

• We are seeing an interest increase in secondary recovery projects in the US (mining of tailings)

• In the US we need to figure out full circle supply mineral processing capabilities, we offshore most of this, we are also very far behind on reserves needed for a handful of refined minerals

• US Army is preparing for the Davidson Window

• Here’s a map of Montanas Federal National Priority List (NPL) (DEQ Superfund)

• Here’s a map of U.S. Electric Power Transmission Lines (Archive) - Overview (ARC GIS)

Bozeman Trade Pulse

October 8, 2025 Big Sky Resort, Spanish Peaks approved to make snow with ‘highly treated’ wastewater. (Explore Big Sky)

October 9, 2025 Montana State experts offer way to assess and track soil health (MSU News)

October 9, 2025 Wednesday, Oct. 8, Bozeman realtor Jeremy Seglem hosted a panel discussion titled “Bozeman on the Brink” to address growing public concern around housing affordability, water rights and the controversial WARD initiative ahead of the Nov. 4 municipal election. (Explore Big Sky)

Oct 10, 2025 Bozeman airport sees record passenger surge, prompts terminal expansion. The airport expansion will add five new gates, more restaurants and three full-service baggage claims by 2027 (KBZK)

Northern Rockies Misc

October 07, 2025 $1.2 Billion Data Center Breaks Ground In Cheyenne, CEO Stresses Low Water Impact. The facility will generate around $250 million in tax revenue for Cheyenne and Wyoming during its first 15 years of operation, according to figures from Related. The 115-acre data center campus will serve CoreWeave as its first tenant, a heavy hitter in both cloud computing and Artificial Intelligence sectors. (Cowboy State Daily)

October 8, 2025 “Angry August”: Jackson Hole, Wyoming Debates Lodging Tax As Residents Say Crowds Are Annoying (Cowboy State Daily)

October 8, 2025 Forest Service approves Cabinet Mountains mine exploration giving the final green light to Hecla Mining Company for the Libby Exploration Project. This enables Hecla to begin surveying the silver and copper ore in an old mine shaft 20 miles south of Libby. (MTPR)

Oct. 8, 2025 DOE cancels $7.56B in energy projects, largely in blue states. The decision freezes funding for 223 projects in 108 Democratic and 28 Republican House districts, according to a news release. (Construction Dive)

October 08, 2025 The U.S. dairy industry is in the midst of a record-breaking boom — fueled by premium beef-on-dairy calves, historic investments in processing plants and surging demand for protein both at home and abroad. (Agweb)

Oct. 8, 2025 David Keeling confirmed as new head of OSHA. The former Amazon and UPS safety executive takes on the role as the agency is expected to advance a heat safety regulation. (Construction Dive)

Oct. 10, 2025 Tempe, Arizona-based semiconductor firm Amkor broke ground on a massive, $7 billion outsourced semiconductor advanced packaging and test campus in Peoria, Arizona, according to a Monday news release. (Construction Dive)

Nobel Prize 2025

October 10, 2025 Nobel Peace Prizes announced (Nobel Prize)

Physics - John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit

Chemistry - Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi for the development of metal-organic frameworks

Medicine - Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi fortheir discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance

Panoramic View of the Valley of The Yellowstone, No. 2 - Getty

Thank you for reading,

Daniel Zavadil

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com

Happy October and welcome to the 83rd edition of the Bozeman Build Report covering business and trade events happening in the Northern Rockies, thanks for reading today!

Todays post will be shorter than the average report although we still cover enough ground relating to a 2026 Freight Plan, growing beans, auctioning airplanes, tracking fires via satellite, and a few more stories.

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana Trade Pulse

The biggest public works project in Billings' history – the NEW Water Treatment Plant & Reservoirs are coming soon, and we need your help naming these reservoirs that will secure Billings’ water supply for generations to come! (Billings Public Works)

October 1, 2025 New Training Program Prepares Inmates for Job Opportunities in Manufacturing (MMEC)

Oct 1, 2025 Waterfowl season across Montana opens on Oct. 4. This includes ducks, mergansers, geese and coots. Swan hunting is allowed only by special permit. (FWP)

Oct 2, 2025 Large predator relocation notification law goes into effect. In anticipation of this law, earlier this summer FWP began informing county sheriffs, county commissioners and tribal governments within the county or tribal government boundaries where a large predator is relocated. (FWP)

Oct 1, 2025 NorthWestern Energy, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in partnership with River Design Group (RDG), have begun a project to improve habitat conditions for trout in an area of the lower Madison River. Trout numbers in the lower Madison River are at historic lows due in part to low population recruitment and limited spawning and rearing habitat. (FWP)

October 2, 2025 NorthWestern Energy, the state’s largest public utility, is asking regulators to allow it to temporarily tap a credit for customers to help pay for an additional $18 million associated with buying more of the Colstrip plant. (Daily Montanan)

Oct. 2, 2025 The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that more than $1.8 million in grant funding has been awarded to six Montana communities to support vital public safety and development projects in coal-impacted areas. The funding was allocated to these communities by the Montana Coal Board. (Commerce MT)

Oct 3rd 2025 The Montana Department of Transportation is beginning a federally-mandated process of updating its freight plan, a report that includes transportation statistics and looks at shipping problem areas. The 2026 Freight Plan will update the 2022 plan to comply with federal regulations — it also opens up the state to more federal funding through the National Highway Freight Program. Montana was projected to receive more than $15 million through that program in fiscal year 2025, according to the Federal Highway Administration. (Daily Montanan)

Oct 3rd 2025 - On Sept. 29, Montana Environmental Information Center filed a lawsuit against the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, alleging that the state failed to properly consider and disclose the climate impacts and greenhouse gas emissions associated with Yellowstone County Generating Station (MTFP)

October 4, 2025 National Park Service sites contributed to about 9,293 jobs in Montana, about $408 million in labor income, added $675 million in value to the state’s economy, and contributed about $1.2 billion in economic output, according to the report. (NPS)

Oct 4, 2025 Longtime Belgrade community development director Jason Karp retiring (Montana Right Now)

Oct 4, 2025 Despite tough season, beans remain strong crop for eastern Montana. The harvest is expected to continue until the end of October, with yields averaging about 2,200 pounds per acre. (Terry Tribune). Learn more about USA Dry Pea, Lentil & Chickpea Production at agresearch.montana.edu

MDT News

From MDT News

9/29/2025 On October 1, House Bill 586 (HB 586) becomes effective, updating Montana’s Child Passenger Safety Law. HB 586 mandates the type of restraint a parent or caregiver must place a child in while in a motor vehicle. Children under the age of 2 must be placed in a rear-facing harness seat; children ages 2 to 4 in a rear-facing or forward-facing internal harness seat; and children 4 to 8 in a forward-facing internal harness or booster seat.

• 9/30/2025 US 2 Rose Crossing to Glacier Airport project pauses for winter

• 10/2/2025 Ronan improvements at US 93 with 3rd Ave, Old US 93 complete

• 10/3/2025 Bridge deck rehabilitations to occur near Big Timber and Columbus during the spring of 2026.

DNRC News

From dnrc.mt.gov/News/

• 9/30/2025 Public Notice Slocum Creek Timber Permit - Hamilton Unit

• 10/3/2025 Public Notice Union Timber Permit - Missoula Unit

Northern Rockies

Found this map site called Data Center Map plotting active data centers around the World, here’s a regional snapshot.

Wyoming’s Big Horn County has a unique problem on its hands—16 vintage aircraft in various states of disassembly, and no way to properly store or make use of them. So county officials turned to the internet and are now in the process of auctioning the airplanes to interested members of the public, some for as little as $25. (Flying Mag)

September 10th, 2025 - Boise - The Idaho Department of Lands has partnered with OroraTech USA to become the first in the nation to deploy a statewide satellite-based wildfire detection and monitoring system, giving dispatch centers and firefighters a powerful new tool to protect Idaho’s landscapes, communities, and economy. (Orora Tech)

Sep 30, 2025 BLM delivers on administration priorities. Here’s a look at what the BLM accomplished in just the first nine months. (BLM)

Have a great week!

Daniel Zavadil

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com

Hello and welcome to the 82nd edition of the Bozeman Build Report covering business and trade events happening in the Northern Rockies, glad to have you back! In todays edition we cover new wellness facilities, $250M Antimony mining contract, Montana migration flattens, Old Milwaukee Trail, rural hospitals, and much more.

Have a great one!

Daniel

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana Trade Pulse

Sep 12, 2025 A new $23 million-dollar wellness center is under construction in Livingston. The wellness center is expected to open in either winter 2026 or 2027. (Montana Right Now)

Sep 23, 2025 Benefis Health System Begins Construction On New Senior Living Community Sanavita Estates In Great Falls, Montana. The project, on a 42-acre property, will house 92 units total, including 28 freestanding villas and a 3-story building with 64 units. (Healthcare Design Mag)

Sep 24, 2025 Energy task force kicks off, governor calls for creativity, action. The task force, a group of 20 industry representatives, energy experts, large consumers, and legislators, asked how much more energy generation Montana needs, how much transmission capacity is available, and how to turn the page on “negative press” about data centers. (Daily Montanan)

Sep 24, 2025 The Helena Slim Chickens has closed permanently as of Sept. 24, 2025. There is no word on what officially led to the location's closure. (KTVH)

Sep 24, 2025 HELENA – This fall, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will break ground at Montana WILD on a new avian building that will modernize the care for FWP’s ambassador raptors and provide more educational opportunities for the public. (FWP)

September 24, 2025 UM Celebrates 2.3% Enrollment Growth, Record-High Retention. This fall, 11,064 students are enrolled at the University of Montana, marking the fifth consecutive year of enrollment growth at the University. Since 2021, UM has grown by more than 16%, adding 1,562 students to its overall headcount. (UMT)

Sep 24, 2025 Did you know that chimney swifts are among the fastest flyers in the bird world? They’ve been clocked at more than 60 miles per hour. They can also fly up to 500 miles per day while hunting insects, eating more than 1,000 flying insects a day and up to 12,000 when feeding their young. (FWP)

Sep 24, 2025 The only vendor to ever provide legalized sports gambling in Montana recently won the state’s contract after a successful bidding process in which it underbid it’s current contract as it inked a new deal for a seven-year term that could be extended to as long as 10. Intralot, a Greek-based sports betting and technology company, won the bid. (Daily Montanan)

Sep 24, 2025 Montana Technological University alumnus Kyle Haustveit has been confirmed as the 16th assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy (FE). The confirmation, announced September 18, 2025, places Haustveit at the helm of FE and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), where he will oversee a $5 billion research and development portfolio spanning coal, oil, natural gas, and critical minerals. His work will focus on advancing affordable, reliable energy solutions for the nation. (Montana Tech News)

Sep 24, 2025 U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced Bill Warden is appointed by President Donald Trump to serve as the USDA Rural Development State Director for the state of Montana. (USDA)

Sep 25, 2025 HELENA, Mont. — Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a 16-state investigation into major tech companies’ renewable energy claims, alleging Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Meta are misleading consumers about their environmental impact while contributing to electric grid reliability problems. In a 15-page letter sent Wednesday to executives at the four companies, Knudsen and his counterparts from 15 other states allege the tech giants use “environmental accounting gimmicks” to claim they operate on 100% renewable energy while actually relying heavily on fossil fuels. (Western MT News)

Sep 25, 2025 Sanders County based United States Antimony Corporation (USAC) was recently awarded a $245 million contract from the Department of Defense for the production of antimony to aid in the replenishment of the National Defense Stockpile that supports the U.S. military. The facility’s expansion is expected to be completed in January of next year. (KPAX)

Sep 26, 2025 MISSOULA — The City of Missoula will host its final public input session on proposed zoning changes that could reshape neighborhoods across the city, with a drop-in open house scheduled for October 9 from 4-7 p.m. at the Missoula County Floriculture Building at the Missoula County Fairgrounds. The city has set an aggressive schedule for final adoption: October 9: Final public open house. Early November: Release of complete Unified Development Code. December 22: Potential City Council adoption. (Western MT News)

New Columbus Town Pump

Was working near Columbus a few weeks ago and noticed a new Town Pump being constructed.

Yes, the rumors are true: the Columbus Town Pump will undergo a major expansion. And it will be ready by the end of 2025. Why? According to Bill McGladdery, Town Pump’s Director of Corporate Communications, the local Town Pump has “outgrown its current space.” And this new store building, he said, will be 18,500 square feet, which is practically double the size of the current Town Pump, which opened in 1978. (Stillwater County News)

Butte Old Milwaukee Trail

Went mountain biking this weekend on Buttes Milwaukee Road Rail-Trail (Thompson Park) up to Pipestone pass onto the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). The Old Milwaukee section crosses through 2 tunnels, over one tussle bridge, tracking up a 2% grade the entire climb, the single track on the CDT was immaculate. The tunnel photo below was the third tunnel which is gated off. Learn more about this trail section on Rails to Trails.

Montana migration has returned to normal pace

Found this Youtube video featuring Flathead Real Estate Broker Will Friedner explaining Montana’s current migration trends, he does a great job referencing his points with data.

Bozeman Trade Pulse

Sep 20, 2025 Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT) is seeking qualifications from firms to undertake a Design/Build contract for: BIKEFILL BIKE PARK The contract includes planning, design and construction to create a community bike park for riders of all ages and abilities on 66 acres of City property adjacent to Snowfill Recreation Area. (BDC Classifieds)

Sep 24, 2025 Third-Party Study Finds WARD’s Affordability Requirement Infeasible in Current Market. According to the study, a 30-unit single-family home market-rate development without affordability requirements could make a 10% profit in today’s market. With WARD in effect, that same development may lose $25,000 per home, for a total loss of 4%. The model also looked at a 90-unit apartment complex. According to the report, such developments are not currently feasible in today’s market without affordability requirements, and WARD increases the funding needed to make a profit by $2.6 million. (Bozeman News)

Sep 24, 2025 Core Facilities Day on Oct. 3 to highlight unique research tools at Montana State (MSU News)

Sep 25, 2025 NOTICE IS HEREBY given that the City of Belgrade, Montana, (hereafter “City”) is seeking proposals from firms to provide Design-Build Services for the Belgrade Justice Center (Remodel of Former Heck Elementary School) & City Hall (Remodel of Former Quaw Elementary School) project CM 25-01, located within the Belgrade, Montana city limits. (BDC Classifieds)

Sept. 26, 2025 Outdoor destination brand Gravity Haus opened its latest property in Big Sky, Montana, the Colorado-based hotel brand announced Thursday. The 29-room lifestyle hotel offers a taco restaurant, coffee shop, bar, fitness center and coworking space in the former River Rock Lodge, which Gravity Haus affiliates purchased from Big Sky’s Lone Mountain Land Company last year. (Hotel Dive)

Northern Rockies Misc

September 5, 2025 Low-level helicopter flights begin as soon as early September over the greater “Silver Valley” mineral district in Northeastern Idaho and Northwestern Montana to image geology using airborne geophysical technology. Surveying is expected to extend into late autumn of 2025; depending on weather, it may continue in the spring and summer of 2026. (USGS)

Sep 24, 2025 Washington state’s 25-27 budget is now negative by $421 million. According to the state’s September Revenue Forecast, projected revenues have been reduced by more than $400 million, resulting in a budget deficit. This news follows lawmakers enacting the largest tax increase in state history earlier this year (by more than $9 billion). One of the major components of that tax increase (sales tax on digital ads) is currently being challenged by Comcast for violating the federal Internet Tax Freedom Act. (Everett Post)

September 26, 2025 Sublette County (Pinedale, WY) celebrated the grand opening of its first hospital Thursday, nearly 100 years after the idea was first brought up. Now, hospital officials have another challenge — keeping it open. (Cowboy State Daily)

September 25, 2025 The U.S. Geological Survey has awarded nearly $3 million in cooperative agreements to state geological surveys to study critical minerals in the materials left over from mining at active and legacy sites. (USGS)

Weather

Temps to drop this weekend across the Northwest Region. Enjoy the sunny clear weather while its here!

CPC NOAA

Another Fall Foliage update, next weeks cold weather will push most most high elevation trees past their peak.

explorefall.com/

Thank you for reading have a fantastic week 🙂

Daniel Zavadil

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com

Hello and welcome back to the Bozeman Build Report covering business and trade events occurring around the Northern Rockies, its great to have you here! Today in the 81st edition we will cover new ag and manufacturing reports, film festivals, salting the roads, Sage grouse, “snowbows”, energy exports get the green light, the Canadian US boycott, and much more!

A mural of old town Laurel

Have a sweet week!

Daniel

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana Trade Pulse

September 2025 USDA Montana Newsletter (USDA)

Sep 3, 2025 Montana’s Labor Paradox: Record Jobs, Missing Workers, and the Crises Behind the Gap (Western Montana News)

September 3, 2025 Progress being made in the new Philipsburg Skatepark (Philipsburg Skatepark). Evergreen Skateparks of Portland, OR is the GC. They have raised $248,702 of the $300,000 goal so far.

Sep 15, 2025 Demolition expected this week at Butte mall as new owner redesigns plaza (KBZK)

Sep 15, 2025 Harlequin Organic Produce is on a mission to bring some southwestern spice up north. The farm roasts chile peppers for customers online and in the Missoula and Jocko Valleys. (Montana Ag Network)

Sep 16, 2025 Great Falls Development Alliance unveils three-year economic growth strategy (Grow Great Falls)

Sep 17, 2025 MDA Requesting Hemp Research & Development Proposals (AGR)

Sep 17, 2025 Montana Pulse Crop Committee Seeking Research Proposals (AGR)

Sep 17, 2025 The Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) announced today its Montanans at Work statewide tour, offering a unique opportunity for local employers, workforce professionals, and community members to connect with DLI experts and resources as part of Governor Greg Gianforte’s 406 JOBS initiative. (MT DLI)

Sep 17, 2025 When the Montana Legislature passed House Bill 328 earlier this year, it expanded hunting privileges for Montana residents 75 years of age and older. (FWP)

Sep 18 , 2025 2025 Fourth Quarter Oil & Gas Lease Sale – Notice 2 (DNRC)

Sep 18 , 2025 A federal judge has directed the U.S. Department of the Interior and an irrigation corporation to stop diverting water from the Upper Clark Fork River near Deer Lodge to prevent harm to endangered bull trout. (Daily Montanan)

September 18, 2025 September 2025 Montana Manufacturing News (MMEC)

Sep 19 , 2025 A film festival geared toward showing “uplifting” movies and shorts is coming to Big Sky this weekend. It’s the first year for the Lone Peak Film Festival in Big Sky, which will have six feature films and 16 shorts. The event will also include a mentorship program for local Native American filmmakers. (Daily Montanan)

Sep 19 , 2025 Montana Technological University will celebrate the 125th anniversary of its Mining Engineering program with a three-day series of events September 25–27, 2025. The celebration, themed “From Butte to Beyond: 125 Years of Mining Engineering at Montana Tech,” will honor the program’s long legacy of shaping industry leaders and innovators who have contributed to projects around the world. (Mtech)

MDT News

Last weeks announcements from mdtnews.mt.gov/news/

• I-90 ramp closures between Bozeman and Livingston during improvements

• Safety improvements proposed for US 93 & Woodside Cutoff Rd

• Proposed resurfacing on I-90 from Crow Agency to Garryowen

• Proposed chip seal on I-90 southeast of Dunmore

• Walk to School Day Returns to Montana on October 8th: Let’s Put Safety First

• Big Hole River Bridge adoption notice

Preparation for Winter

A stockpile of traction sand in a MDT Yard somewhere in Montana. “Sand doesn't melt ice. It is applied to provide temporary traction during a storm event. MDT also uses Magnesium and Sodium Chlorides. Magnesium chloride is a salt compound extracted primarily from the Great Salt Lake, with added corrosion inhibitors, used to prevent or remove the buildup of ice and snow on the road. The effective working temperature for magnesium chloride is above 10 F on the road surface.” (MDT)

Bozeman Trade Pulse

September 8, 2025 Bozeman, Montana – Gallatin County Montana is moving forward with the design and planning of a new composting facility at the Gallatin County Landfill, with annual capacity to process up to 25,000 tons of biosolids, food waste, yard waste and other organic waste streams. The Gallatin County composting project is being led by Great West Engineering and recently went through a competitive tendering process to identify the best composting technology for Montana’s unique climate challenges. (Composting Technologies)

September 16, 2025 17,165 students to enroll at MSU this fall. That headcount is up from last fall’s total, which was itself a record at 17,144. Montana State is the largest university in the four-state region that includes Wyoming and the Dakotas. (MSU News)

September 17 2025 Initial Proposal Bear Canyon Fuels Reduction Project (DNRC)

Sep 17, 2025 Montana State University is leveraging its breakthrough into federal defense research to bring broader opportunities to Montana’s innovation community, hosting a regional event next week that connects local businesses and startups with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. MSU will host a DARPAConnect Regional Pop-Up on Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Strand Union Building. The event represents a significant step forward for the university, which landed its first DARPA contract just six weeks ago with a $780,000 cybersecurity research award. (Western MT)

Sep 18, 2025 Manhattan firewood company loses more than half its inventory in fire. If you’ve ever gotten firewood from a Town Pump, KOA, or local campground, that wood likely came from S & D Firewood. Based in Manhattan, S & D has been keeping folks warm for more than 30 years. Just how much wood are they producing each season? “About 4,000 cords of firewood. And then bundles — 3,000 pallets’ worth, and there are 72 bundles on a pallet. So, a lot,” said Kristy Thompson. (KBZK)

Sep 19, 2025 Montana State breaks ground for new campus hotel. The building itself will be 123,000 square feet, with 138 rooms 5,300 square feet of meeting space, Byrne said. Situated on South 7th Avenue, the building will have a rooftop restaurant, a fitness studio, outdoor dining and a cafe. (Bozeman Daily Chronicle)

Montana Fresh Hop Fest

Come enjoy a harvest festival featuring delicious fresh hopped styles of beer from 35+ Montana breweries at the Gallatin County Fair Grounds Oct 19: 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM. General Admission is $25.

Parade of Homes

The Bozeman Real Estate Group along with SWMBIA are hosting the annual Parade of Homes on October 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Buy Tickets HERE.

Northern Rockies Misc

September 4, 2025 CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Sage grouse lek attendance numbers across the state this mating season reached a seven-year high, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department announced. This year saw particularly robust mating efforts as the result of natural cycles and plenty of spring moisture. (Cap City)

September 15, 2025 An event at Buffalo High School Tuesday is designed to get sophomores and juniors to stay on The Right Road, by experiencing consequences from choices most kids will face during their high school years. She explained that, “between 1:30 and 2:30 there will be police, ambulance, fire and LifeFlight helicopter responders. This is a staged event for instruction. We don’t want the community to get unduly alarmed if they see hoards of first-responders at BHS or stumble over the crash scene itself in the afternoon.” This is the seventh year the event has happened at BHS, and over 90 community volunteers and 200 students are expected to participate. (Sheridan Media)

Sep 17, 2025 The Bureau of Land Management leased 32 parcels totaling 39,225 acres in Wyoming for $8,450,944 in total receipts for its quarterly oil and gas lease sale. This lease sale was conducted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which resets the royalty rate for new federal onshore oil and gas production to a minimum of 12.5%, reversing the 16.67% rate set by the Inflation Reduction Act. By lowering the federal onshore royalty rate from 16.67% to 12.5%, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reduces the cost of doing business on public lands, making oil and gas development more economically attractive to industry.

September 17, 2025 Meteorologists say snowbows are a rarity, like the one that appeared during a Monday evening snowstorm at Brooks Lake Lodge near Dubois. What's even more rare is to actually photograph one. "They're hard to catch," said meteorologist Celia Hensley. (Cowboy State Daily)

(Courtesy Sara Mills Photography)

September 18, 2025 The California Supreme Court on Wednesday effectively ended a decade-long legal battle over shipping coal out of the Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal. The decision clears a path for potential Wyoming coal exports. (Cowboy State Daily)

Sept. 18, 2025 Bechtel gets green light on $6.7B LNG project. The Rio Grande LNG Facility was stalled after an appeals court nixed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s authorization last year. (Construction Dive)

Sep. 18, 2025 Seven wind turbines that were heralded 25 years ago as harbingers of New York state’s green energy future were demolished Wednesday in Madison County. (Syracuse)

September 20, 2025 Wyoming Pathways has brought $2.5 million in trail investments into Wyoming since the organization’s inception in 2017. They’ve worked on a variety of projects across the state, and one of the most exciting is a recent rehabilitation and reroute of the Togwotee Pass section of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). (Single Tracks)

September 21, 2025 Laramie County fire crews have cleared the scene of a train derailment and explosive fire west of Cheyenne early Sunday that authorities called “significant and dangerous." The fireball was seen 60 miles away in Colorado. “The incident involved a Union Pacific Railroad train and a ruptured natural gas pipeline,” the report says. “The ruptured pipeline ignited in close proximity to rail cars carrying hazardous materials, placing responders and the surrounding area at a heightened risk.” (Cowboy State Daily)

Jet Fuel Pipeline

Over the weekend, I caught up with a collage friend who grew up on a farm in Western Kansas, he mentioned that a company was adding a second pipeline under their property. This second pipeline managed by ONEOK is constructing a new 230-mile, 16-inch diameter pipeline from Scott City, Kansas, to Denver International Airport (DIA). Further, it includes the upgrading of certain pump stations along the existing refined products pipeline system. Total system capacity will increase by 35,000 barrels per day (bpd) and will have additional expansion capabilities. The project is expected to cost approximately $480 million and be completed in mid-2026. (ONEOK)

2025 Canadian boycott of the United States

In the context of the 2025 United States trade war with Canada and Mexico, a boycott of the United States began in Canada, including both American consumer products and travel to the US.

• The volume of Canadians taking road trips into the U.S.—the way most Canadians visit—dropped by 37% last month compared to July 2024, according to new data from Statistics Canada, following a 33% drop in June. (Forbes)

• California launched “Californians Love Canada” initiative, extending 15 percent to 25 percent discounts at nearly 950 hotels statewide. (Asian Hospitality)

• U.S. alcohol sales are virtually non-existent in large swaths of the country as most premiers hold firm on keeping those products off store shelves. Brown-Forman, the parent company of major U.S. alcohol brands like Jack Daniel's whisky and Woodford Reserve bourbon, reported in its recent quarterly earnings that sales to Canada have dropped by an eye-popping 62 per cent. (CBC)

• The pullback in Canadian travel is expected to most negatively impact cities such as Seattle (-26.9% fall in overnight international visitors expected in 2025), Portland (-18.3%), and Detroit (-17.3%). (Discover Kalispell)

• The table below shows how this is directly impacting Montana communities such as Kalispell and the Flathead region pointing out a 38% decrease in Canadian credit card transactions year over year.

Thank you for reading, let us know what you think!

Daniel Zavadil

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com

Welcome back to the 80th edition of the Bozeman Build Report covering business and trade events happening around Montana and the Northern Rockies, thanks for tuning back in!

Last week, we discovered a few film projects, a cantaloupe farm, lizards, a fall color foliage map, tanks, trail maintenance, legacy ranches being sold, and much more.

Best,

DZ

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana Trade Pulse

Sep 08, 2025 Two brothers Logan and Jordan Lefler from Arlee making documentary on Going-to-the-Sun Road (Journey to the Sun Film)

Sep 08, 2025 Big Sandy couple finds sweet success with cantaloupe farm - Pearson's Big Sandy Cantaloupe. (Montana Ag Network)

September 8, 2025 Manufacturing Success Story: Montana Truck Company strengthens in-house capabilities through training partnership. In the small town of Anaconda, Montana, Intercontinental Truck Body (ITB) manufactures high quality commercial transportation equipment for clients across the country and beyond. Founded in the mid-1970s, ITB started the business building truck bodies to haul grain. (MMEC)

September 09 2025 Montana Department of Labor & Industry Honors 2025 Governor’s Safety Achievement and Workers’ Compensation Award Winners (DLI)

Sep 10, 2025 Forbidden Fruit Orchard producing peaches in Paradise, MT.

Sep 10, 2025 FWP requests that hunters and other recreationists be on the lookout for greater short-horned lizards this fall (FWP)

Sep 10, 2025 KALISPELL - As the days grow cooler and darker, the forests undergo a colorful redesign with the transformation of autumn. Montana Fall Foliage Map 2025. (Explore Fall)

https://www.explorefall.com/states/montana

An Alaskan comparison

September 10 2025 Montana Department of Agriculture Confirms New Rush Skeletonweed Sites in Western Montana. Rush skeletonweed is already present in western Montana, but it is increasing along I-90 in Missoula and Mineral counties. This summer, significant new infestations have been found and treated in Ravalli, Missoula, Flathead, and Lincoln counties, primarily in rangeland, open forests, and other natural areas. It has never been found in small grain fields in the state, but in Australia rush skeletonweed has reduced crop yields by as much as 70 percent once established due to strong competition for nitrogen and water, making establishment prevention in central and eastern Montana even more critical. (AGR MT)

September 10, 2025 Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Wednesday he is launching a task force to provide recommendations and strategies for Montana to unleash American-made energy. The task force is charged with providing shot- and long-term recommendations and strategies for the state to increase the supply of affordable and reliable energy options. (Daily Montanan)

Montana Electric Power Generating Capacity by Fuel Type, 1970-2024 (Total MW Capacity)

September 11 2025 Sheehy, Cantwell fire legislation passes Senate unanimously. Bipartisan bill would add fire weather program at NOAA. According to the bill text, program priorities include creating an improved fire-weather model that includes variables important for firefighters to know. It also asks the agency to implement artificial intelligence and cloud computing when creating the program. There’s also an ask for “a rapidly deployable network of rain gauges for post-fire hazard monitoring,” the bill states. It’s asking for an appropriation of $118 million over the next five years, according to the bill text. (Daily Montanan)

September 12, 2025 Montana State announces 2025 EcoStar Pollution Prevention award winners (MSU News)

September 12, 2025 New episode of ‘Backroads of Montana’ to premiere Sept. 15 on Montana PBS (MSU News)

Sep 13, 2025 No. 5 Montana clawed back in the fourth quarter to take a thrilling 24-23 win over No. 16 North Dakota in front of a sold-out crowd of 26,492 fans at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula on Saturday.

Montana Department of Transportation News

Last weeks releases by MDT

• ADA upgrades project begins in Billings

• Upgrades for 11th and Prospect Ave in Helena

• Proposed pavement preservation project for Montana Avenu

Signs

Stopped by the full service sign shop at Billings Construction Supply to visit a cousin who manages the sign dept there. Neat operation!

Eastbound I-90 Tanks

Last week between Billings and Livingston I spotted a handful of tanks heading East on I-90. Here’s one parked in Park City, MT.

Bozeman Trade Pulse

Sep 03, 2025 Tutti Bene: New Italian Restaurant Open in Downtown Bozeman (Bozeman Real Estate Group)

September 5, 2025 The City of Bozeman hired Economic & Planning Systems (EPS) to prepare a population and housing forecast for the City of Bozeman and surrounding Gallatin County. The 20-year forecast scenarios use population, housing, and employment data to generate a projection. 2025-2045 BOZEMAN POPULATION AND HOUSING FORECAST

Sep 12, 2025 City of Bozeman has board vacancies for the following positions: (Bozeman Chronicle)

• Urban Parks and Forestry Board

• Economic Vitality Board

• Community Development Board

• Gallatin Valley MPO – Transportation Policy Coordinating Committee

• Fire Code Board of Appeals

Sep 12, 2025 The Montana State (MSU) Bobcats defeated the San Diego Toreros with a final score of 41-7 on Saturday, September 13, 2025. This marks the Bobcats' first win of the season. (MSU Bobcats)

Parade of Homes

The Bozeman Real Estate Group along with SWMBIA are hosting the annual Parade of Homes on October 3rd, 4th, and 5th. We have a great lineup of properties - including a historic 1899 home, two awesome remodels, a downtown penthouse, and several new builds from local builders. The best part is that we are donating 100% of the profits to a scholarship program through SWMBIA Cares that provides scholarships to students pursuing careers in the trades through Gallatin College. All the details are here: http://www.bozemanparadeofhomes.com/

Cowboy Limo

Found this on Reddit, quite impressive, King Series Pickup of Emery, SD fabs these things.

Goose Creek

Went biking up around Chestnut mountain over the weekend and peddled past some contracting work taking place on Goose Creek Trail. “Road crews will be working on both Goose Creek Road #1005 from Trail Creek Road to the Goose Creek Trailhead. Additionally, the crew will be working above the trailhead on Goose Creek Trail #439 and the eastern portion of Bear Canyon Trail #440 to improve the existing trail corridor. The project will recondition the road base, add improved surfacing, and install drainage and culverts. Brief delays or closures may be necessary for culvert replacements on Goose Creek Road. No other closures are expected at this time.” The road looked great, nice work to Triple L Excavation LLC of Stevensville, MT. (USDA)

Northern Rockies

September 06, 2025 Wave of Legacy Wyoming Ranches Are Hitting Market In Historic Land Shift (Cowboy State Daily)

September 08, 2025 Evanston-based nuclear manufacturer Black Mesa Advanced Fission says it's working with the U.S. Army to produce shipping container-sized reactors. They're designed to outperform the Army’s current diesel generators. (Cowboy State Daily)

Sept. 9, 2025 Hensel Phelps is adding another airport project to its portfolio — the city of Boise, Idaho, tapped the builder for its Concourse A and Terminal Improvements job. The contract carries a not-to-exceed price tag of $700 million for projects through 2029, according to a Sept. 3 news release. (Construction Dive)

September 12, 2025 Northwest states, tribes and environmental groups are moving to restart litigation against the federal government over its hydroelectric dam operations in the Columbia River Basin that have harmed endangered native fish species. (Montana State Daily)

September 14, 2025 The Burnett family has built a 6,200-cow mega dairy in Carpenter on Wyoming’s eastern plains that helps supply Pizza Hut’s cheese maker. The dairy says it’s pioneering innovations that could change the industry. (Cowboy State Daily)

September 14, 2025 Homes Destroyed In San Juan County Utah As Tornado Touches Down (Weather)

Thank you for reading and have yourself an awesome week!

Daniel Zavadil

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com

Happy September and welcome to the 79th edition of the Bozeman Build Report covering business and trade events happening in the Northern Rockies, thank you for reading as always! In todays edition we cover the Montana Heritage Center, rancher challenges, 4 day school weeks, hyrdrovacs, real estate dynamics in the front range, precious metals, and more.

Have a great day!

Daniel

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana Trade Pulse

Sept. 1, 2025 Montana Commissioner of Labor Sarah Swanson released today the 2025 Labor Day Report, highlighting the continued record growth in employment in Montana’s labor force and sustained improvement in wages for the fifth year in a row. (MT DLI)

Sep 01, 2025 Montana Heritage Center exhibits coming to life as construction continues There will be about 30,000 square feet of exhibits and will host a ribbon-cutting in early December and a grand opening in June of 2026. (KRTV)

September 03 2025 Agriculture Development Council to Meet September 2025 (AGR MT)

September 3, 2025 How ranchers in Montana's Blackfoot Valley are challenging the status quo amid existential threats (CBS News)

September 3, 2025 Atlantic Aviation has expanded its FBO network with the acquisition of Glacier Jet Center (GCI), the lone service provider at Montana’s Glacier Park International Airport (KGPI) for nearly half a century. The FBO has a 10,000-sq-ft terminal with a galley, eight-seat conference room, pilot lounge, flight-planning area, concierge, and crew cars. It is also adjacent to the airport’s U.S. customs facility. (AIN)

September 04 2025 2025 Third Quarter Oil & Gas Lease Sale - Sale Results (DNRC)

September 04 2025 Wildlife crossings are structures like underpasses or bridges built to protect animals and promote wildlife habitat connectivity while helping to reduce animal-vehicle conflicts. House Bill 855 sponsored by Representative Katie Zolnikov, R-Billings, establishes the Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) Wildlife Highway Crossings Account to fund construction of the crossings. House Bill 932, sponsored by Representative Ken Walsh, R-Twin Bridges, directs a portion of marijuana tax revenue to support the FWP wildlife crossing account. (State of Montana Newsroom)

September 04 2025 Montana's State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and State Historic Preservation Review Board will hold their tri-annual public meeting on September 18 at the Big Timber Carnegie Library. The Board will consider nominations for six historic properties across Montana: (News MT)

• Shy Brothers Mercantile, Ashland

• Goughnour Lumber Company Office, Livingston

• Carpenter Paper Company, Billings

• First Congregational Church, Billings

• Musselshell River Bridge, Golden Valley County

• Milk River Bridge, Phillips County

September 05 2025 MISSOULA, Mont. – Origin Health opened its Missoula Birth Center today and will celebrate with a “cord-cutting” ceremony in upcoming weeks. The center is built to offer a “serene, home-like environment for low-risk, low-intervention births.” (Montana Right Now)

September 07 2025 Grizzlies dispatch an up-for-it Central Washington, with UM pulling away in the second half to beat the Wildcats 42-17. Montana earned the win over CWU in front of 26,309 fans, a top ten all-time crowd at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. (Griz Athletics)

Bozeman Trade Pulse

Sep 05, 2025 New childcare center opens in Big Sky to address shortage. The center is open to the public and can accommodate up to 24 children, from six weeks to three years old. (KBZK)

September 2, 2025 Montana State faculty member Emily Tomayko studies impact of four-day school week on children. In 2005, the Montana Legislature passed a bill that changed school attendance requirements from 180 instruction days per school year to a minimum of 1,080 hours of student instruction per school year. The change allowed schools to explore alternative schedules, and 10 Montana school districts transitioned to a four-day week by the end of the 2006-2007 school year, according to a 2023 report commissioned by the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Since then, the number of Montana schools operating four-day school weeks has increased significantly. To date, 117 Montana districts, comprising 260 individual schools, have adopted a four-day schedule. Nationally, four-day school weeks are in place in more than 2,100 schools in 850 districts. (MSU News)

September 02 2025 Governor Greg Gianforte recently attended a ribbon cutting in Belgrade, welcoming Rivian as the first electric vehicle manufacturer to invest in Montana. (State of Montana Newsroom)

Sept. 6, 2025 South Dakota State stopped Montana State on a fourth-and-one in overtime to earn a 30-24 double-overtime win in MSU's Gold Rush home opener on Saturday. (MSU Bobcats)

Continued Construction on Campus

Active construction on Jones Hall project, Facilities Yard, Gianforte Hall, Grant Street renovation, many of these projects appear like they should be wrapped up in 2026. (Current MSU Construction Projects - MSU RMA). While looking into construction updates, I found that ARCGIS has a tool that documents weekly areal progress snapshots of construction progress which is super sweet.

A pump truck injecting concrete into Roberts Hall (College of Engineering)

Hydrovac Utility Work

Been seeing a handful of Hydrovac trucks for both the city and private contractors around town last week. These trucks are super efficient for cleaning sewer lines along with locating utilities. Stillwater Electric is based out in Kalispell, the city of Bozeman has their own truck(s), TLC also provides hydro excavation services.

Cross Cut New MTB Trails

Found this reposed by Montana Trail Builder Pete Costain with Terra Flow Trails. Check out SWMBA for more info.

Northern Rockies Misc

August 28, 2025 The Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office announced Thursday that an oil and gas lease sale is scheduled for December 3, 2025, to offer 86 oil and gas parcels totaling 79,169 acres in Wyoming. (Sheridan Media)

Aug. 28, 2025 Mortenson breaks ground on $300M North Dakota hospital. The 300,000-square-foot facility will provide 140 beds in a modern, trauma-informed care environment, according to the news release. It will replace the existing hospital, which has operated since 1885 in Jamestown, ND. (Construction Dive)

September 03, 2025 Uranium Energy Corp. has announced plans for a state-of-the-art uranium refining facility that would be the nation's largest. Wyoming is on the short list to be home to the processing complex. (Cowboy State Daily)

September 4, 2025 Pay to pedal: Lawmakers propose state parks mountain bike user fee. (Wyo File)

September 05, 2025 Shapeshifting Metal Gallium Could Transform Electronics, Boost Wyoming Mining (Cowboy State Daily)

Front Range Spec

I pulled four charts publicly available issued by the FRED or Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis focusing in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO. This area is near a 10 year high in inventory, sale price reduction, price, and days on market. If you pull up Zillow there are price reductions on many spec inventory listings, yes homes will still sell fast in certain neighborhoods, however the spec market might see further price declines but the declines noticed are nothing huge. I am not a real estate advisor, this is not financial advice, and we don’t know what were talking about.

Precious Metals on a Tear

Gold, Silver, and Platinum have gone wild Year to Date. Wonder if this will spur more mines to open/expand/rehire. Chart provided by (Trading Economics)

The Mission of the Sacred Heart

Located in Coeur d’Alene’s Old Mission State Park, the Mission of the Sacred Heart is the oldest building in Idaho. Also known locally as the Cataldo Mission, or Old Mission, the Mission of the Sacred Heart was built between 1850 – 1853 by Catholic missionaries and members of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the oldest mission building in the Pacific Northwest. (Intermountain Histories)

Thank you for reading,

Daniel Zavadil

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com

Hello happy Labor Day and welcome back to the 78th edition of the Bozeman Build Report covering business and trade news happening in the Northern Rockies!

In today’s edition we cover bank robberies, land access permission cards, upland and bow season starts, Montana fruits, Western false fronts, pipeline acquisitions, and much more.

Great moisture last week Bozeman receiving around 75/100s

Have a great week!

Daniel

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana Trade Pulse

Aug. 25, 2025 A new resource is now available for the public at content.commercemt.gov that provides photography and video assets for public use. Economic development organizations, destination marketing organizations, K-12 classrooms, universities, government agencies, non-profits and others are welcome to create an account and begin using these assets. (MT Commerce)

August 26, 2025 August 2025 Montana Manufacturing News (MMEC)

August 27, 2025 Montana’s Communications Advisory Commission on Monday approved spending more than $300 million to bring more residents high-speed internet, including millions for satellite connections to companies like Amazon and StarLink. The federal money for high-speed internet coverage is expected to expand to another 71,975 locations across the state. Department of Administration director Misty Ann Giles, a member of the council, said 32 grant applications had been selected. (Daily Montanan)

August 27, 2025 HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE The Economic Contribution of University of Montana Grizzly Athletics to Missoula County (UofM)

Aug 27, 2025 One person was arrested Wednesday following a bank robbery and police pursuit in Miles City, according to the Custer County Sheriff's Office. (KTVQ)

Aug 27, 2025 Twin Bridges fire camp mobilizes over 400 firefighters to battle Southwestern Montana wildfires. Northern Rockies incident management teams establish temporary "cities" to support firefighters battling the Cloudrest and Bivens Creek fires. (KBZK)

Aug 28, 2025 Montana Tech to host 2025 Energy and Critical Materials Summit from October 8–10, 2025 (Mtech)

Aug 28, 2025 Access Flathead Ridge Ranch private land with free permission card (FWP)

Aug 28, 2025 Montana Technological University has secured a $7.5 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish the Center for Energy Technologies (CET), a new research hub focused on energy systems. (MTech)

Aug 28, 2025 Missoula airport logs 18 straight months with passenger increases. The airport last year saw more than 1 million passengers for the first time, marking a nearly 12% increase over 2023. (KBZK)

Aug 29, 2025 This week marks season openers for upland game bird and archery (FWP)

August 29, 2025 Revamped Riverside facility opens to help address prison overcrowding. On Montana’s prison dashboard, the state’s Friday prison population was 3,419 of a capacity of 3,435. Montana State Prison, the state’s largest correctional facility, was about 100 inmates over capacity. Montana State Women’s Prison was eight inmates under capacity on Friday. (Daily Montanan)

Aug 29, 2025 Recent cooler temperatures will allow Hoot-owl fishing restrictions to be lifted, adjusted on several Montana rivers (FWP)

Montana Department of Transportation News

MDT News from last week

• Proposed resurfacing project on multiple routes in Anaconda

• Review period extended for US 93 Polson-Somers Corridor Study

• Proposed culvert repairs along I-90 between Columbus & Lodge Grass

• MDT Launches 2026 State Freight Plan Update

• Proposed resurfacing on Laurel Road

• MDT encourages Montanans to plan sober rides over Labor Day

Montana Fruits

Montana isnt necessary known for its fruit production except for the exception of berries, flathead cherries, and some orchards in the flathead. Yet, fruit still does grow here! This year in SW Montana, seems like all fruit trees and berry bushes have been fairing well due to above average moisture. The first photo is a 60 year old apple tree in the Madison Valley and the second photo is a raspberry bush found somewhere in the Beartooths.

It’s baling season

Seeing quite a few ranchers stack hay over the last couple of weeks.

Bozeman Trade Pulse

August 25, 2025 Big Sky Resort to Debut Kircliff, A Glass Summit Experience at 11,166 Feet (Big Sky Resort)

August 27, 2025 The Steer-A-Year program in Montana State University’s College of Agriculture will return for the 2025-26 academic year and is seeking donations of young cattle and feed. (MSU News)

Western false front architecture

Not super practical on new builds however it makes your building look bigger and its a great commemoration to the earliest building styles of the west.

Northern Rockies Misc

Aug 28 2025 Indy Pass announced today that 43 new resorts have signed on for the 2025/2026 season. These new resorts will be joined by 228 returning from last year, forming an unprecedented 271-resort coalition. (Indy Ski Pass)

August 29, 2025 Houston-based Harvest Midstream has signed a $1 billion deal to buy MPLX's extensive natural gas network across the Uinta and Green River basins. It’s the first major investment in Wyoming energy for the company and its billionaire owner, Jeff Hildebrand. The transaction includes about 1,500 miles of pipelines and processing facilities with a combined capacity of 845 million cubic feet per day across Wyoming, Utah and Colorado. The sale is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025. (Cowboy State Daily)

Regional HMI

Each month, the HMI depicts overall builder sentiment toward housing market conditions on a scale ranging between 0 and 100. A higher reading (>50) is an indication that the majority of builders feel confident about the current and near-term outlook for housing. Lower readings signify less optimism among builders. Here’s a look at how all the USA regions compare to each other Midwest having the strongest confidence and West having the least confidence.

Table 1: NAHB/Wells Fargo National and Regional HMI – August 2025 (NAHB)

I combined historical data from the West region from 2006-2025 to see how historical confidence stacks up finding that confidence started decreasing back in 2022 with escalated confidence deterioration seen this summer.

@ 5:25 Matt Reardon with Nutrien Ag talks about the source of last weeks moisture source, video only relevant if you’re a weather geek.

Thank you for reading,

Daniel Zavadil

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com

Hello and welcome to the 77th edition of the Bozeman Build Report covering business and trade events happening in the Northern Rockies!

Today we cover energy acquisitions, EquipmentShare opens in Helena, hydropower, Montana hotel prices, Kalispell visitor spend, Farmers Almanac, eating weeds, Gallatin county hotels, and more!

Make the most of it,

Daniel

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana Trade Pulse

August 19, 2025 Black Hills Corp. and NorthWestern Energy to Combine in All-Stock Merger to Create a Premier Regional Regulated Electric and Natural Gas Utility Company. The combined company will serve approximately 2.1 million customers across eight contiguous states -- Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. (BHE)

August 19, 2025 Puget Sound Energy announced on Tuesday that its Beaver Creek wind farm, a 248-megawatt wind project located on the high plains in Stillwater County is now fully operational. (Daily Montanan)

Aug 19, 2025 EquipmentShare, a technology and equipment-rental company, celebrated the opening of its Helena location on Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and donations to two nonprofits. EquipmentShare is one of the fastest-growing construction equipment solutions providers in the United States. They have 330 branches open nationwide, and aim to open another 600 locations in the coming years. (KRTV)

August 21 2025 Governor Greg Gianforte yesterday welcomed a new business investment in Montana’s growing semiconductor industry and cut the ribbon on Eshylon Scientific, a semiconductor manufacturing solutions company, in Bozeman. (State of Montana Newsroom)

August 22, 2025 Moonlight West to launch in Big Sky with four lifts planned. (Lift Blog)

August 21, 2025 FCC documents show some internet providers struggling to bring service to Montana (Daily Montanan)

August 22, 2025 Fishing was closed on the entire Big Hole and Jefferson Rivers due to low stream flows. The closure began at midnight on Aug. 23. The Jefferson River drought plan recommends a river-wide angling closure when stream flows fall below 280 cubic feet per second (cfs) at Twin Bridges. On the Big Hole, the drought plan triggers a river-wide angling closure when flows fall below certain thresholds. Streamflows fell below 100 cfs at Wise River and 150 cfs at Melrose, prompting the closure. (Drought Reporter UNL)

August 24th, 2025 Sunday, August 24 is National Hydropower Day. Nearly 35% of electricity for Northwestern Energy customers in Montana comes from hydropower. Northwestern Energy, Montana's largest utility, owns and operates 11 hydroelectric facilities across the state, including Hauser and Holter in Lewis and Clark County and five dams in Cascade County: Black Eagle, Cochrane, Morony, Ryan and Rainbow. (KRTV)

Montana Department of Transportation News

• I-15 Helena North work resumes; brief ramp closures anticipated

• Roadway resurfacing has begun on Dodson South Canal project

• Crews to begin striping activities on I-90 through August

• Public invited to open house for Lincoln – Applegate Intersection

• Montana Transportation Commission Meeting

• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

• Work on US 2 near Kalispell to pause for 30 to 45 days

Best Western Comps

Was interested in hotel rates across Montana. To keep things consistent - we set the date parameters to Aug 25-26 and compared Best Western only.

Flathead Economy

Discover Kalispell publishes these super cool monthly research updates covering market and tourism trends. In the June Report, I found a few things interesting..

• Glacier Park International Airport continued to post double-digit growth in passenger volume in June, with the total number of travelers coming to 128,970 – a 10.2% increase compared to one year prior. Year-To-Date (YTD), passenger volume totals 451,997 travelers, up a whopping 11.4% from last year

• These reports show the sources of spend (cities that card owners reside in)

• The seasonality of spend in this area

Where’s the money coming from?

Card spend by month

Indian Summer

Over dinner, a friend said “I think we are going to have an Indian Summer” an Indian summer is defined by wiki as a period of unseasonably warm, dry weather that sometimes occurs in autumn in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Several sources describe a true Indian summer as not occurring until after the first frost, or more specifically the first "killing frost".

She might be right, the 2025 Fall 2025 Weather Predictions From The Old Farmer’s Almanac is pointing towards a warm dry Autumn across the Rockies region, dry across the entire states. Don’t believe in the folklore of the Farmer’s Almanac? The National Weather Service is pointing at the same outcome.

With regards to 2025-2026 winter - The Almanac is calling for for a season of dramatic swings and widespread wintry weather." Unlike last year, which was a "calmer, gentler" season in most regions, this year's theme is: "chill, snow, repeat. - Difficult to tell at this point so sorry to get any Chionophiles hopes up.

Bozeman Trade Pulse

October 3rd-5th 2025 Bozeman Real Estate Group and SWMBIA will be co-hosting the 2025 Bozeman Parade of Homes. (Bozeman Real Estate Group)

August 23, 2025 Digger Days was hosted by Eagle Mount - Digger Days welcomes people from across the state and further offering them the opportunity to sit in the cab and operate the controls of the biggest, baddest construction equipment. (Eagle Mount)

Aug 19, 2025 Whistle Pig Korean in downtown Bozeman recently offered a two-day tasting event featuring purslane, a succulent, leafy plant that grows wild on many Montana farms and is often pulled as a weed. (Montana Ag Network)

Gallatin County Hotels

Gosh darn, developers have been building a ton of hotels around town which isn’t a bad thing, more competition drives prices down which will make it more affordable for visitors. Antidotally, it seems that overnight prices have already dropped significantly although i’m sure the price gouging will continue to occur during peak seasons and during cat griz like events.

I was trying to get a pulse on how many hotels are in the county, did some searching, and found the Bozeman Chamber listing 47 hotels in their search engine. Diving deeper the Bozeman Chronicle wrote an article about a year ago in September of 2024 called 'Room to grow': Hotel rooms in Bozeman area projected to double in five years “If you add in future projects in various stages of planning the Chamber is tracking, the number of hotel rooms in Bozeman could balloon from 2,535 today to 5,127 in the next five or six years. Taking Bozeman, Belgrade and Three Forks together, the number of rooms in the area could go from 2,936 today to 6,355.”

Below are a few hotels being constructed off Airway Blvd.

Northern Rockies Misc

The 85th Anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally wrapped up August 10th (Sturgis)

August 7th 2025 Denver International Airport is considering the deployment of a small modular reactor as part of goal of becoming "the greenest airport in the world and to be energy independent". (World Nuclear News)

Aug 20, 2025 SDSU lost $66 million in federal research funding but hopes to get it back (Black Hills Pioneer)

August 21, 2025 The 2025 Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium was hosted last week. (Kansas City Fed)

Apr 30, 2025 Around 122 new smaller, single-family homes are planned for north-central Cheyenne, with ground scheduled to be broken in about a month. (Wyoming News)

Thank you for reading,

Daniel Zavadil

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com

Hello and welcome to the 76th edition of the Bozeman Build Report covering business and trade events in the Northern Rockies!

Today we cover the Southgate mall ownership change, algal blooms, Flathead golf club proposal, 4% lodging taxes, McAllister Fire, mountain states employing the largest share of construction labor, rainbow trout, carbon credits, and more. Thanks for reading!

An old International Harvester LoadStar 1600

Enjoy,

Daniel

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana and Bozeman Trade Pulse

Montana trade pulse

August 2025 USDA Montana Newsletter

New Stories from Montana Logging Association logging.org/news

Aug 5, 2025 MISSOULA — Southgate Mall has changed ownership again, this time as part of a $443 million financing deal that includes three other regional malls in Colorado, Florida, and Kentucky. (Western MT News)

August 11, 2025 The Montana Public Service Commission will be scheduling a meeting soon to gather information on data centers following a series of recent announcements about new operations in the Treasure State. PSC President Brad Molnar said Monday the commission will call on NorthWestern Energy to participate in the public meeting — expected to be scheduled in the coming weeks and also address AI — and outline its current and potential plans to support data centers. (Daily Montanan)

Aug 12, 2025 Montana secured the 10th place ranking nationally in a new economic freedom index, reflecting the state’s significant tax relief measures and regulatory reforms that have positioned it as a leader for business startups. (Western MT News)

August 13 2025 Governor’s Office of Community Service announced that Montana has received $2,893,856 in funding from AmeriCorps. o five organizations to support 110 AmeriCorps members serving throughout the state. (Montana Department of Ag)

Aug 13, 2025 Huckleberry hounds - Juicy information for berry pickers (FWP)

Aug 13, 2025 Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, occur when colonies of algae — simple plants that live in the water — grow out of control and produce toxic or harmful effects on people. Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, are the most common type of algae that cause harm in freshwater lakes and rivers. These are naturally occurring in Montana and are safe in low densities. However, a harmful algal bloom of cyanobacteria can be toxic to humans and animals. (FWP)

August 14, 2025 For Aqua Creek Products, building pool lifts and aquatic access equipment isn’t just about manufacturing—it’s about opening the water to everyone. From their shop in Missoula, Montana, this family-owned company has spent more than two decades creating ways for people of all abilities to enjoy the freedom and health benefits of swimming and recreation. (Montana Manufacturing Extension)

August 14, 2025 Gov. Greg Gianforte continued his 56 County Tour in Yellowstone County on Thursday, celebrating the opening of Rodeo Billings at MetraPark, his office said in a news release. (Daily Montanan)

August 14, 2025 A proposal for a luxury private golf club that will include a 359 single-family home subdivision was proposed by “Flathead Friends, LLC,” or Discovery Land Company. A private marina is also included for Flathead Lake Club members, includes 36 boat slips. While the marina is included in the project, it is not part of the preliminary plat application. (Flathead Beacon)

August 15 2025 Montana DLI and Northern Cheyenne Tribe Celebrate Grand Opening of New Job Service Office in Lame Deer (DLI)

Montana 4% lodging Facility Use Tax Collections

Tourism and film promotion are funded through the 4% lodging facility use tax, commonly known as the bed tax. Enacted by the 1987 legislature, the bed tax is collected from guests of hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, guest ranches, resorts and campgrounds. The leap between 2021 and 2022 is wild which likely prompted many hotel developers to build many of these projects being completed in 2024 and 2025 similar riding the same wave as the apartment developers.

MT Data Portal

Bozeman trade pulse

Aug 12, 2025 What started as a small gardening experiment for Gae Bjorklund has grown into a thriving business supplying garlic to customers across the country. (KTVQ)

August 14, 2025 Quantum computing research facility launching at Montana State on Aug. 20 (MSU News)

Mass Timber

Similar to the Gianforte School of Computing at MSU, META (Facebook) is constructing an administrative building using mass timber at its Aiken, South Carolina data center campus and last year, Microsoft announced it would use CLT in a hybrid construction strategy to build a pair of lower emissions data centers, combining the durable wood with steel and concrete. (Construction Dive)

Pipe Rehabilitation

South Bozeman I noticed a plumbing contractor relining a few residents pipes that lead to the main. Many residents of East Bozeman will inevitably have main water, sewer, drain issues. Montana Plumbing Co was the contractor here.

McAllister Fire

Made a visit to the Ennis area this weekend and captured a few photos of some ranchers moving cattle off a plot effected and a photo of some equipment used to make fuel breaks.

Quite a few folks were moving cattle around

Equipment parked near the fire area to carve in fuel breaks.

Bobcat Athletics

MSU has completed a plethora of campus improvements over recent years and I didn’t even realize that MSU athletics has a master plan they developed back in 2017 that covers projects that haven’t broken ground yet including tennis/golf facility additions, Bobcat stadium seating and box expansions, along with some improvements to the Brick Breeden Field House which by the way is one of the largest clear span wooden domes in the world. Check out MSUs Athletic Master Plan if included!

Northern Rockies/ Misc

August 12, 2025 Retirees from Utah are moving to Evanston, Wyoming, because of low home prices, tax advantages, and plenty of recreation. One broker said home prices in Salt Lake City are nearly double that of Evanston. (Cowboy State Daily)

August 13, 2025 Wyoming water developers appear to be closing in on a land exchange between the state and the Medicine Bow National Forest to enable construction of a dam and reservoir above the Little Snake River Valley in Carbon County. (WyoFile)

Aug 13, 2025 All eight Mountain West states rank among the top 10 nationally for construction employment as a share of total jobs. Wyoming leads the nation at 11.0%, followed closely by Utah (9.5%), Idaho (9.3%), Montana (8.7%), Arizona (8.0%), Nevada (7.9%), New Mexico (7.9%), and Colorado (7.7%). This regional concentration reflects both strong construction demand and a significant dependence on the sector for employment.(The Observer)

The Observer

August 14, 2025 Taco John’s was born in Cheyenne and, for 56 years, was Wyoming-based with its headquarters here. Now the chain has said adios to Cheyenne, completing a move of its home base to Minnesota. (Cowboy State Daily)

August 15, 2025 Cheyenne’s Dyno Nobel Wants To Turn Explosives Waste Into Food Cooling Packs (Cowboy State Daily)

No more rainbows

Was chatting with someone who fished the south fork of the snake river below the Palisade Dam, to my surprise he mentioned that Idaho Fish and Game encourages anglers to cull any caught rainbow trout. “The South Fork Snake River supports one of the most important river populations of native Yellowstone cutthroat trout in Idaho, as well as other popular non-native trout including rainbow trout and brown trout. However, the future of Idaho’s state fish – the cutthroat trout – is uncertain. The South Fork’s famous cutthroat trout are declining from both hybridizing and competing with non-native rainbow trout. Anglers can help boost cutthroat trout numbers by harvesting rainbow trout they catch here.“ (Idaho Fish and Game)

Carbon Credits

Carbon credits has always seemed to be a crazy and hoaxish concept to me however this article was interesting because this new carbon capture technology might hold some merit and is projected to decrease costs significantly. According to the Nature Conservancy The average carbon footprint for a person in the United States is 16 tons per year.

At present, carbon-related ERW credits remain quite pricey, ranging from $300 to $400 a ton, according to carbon credit marketplace SuperCritical. Despite this, ERW firms remain bullish that if scaled, the price per credit has the potential to drop significantly, with some projections as low as $25 per ton.

ERW firms like Terradot mine silicate rock from quarries, which are then crushed to a powdery consistency (Kanoff likens it to “baby powder”) and spread over wide-ranging cropland. It removes CO2 through a chemical reaction, called carbonation, where CO2 trapped in rainwater reacts with carbonic acid in rocks containing silicate minerals, such as Basalt. When rainwater interacts with the rocks, the CO2 it carries mineralizes and is stored in a solid carbonate form. (Data Center Dynamics)

Thanks for reading,

Daniel Zavadil

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com

Hello and welcome to the 75th edition of the Bozeman Build Report covering Northern Rockies Trade and Business News, thanks for tuning back in! Today we covered a new $15m National Guard facility in Malta, Quantica Infrastructures Montana power development plans, Knife River summer snapshot, Montana home to the deepest caves in the States, $41/hr school bus driver wages, Microreactors being developed for Air Force Bases, solar clawbacks, yak herds, and Colorado trucking.

Enjoy,

Daniel

Fergusons new facility in Belgrade

Support the Bozeman Build by sponsoring an edition or by sharing your projects!

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana and Bozeman Trade Pulse

Montana trade pulse

July 23, 2025 Applied Materials celebrated the opening of its new facility in Heredia, Costa Rica. The company’s first-ever operation in Latin America, the new site is part of a strategy to expand the global footprint of critical functions that support Applied’s core semiconductor business. (Applied Materials)

Jul 31, 2025 A significant investment is underway in Malta as the Montana National Guard breaks ground on a new $14.6 million vehicle maintenance shop. The facility aims to enhance the Guard's readiness across Montana. (Montana Right Now)

Aug 4, 2025 A platform launched by Quantica Infrastructure LLC plans to develop a 5,000-acre energy, real estate and telecommunications campus in Montana that will be powered by up to 1 GW of renewables and batteries. The development platform called Big Sky Digital Infrastructure LLC (BSDI) intends to realise the project outside Billings, starting with an initial 500 MW of new renewable power and energy storage. The site will be connected to hundreds of miles of new fibre-ready underground conduit. Construction work on the campus is set to begin next year. (Renewables Now)

Aug 5, 2025 Knife River: Second-quarter results ‘below expectations’ Knife River says above-average precipitation in the quarter impacted its ability to get into the field while delaying projects in much of its footprint – particularly in the Central, Mountain and Energy Services segments. In the Mountain segment, Knife River had rain on nearly 40 percent of the second quarter’s workdays in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Billings, Montana. A $1.3 billion backlog gives Knife River reason for optimism. The backlog is nearly 30 percent higher than the same period last year. (Pit and Quarry)

Aug 06, 2025 Two families in the Flathead Valley have come together to create a blueberry patch just west of Kalispell. (KTVQ)

Aug 6, 2025 Some mussels are good mussels, and not just the kind you eat. Giant floaters, fatmuckets and western pearlshells are all native mussels to Montana waters. These natives contribute to their ecosystem by filtering water, removing toxins and reducing sediment. They also provide food for other native species like fish, birds, muskrats and otters. (FWP)

August 6, 2025 The federal government this week announced the approval of a massive expansion for the Westmoreland Rosebud Mine in southeast Montana, which supplies coal to Colstrip, the state’s largest coal-fired power plant. Under the modified mining plan approved by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement on Monday, Westmoreland will be authorized to extract approximately 33.75 million tons of federal coal, and an additional 37 million tons of privately-owned coal, across more than 4,200 acres of surface land. (Daily Montanan)

Aug 8, 2025 Exxon Mobil cleared to put in test well to assess viability of Snowy River carbon sequestration project (MFP)

Aug 8, 2025 Missoula voters to decide on $1.8M infrastructure levy (Montana Right Now)

Montana calls itself home to the first and now second deepest cave in the continental United States. A team discovered Bobsled Cave in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, and it’s now officially determined to be the second deepest cave. (FWP) and (ThePulp)

August 2025 Montanans for Hire? An Examination of the Non-Working Population in Montana (Montana DLI)

DNRC News

From DNRC News & Events Page

• 8/4/2025 2025 Third Quarter Oil & Gas Lease Sale – Notice 3

• 8/5/2025 Initial Proposal Cyclomoose Forest Management Project

Bozeman trade pulse

Aug 06, 2025 Bozeman schools in need of bus drivers as new school year approaches. The company needs 12 new staff members to transport nearly 2,100 students and will train applicants who don't have commercial driver's licenses. The company is offering $41 an hour for new bus drivers. (KBZK)

Aug. 07, 2025 Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. reported record results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025. Record-setting revenue of $30.8 million, more than double last year’s Q2 revenue of $13.0 million. (Bridger Aerospace Press)

August 7, 2025 BOZEMAN — Montana State University researchers working to improve cybersecurity have won a major contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency that aims to automate threat assessment. (MSU News)

August 7, 2025 Aperture Global Real Estate expands into Big Sky Montana. Agents joining Aperture in Montana recorded more than $500 million in 2024 sales. Spearheading the Montana launch is agent Martha Johnson, who recorded more than $346 million in 2024 closed sales. (Housing Wire)

August 8, 2025 Montana State to hold grand opening of new indoor athletic facility Aug. 18 (MSU News)

Northern Rockies

Aug 2, 2025 A powerful storm tore through Cheyenne and surrounding areas Friday afternoon, resulting in baseball-size hail and funnel clouds and causing widespread damage to vehicles, homes and trees. (Wyoming Tribune)

August 05, 2025 Kids On Speeding E-Bikes Making Jackson ‘Like A Literal Highway’ (Cowboy State Daily)

August 07, 2025 Microreactor manufacturer Radiant has signed a deal to mass-produce portable microreactors to power U.S. Air Force bases and promote energy independence. The company wants to make them in Natrona County, Wyoming. (Cowboy State Daily)

Aug. 7, 2025 A 916,000-acre cattle ranch in Wyoming—complete with a nine-bedroom lodge—hit the market Wednesday for $79.5 million. (Mansion Global)

August 10, 2025 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is drafting termination letters that would claw back $7 billion in Solar for All funding nationwide, including about $30 million designated for Wyoming. (Cowboy State Daily)

July 15, 2025 UW Researcher Receives NSF Grant to Protect Nuclear Reactors from Seismic Activity (UWYO)

Even though public land sales was removed from the Big Beautiful Bill in June, onX and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership unveil a first-of-its-kind interactive map showing 6 million acres of Bureau of Land Management lands identified for potential sale across 17 Western states. (Onx Maps)

Regionally Unique Herds

Last week, I was catching up with extended family in SW Colorado, on the way down we drove through Southpark/Fairplay Colorado situated 9,953 feet above sea level (its always cold and windy in that valley). Apparently, a popular animal to raise in that cold high valley is a yak. Ranchers including Pettee Ranch and PBJ Cattle are raising yak. Reminds me alot of the Helle Rambouillet sheep ranch near Dillon Montana taking advantage of their high grazing lands also known as duckworthco.com.

Colorado Unique Trucking Contracts

Family Owned D.G. Coleman of Commerce City Colorado, as of 2020 has a contract with Nestlé to transport water for its Arrowhead brand spring water. Nestlé has established easements with two spring properties located along the Arkansas river in Chaffee County Colorado where D.G. hauls 25 loaded trucks per day 135 miles to Denver to be bottled. (Heart of the Rockies Radio) D.G. also runs around 100 trucks per day from Fairplay to Denver hauling rock from old dredge tailings to Denver to and from Brannan Pits. (Kenworth)

Thank you for reading and have a great week,

Daniel Zavadil

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com

Hello and welcome back to the 74th edition of the Bozeman Build Report covering Montana and Northern Rockies Trade and Business News. Today, we mention data centers, UFP Edge layoffs, new Intermountain Health supply facility announced, protecting brain data, a $250M oil recovery plan moving forward, and more. Thanks for tuning in!

Enjoy,

DZ

Support the Bozeman Build by sponsoring an edition or by sharing your projects!

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana and Bozeman Trade Pulse

Montana trade pulse

July 28, 2025 Reintroduced Wolves Are Helping Baby Aspen Trees Flourish in Northern Yellowstone for the First Time in 80 Years, Study Suggests. The apex predators, restored to the park in 1995, appear to be keeping the local population of plant-eating elk in check, which allows aspen saplings to grow tall and healthy. (Smithsonian)

July 28, 2025 As Montana courts data centers and leaders mull ways to encourage artificial intelligence developments, lawmakers are looking into the state’s power generation capacity as part of the Energy and Technology Interim Committee. The committee met Monday to determine priorities and also heard concerns and comments about data centers and power load. (Daily Montanan)

July 28 2025 UFP Edge in Bonner, Montana laid off close to 100 workers last Monday (Reddit) UFP Edge Layoff Rapid Response Event (MT DLI)

July 28, 2025 Eastern Montana farmers needed for new Montana State pulse crop survey program (MSU News)

July 29, 2025 Intermountain Health celebrated the beginning of construction of its new Billings, Montana Consolidated Services Center with a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the future facility, located off Elysian Road, south of I-90. This new facility will be the first large medical supply warehouse of its kind in Montana. (Intermountain Health)

July 31, 2025 (BILLINGS, Mont.) – This week, 20 workers at Boise Cascade’s Billings walked off the job early Tuesday evening and went on strike demanding fair wage increases and improved health care benefits after months of stalled contract negotiations. (Teamster)

July 31, 2025 Four conservation groups sue to stop logging project near Whitefish. The lawsuit claims that the Cyclone Bill Logging Project, which is approximately 13 miles west of Whitefish, will cut and burn on more than 12,000 acres, which includes habitat of the Canada lynx and grizzly bears, both of which are protected by the Endangered Species Act. (Daily Interlake)

July 31, 2025 More states are passing laws to protect information generated by a person’s brain and nervous system as technology improves the ability to unlock the sensitive details of a person’s health, mental states, emotions, and cognitive functioning. Colorado, California, and Montana are among the states that have recently required safeguarding brain data collected by devices outside of medical settings. (Daily Montanan)

Jul 31, 2025 A rancher near Lewistown made a surprising discovery that could help scientists learn more about a mysterious time in dinosaur history. In 2017, Kevin Conners discovered part of a dinosaur tailbone on his property, and contacted the Museum of the Rockies to excavate and donate the bones. (KBZK)

August 1, 2025 NorthWestern Energy this week signed a letter of intent to provide 1,000 megawatts of energy to the Texas-based AI tech company Quantica Infrastructure. It will be used to power a data center the company is developing in Montana. Once built, it would be the largest data center in the state. (MTPR)

August 3, 2025 New fleet of planes – New machine expanding Missoula, Montana based Neptune Aviation’s manufacturing capabilities for aerial firefighting (MATR)

DNRC News

• 7/29/2025 Initial Proposal Banana Fire Timber Salvage (DNRC)

• 7/29/2025 Initial Proposal Baldy Buzzcut Timber Sale (DNRC)

Fish Wildlife & Parks News

• Jul 30, 2025 FWP, conservation partners seek original art submissions for Montana Big Game and Wildlife Highway Crossings License Plate Artwork Contest (FWP)

• Jul 30, 2025 FWP and partners work together to remove barriers to wildlife movement (FWP)

• Jul 31, 2025 New Sportsman’s Bridge Fishing Access Site opening on Flathead River (FWP)

MDT News

MDT News from last week

• Proposed improvements on US 191 south of Gallatin Gateway

• MDT to issue draft reports for US 93 Polson-Somers Corridor Study

• Proposed resurfacing on I-90 south of Garryowen

• Crews to begin resurfacing US 89 near White Sulphur Springs

• Kalispell Bypass project complete; bridge, shared-use path open

• Work on I-15 project in Wolf Creek is substantially complete

• Southbound closure begins August 4 on 6th Street SW

• MDT announces scope changes for US 93 projects

• Project rehabilitating MT 35 between Creston and Bigfork complete

• Construction to rehab I-90 between Bozeman and Livingston begins

Bozeman trade pulse

Jul 30, 2025 The new indoor practice facility at Montana State University — named the Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center — is just a few weeks away from its grand opening and unveiling to the public on MSU's campus. (KBZK)

Jul 31, 2025 Inside The Homestead at Buffalo Run: Bozeman’s New Residential Development. The project introduces 237 new multifamily homes. (Bozeman Real Estate Group)

Jul 31, 2025 A new affordable housing development called Rocky Mountain Flats has been proposed on Bozeman’s south side. The project is proposed to include 296 residential units across three buildings and would be located on a 10-acre parcel between Fowler Lane and South 31st Avenue. (Bozeman Real Estate Group)

August 1st 2025 Following the evening rainstorm on July 29, small landslides and deep erosion occurred across Bridger Bowl Mountain. (Bridger Bowl Instagram)

Wyoming

July 31, 2025 Wyoming legislators voted Wednesday to move forward with a $250 million plan to boost oil recovery using carbon dioxide injection. They also rejected a proposal for a regional CO2 pipeline compact with neighboring states and Canadian provinces. (Cowboy State Daily)

August 02, 2025 Record beef prices are reshaping the ranching landscape as aging ranchers weigh cashing out and selling off their herds. Others are holding on for another profitable year, creating the tightest ranch real estate market in decades. (Cowboy State Daily)

July 29, 2025 Casper-based DISA Technologies has made the first sale of its mineral separation system, which can handle 100 tons of ore an hour. In development for years, the proprietary system can extract minerals as well as be used to clean up abandoned uranium mines. (Cowboy State Daily)

Thanks for reading,

Daniel Zavadil

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com

Hi and welcome to the 73rd edition of the Bozeman Build talking Northern Rockies Business/Trade news along with some other goodies tossed in the mix, thanks again for reading and supporting the efforts.

Today we discuss Wilcoxon’s, cherry status, Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act, Crazy Mountain Ranch water fights, VACOM in Lewistown, prescribed burns, Buzz Warners new golf course, MSU built satellite, KelTec, a new Wyoming data center, road to Nebraska, and more.

Enjoy,

DZ

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana and Bozeman Trade Pulse

Montana trade pulse

BIG SKY TRUCK FEST August 15 & 16, 2025 - Rain Date August 17, 2025 @Yellowstone Dragstrip 8405 Raceway Lane Acton, MT 59002 (NHRDA)

I missed this earlier this June - Jun 05, 2025 but overheard from a guy at the gas station - Ownership Changes at Wilcoxson’s Ice Cream Celebrate Montana Heritage and Future Growth (Montana Independent)

July 22, 2025 - Full fishing closure takes effect Wednesday on section of Big Hole River (FWP)

Jul 23, 2025 Broadband Revolution: What the New Federal Guidelines Mean for Montana and Beyond (Western Montana News)

July 23, 2025 Federal scientists are launching an ambitious mapping project to hunt for what could be a mother lode of rare earth elements in Wyoming and the Black Hills. Low-flying aircraft with sensors will look hundreds of feet below the surface. (Cowboy State Daily)

Jul 24, 2025 Flathead Lake cherry harvest produces mixed crop, This year’s crop is a mixed bag as some orchards survived damaging winds and heavy rains to start July, while others weren’t so lucky. (KPAX)

July 24 2025 The IAA, announced July 15, 2025, lays out a joint vision for streamlining career and technical education (CTE) under Perkins V alongside Titles I, II, and III of Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) public workforce system funding. Thanks to forward thinking reforms signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte during the 2025 legislative session, Montana is already aligned and ready to lead. (MT DLI)

7/25/2025 Montana Invasive Species Council Hosts Quarterly Meeting in Trout Creek HELENA, Mont on July 29 at the Lakeside Hotel in Trout Creek. (DNRC)

Jul 25, 2025 FWP releases Bear Relocation Dashboard (FWP)

July 25, 2025 Zinke, Sheehy introduce legislation to increase fees on foreign visitors to national parks (Daily Montanan)

July 25, 2025 UM, RMEF Launch Unprecedented Center to Advance Hunting and Conservation (UM News)

Jul 25, 2025 Big Timber residents are speaking out after the recent announcement that the city would be selling 100,000 gallons per day to the Crazy Mountain Ranch to help irrigate its new golf course. (KBZK)

July 25, 2025 Zinke requests $25 million for western Montana projects (Missoulan)

Jul 25, 2025 Manufacturing company VACOM holds grand opening for first facility in Lewistown, Montana (MATR)

July 25, 2025 The U.S. Forest Service is moving forward with a plan to roughly double the acreage for prescribed burns across the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. The new forestwide plan would implement prescribed burns on roughly 40,000 acres annually through 2045. The goal is to reduce the amount of kindling that could feed a catastrophic wildfire in the future. (MTPR).

July 25, 2025 Counties in Montana will receive $46.5 million in federal payments this year to cover a lack of property tax revenue coming from federal lands. The payments are part of more than $644.8 million that will be distributed to 1,900 state and local governments this year. According to the Association of Montana Counties, this is the largest state payment in the PILT program’s history, a 7.5% increase over 2024. (Daily Montanan)

July 26, 2025 Buzz Warner, a former Wyoming Landowner, is close to opening his new golf course in Montana. It’s a monument to conservation that’s built around former owner Charles Kuralt’s infamous “Mistress Cabin.” near Twin Bridges (Cowboy State Daily)

MDT News

Last weeks MDT News Releases mdtnews.mt.gov/news/

• Roadway rehabilitation on 6th Street SW to require closures

• Construction to upgrade 7th Avenue North in Bozeman begins

• US 93 Kalispell intersections to be upgraded

• Sportsman’s Bridge replacement begins; open house scheduled

• Pavement preservation work to occur on US 93

• Construction update for MT 200 Shoulder & Slope Improvements

Bozeman trade pulse

July 22, 2025 A small but mighty satellite built at Montana State University is scheduled to head into orbit Wednesday, where it will spend at least six months collecting information about solar particles that escape Earth’s magnetic field and enter our atmosphere.. The Relativistic Electron Atmospheric Loss CubeSat, or REAL, is one of several scientific craft being deployed on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. (MSU News)

2 Jul 2025 RDO Trains Students in Machine Control engineering at Montana State University (MSU) (RDO)

July 23, 2025 We are thrilled to announce GVLT's fundraising campaign to build Bozeman's newest place for adventure: Bikefill Community Bike Park. (GVLT)

Jul 24, 2025 Community comes together: Belgrade vet receives new roof funded by Billings based based YellowBall Roof and Solar. (KBZK)

25360 Idaho Pole Company the Superfund site is north of Bozeman, is seeking to be annexed outside the city limits. Read more about the history of this site at the EPA

25296 Rocky Mountain Flats - 10 acres located at 5532 Fowler Lane - Site Plan This is an affordable housing project with 296 dwelling units using LIHTC funding (60% AMI or less).

Northern Rockies

July 21, 2025 The KelTec firearms factory in Rock Springs is up and running, producing unusual PR57 pistols the company hopes will grab a big share of the self-defense market. It aims to make 1,000 pistols a week. (Cowboy State Daily)

July 25, 2025 Crusoe this week announced a strategic partnership with Tallgrass to develop a 1.8GW AI data center campus located in southeast Wyoming. (Data Center Dynamics)

July 27, 2025 Steve Wallace grew up milking cows on a dairy farm, but now he’s milking Wyoming history for all it’s worth. The Casper man’s huge milk bottle collection traces 175 years of Wyoming’s rich dairy history. (Cowboy State Daily)

Trip to Nebraska

Last Thursday I traveled from Bozeman to Nebraska, here are a few things that were interesting along the way.

1.) Big things being transported in NorthEast SD.

July 22, 2025 Whoa: 385-Ft Long, 1.4 Million-Pound Superload Plodding Along I-80 On Wednesday (Cowboy State Daily) Not sure what this was parked on the side of Hwy 212 near Alzada, Montana.

2.) All the truck stops between Bozeman and Hardin were completely packed starting off the day.

3.) American Colloid Company and Bentonite Performance Minerals has a huge mining, refining, and transportation operation in Colony, Wyoming

3.) Belle Fourche, South Dakota is home to the Geographic Center of the Nation Monument. I thought it was in Kansas however I assume this is another center point.

4.) American Colloid Company and Bentonite Performance Minerals has a huge mining, refining, and transportation operation in Colony, Wyoming producing ALPHASIL® is a unique, specialized Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate (HSCAS) and foundry-grade bentonite and green sand molding materials for the metalcasting industry.

5.) As soon as you cross the SD boarder, the highway turned into concrete opposed to asphalt or chip seal.

Thanks for reading have a terrific week!

Daniel Zavadil

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com

Good morning, welcome back, and hello to new subscribers to the 72nd edition of the Bozeman Build Report covering Montana/Northern Rockies business and trade content. In this edition we covered teacher apprenticeship programs, giving locals access to priority hunting, State increased its loan incentives for MT wood producers, Whitehall gets new water infrastructure, Montana influencers, developments near water, Gallatin Valley Housing Report with interesting findings, busy weekend, and the Afton Star.

Enjoy,

DZ

Support the Bozeman Build by sponsoring an edition or by sharing your projects!

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana and Bozeman Trade Pulse

Montana trade pulse

Info map from a MFP article “Montana still has more cows than people, but the cows’ lead is narrowing”

July 2025 USDA Montana Newsletter was released last week (USDA)

July 2025 Montana Manufacturing News was released last week (MMEC)

• “ Additionally, we recently disbursed more than $38 million to ranchers who suffered grazing losses due to eligible drought or wildfire in 2023 and /or 2024. “

July 14 2025 Governor Gianforte, DLI Announces $4 Million Investment in Montana’s First Teacher Apprenticeship Program (State of Montana Newsroom)

Jul 14, 2025 The Best-Paying Construction Industry Professions in Montana (KULR8)

July 15 2025 Governor Greg Gianforte last week continued his 56 County Tour in Valley County and celebrated a new law that increases upland bird hunting opportunities for Montana residents. “Through the bill, we’re giving Montanans a 10-day head start for upland game bird hunting to encourage residents to enjoy our hunting season.” (State of Montana Newsroom)

Jul. 15, 2025 The Montana Department of Commerce Wood Products Revolving Loan Fund is now accepting new applications under revised guidelines adopted this month. The relaunch includes significant improvements to streamline access to capital, expand financing options and better support businesses in Montana’s wood products industry. (Commerce MT)

Jul 16, 2025 Fishing restrictions take effect Thursday on several rivers in southwest Montana (FWP)

Jul 16, 2025 Butte's historic steam plant gets $200,000 for structure-saving repairs (KXLF)

Jul 16, 2025 Seventeen horses and burros are available for adoption at the Hamilton training facility, with the online corral event happening through July 21. (BLM)

July 16, 2025 BLM Billings Field Office works with state agencies in Montana to conduct bat surveys (BLM)

July 17 2025 $2 million investment in a nearly-completed water treatment plant in Whitehall, one of many water and sewer infrastructure projects across the state. (State of Montana Newsroom)

July 18 2025 Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Director Charlie Brereton today announced the appointment of Dr. Daniel Bemporad as the interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Montana State Hospital (MSH). (DPHHS)

7/18/2025 Montana Maintains Near-Record Low Unemployment for Four Consecutive Years (State of Montana)

19 Jul 2025 Helix Exploration nears first helium production in Montana - ICYMI (Proactive Investors)

Montana YouTube Influencers

I was watching YouTube videos about a CAT 3406 engine (debatably one of the most reliable semi engines ever made) and noticed a Montana flag in the background of their shop and turns out this channel is Welker Farms based out of Shelby, Montana with 618K subscribers. On the note of Montana blue collar influencers, I also enjoy watching Meltin Metal Anthony with 109K subscribers, I believe he’s based around the Ennis area.

Love me some water access

Island Park 2004 - 2024

Canyon Ferry 2004 - 2024

Bozeman trade pulse

July 17, 2025 A Montana State University researcher is working to help transportation agencies and the U.S. military scan roadways and runways for potentially dangerous imperfections. “The hardware sensors are based on 3D laser triangulation principles to scan the pavement many thousands of times per second at highway speed to establish a 3D replica of the pavement surface. (MSU)

Jul 18, 2025 Chipotle opens new location by Gallatin High, more developments to come nearby (KBZK). This is Bozeman’s second Chipolte location, there is only one QDOBA.

Jul 18, 2025 The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and CK May Excavating plan to start chip seal work on Interstate 90 (I-90) the week of July 21, pending weather and other unforeseen factors. (KBZK)

Gallatin Valley Housing Report

I missed this back in April - my bad but I recall being super impressed with the 2022 and 2023 report. Here’s the link to the 2025 report published April 28, 2025 by the Gallatin Association of REALTORS - swmtrealtors.com/gallatin-valley-housing-report.

• There’s tons of sweet info in this study the more notable graphs were the Airport Activity on page 11 and the net migration declining to the rate of natural change. Increase in transients and decrease in locals here to stay?

• If the airport activity is true. Pre covid 2019 there was 63,000 monthly passengers. In 2025 there are appx 114,000 monthly passengers NEAR DOUBLE MONTHLY VOLUME over 6 years.

Bozeman 2004 vs 2024

Spanning from Love Lane to North 7th. Photos sourced from Google Earth.

Busy weekend debatably the busiest?

Discounting move in weekend or Cat Games. In between Music on Main, Music in the mountains PBR Big Sky, Big Sky State Fair, Googles Idea Retreat, it was really going on. I’m sure Whitefish/Kalispell felt busy as well hosting Under the Big Sky with some big country artists all in Montana at the same time.

Northern Rockies

July 19, 2025 Hoback Canyon in northwest Wyoming is notorious for being avalanche-prone. It’s been selected to get a new cutting-edge avalanche radar system that can detect potential slides 24/7 in any weather. That promises faster road closures and safety for drivers. (Cowboy State Daily)

July 20, 2025 Famous Sculptures Placed Around The World Come From Lander's Eagle Bronze (Cowboy State Daily)

Afton Wyoming Star

This star overlooking Star Valley or Lincoln County Wyoming got an overhaul in 2022. Building materials were transported up with a bulldozer, fabricated on site (steel), and has an LED strip running the top of the entire star. A bit more pronounced than painted rocks. See the Afton Star web cam here and star news article (SVI)

Thanks for reading,

Daniel Zavadil

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com

Howdy and welcome back to the 71’st edition of the Bozeman Build Report covering Montana business and trade news. In this weeks edition, we discuss copper prices, cow herd vs griz, PFL gets acquired, Montana-Alberta Tie Line, NAIP imagery, downtown Bozeman’s nonstop developments, Midwest Welding, Wyoming Rare Earth Metals, Jackson spillover to surrounding counties, and more!

Enjoy,

DZ

Support the Bozeman Build by sponsoring an edition or by sharing your projects!

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana and Bozeman Trade Pulse

Montana trade pulse

July 8, 2025 US Comex copper futures jump 12%, hit record high last week as President Donald Trump said he will announce a 50% tariff on copper on Tuesday, hoping to boost U.S. production of a metal critical to electric vehicles, military hardware, the power grid and many consumer goods. (Reuters) Now that’s a great addition to the already hyper inflated building material and electricity costs. On the flip side, this should benefit Montana copper producers such as Washington Companies Montana Resources and SandFire Resources Black Butte Copper Mine, wondering how long this will last or if this will actually go into effect.

Jul 08, 2025 A grizzly bear looking for trouble found itself outnumbered and outmatched on Sunday when a herd of Charolais cattle on a DeBruycker ranch property turned the tables and chased the predator out of the pasture. (Check the video out on the DeBruycker Charolais Ranch Facebook Page).

This family runs a breed of cattle called Charolais, a French breed known for their large size and white or creamy-white coat. Check them out at debruyckercharolais.com/

Jul 09, 2025 The Vomela Companies (of St Paul MN), a full-service provider of visual communications and specialty graphics, today announced the acquisition of PFL, a leading direct mail automation and printing company based in Livingston, Montana. (PRN Newswire)

July 10, 2025 Yellowstone, Glacier national parks on track for record years (Daily Montanan)

July 10, 2025 U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) led three of his Montana Republican colleagues in urging the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to address cross-border electricity trade between their home state and Alberta, Canada. The lawmakers are concerned about regulations impacting the Montana-Alberta Tie Line (MATL), which interconnects the electricity grids of Montana and Alberta, a province in Canada. The Alberta government and the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) have enacted rules and practices that the lawmakers say discriminate against Montana electricity exports. (Ripon Advance)

Jul 11, 2025 FWP releases Grizzly Bear Conflict Dashboard. Check out the dashboard here

Jul 11, 2025 Montana reviews insurance coverage practices amid wildfire risk complaints. As of 2024, the five largest homeowners’multiperil insurers in Montana by market share were State Farm Group (23.35%), Liberty Mutual (16.25%), Farmers Insurance (12.97%), USAA Group (8.3%), and Travelers Group (7.53%), according to data from BestLink. (Insurance Business Mag)

Jul 11, 2025 Federal Timber Goals Set to Double Montana’s Forest Harvest (Western MT News)

Jul 11, 2025 Dozens of Frenchtown residents packed the local fire hall to express concerns about a proposed Town Pump convenience store planned for construction just off the Frontage Road. (KPAX)

The 19th annual Butte 100 Mountain Bike Race takes place this Saturday July 19, 2025. (Butte100)

DNRC News

DNRC news released last week on dnrc.mt.gov/News/

• 7/8/2025 Governor’s Drought & Water Supply Advisory Committee Meets Jul 16

• 7/11/2025 Project Notification Chloride Timber Permit

• 7/11/2025 Montana Administrative Rulemaking - MAR No. 2025-91.1, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Bozeman trade pulse

Jul 09, 2025 You might notice when you take the roundabout on Oak Street, one of the exits is... well, a dead end. That all could change soon, with the potential expansion of Fowler Avenue. (KBZK)

July 9, 2025 Regional nonprofit Upper Missouri Waterkeeper filed a lawsuit June 27 against the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. The group is challenging the state’s recent approval of phase two of the Quarry subdivision in Big Sky. (Explore Big Sky)

June 13 2025 - Over the weekend there was a King Air Beechcraft performing NAIP Imagery of Gallatin and Park County areas , thanks to F_redit for the Reddit article for bringing awareness. I had no idea what NAIP imagery is and for those who care to know NAIP stands for National Agriculture Imagery Program, NAIP acquires digital ortho imagery during the agricultural growing seasons in the continental U.S. This imagery supports various agricultural programs, land use planning, conservation efforts, and disaster response. Check out Montanas Orthoimagery collection page at msl.mt.gov/geoinfo/data/Aerial_Photos/

Downtown BZN becoming too dense

On Jul 11, 2025 Bozeman Real Estate Group, wrote an article laying out the details for a 7-Story Mixed-Use Development Proposed in Midtown Bozeman, which made me realize wow, these apartment/hotel developments around the downtown area are non stop. The BRG post also mentioned a handful of other projects in the downtown area pipeline as follows:

• A 4-story hotel is under construction at 507 W. Main Street, the former site of the City Center Motor Inn.

• Missouri Heights, a 5-story mixed-use building at 703 W. Mendenhall, is in final review with the city.

• The Aspen 8 project, a 289-unit housing development behind the U-Haul building, has received preliminary approval.

• A building with 95 apartments at 811 W. Mendenhall has also been preliminarily approved.

• A 171-unit residential project along 7th Avenue near the intersection with Aspen Street is currently under construction.

• The Guthrie Building, a 4-story building with 91 units, located at North 5th and Villard, has received city approval.

Bozeman or Nashville, cant really tell the difference, why cant they start building this stuff in Butte instead!

No shortage of these “Development Action” signs in neighborhoods surrounding downtown BZN

Uhaul making their presence known

I wonder if they’re renting out space inside the Harvestore? This is Uhauls location off Jackrabbit.

Midwest Welding & Machine Bozeman

Midwest Welding & Machine invited the Bozeman Build over for a tour last week. Founded in 1944, Midwest originally operated in an old blacksmith shop on the corner of Rouse and Mendenhall, in 1972 they built their shop off North 7th and in 2024 the previous owner decided to retire and sold the company to an employee carrying on Midwest's culture and mission.

Throughout the years, as a fabrication and machine shop, Midwest has been awarded contracts with Big Sky Resort, DOD, Bridger Bowl, and Yellowstone to name a few. They have also diversified into Snowplow & Trailers, Air Compressors, and Powder Coating. They are an authorized dealer and servicer for Kaeser Compressors based in Coburg, Germany and Western Snowplow of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. If you haven't already, stop by and check them out sometime! If you would like to be spotlighted in Bozeman Build, let us know!

midwest-welding.com/ - Photo by bluecollarfilm.com

Northern Rockies

Jul 10, 2025 On Thursday a celebration was held at the Capitol for Wyoming's 135th Statehood Day, and the kickoff to the celebration of America's 250th. (WY News)

July 11, 2025 U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright was in Ranchester, Wyoming, on Friday for the ribbon cutting to open the first U.S. rare earth mine in 70 years. (Cowboy State Daily)

July 12, 2025 Teton County Search and Rescue had its busiest six months ever from December 2024 through May 31. They had more calls in this six-month stretch than the team used to get in an entire year. (Cowboy State Daily)

Modular a year after

About a year ago, the Bozeman Build #19 wrote about a Autovol modular project in Alpine Wyoming constructing a four story long stay hotel with 30 preassembled shoeboxes. The finished product is a Hawthorn Extended Stay by Wyndham, at the time of writing this, they were asking $329/night.

Teton County Wyoming Spillover

Populations have been creeping up in counties surrounding Teton County Wyoming (Jackson), especially Teton County Idaho and Lincoln County Wyoming. The growth numbers provided by the census aren’t super rampant however in the lens of a local it seems much busier. Lot prices in Teton County ID near Driggs are very comparable to those of Belgrade, MT.

• Lincoln Co Wyoming population in the year 2000 was 14,621 and grew to 20,880 in 2024.

• Teton Co Idaho population in the year 2000 was 6,100 and grew to 12,900 in 2024.

First Luxury condo development in Victor, ID

Several tiny home projects around

Thanks for reading,

Daniel Zavadil

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com

Welcome back and hope everyone had a fun safe Independence Day Weekend. Today in the 70th edition of the Bozeman Build, we cover the Indian Law Portal, renting goats to mitigate fire and weeds, raising park fees for foreigners, Northwestern Energy AI smoke detector, Summer Drought Outlook Study, Sheehy estate for sale, Jimmy Buffett, 4th of July Rodeos all over, Bozeman ranks the most expensive city to rent a car, emission detector satellite lost in space, Kemmerer powerplant in need of over 400 electricians, and LDS temples.

Afton, Wyoming TSC - Photo by Bluecollarfilm.com

Enjoy,

DZ

Support the Bozeman Build by sponsoring an edition or by sharing your projects!

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana and Bozeman Trade Pulse

Montana trade pulse

July 01 2025 The Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) announced today it will begin enforcing the Legal Employment and Government Accountability Law, a new state law that requires employers to verify the lawful employment status of all workers prior to hiring. (MT Dept of Labor and Industry)

July 2, 2025 Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Shultz on Monday formalized a shared forest management agreement the governor said was the first of its kind between the state and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Daily Montanan)

July 2, 2025 The Margery Hunter Brown Indian Law Clinic at the University of Montana has embarked on an ambitious project to create the Indian Law Portal – a comprehensive digital archive of legal documents from each of Montana’s tribal nations. (UMT News)

July 3, 2025 The updated property valuations that will be used to calculate this fall’s property tax bills are en route to homeowners and other Montana property owners, the state Department of Revenue said this week. (Daily Interlake)

July 3rd 2025 Ohana Goats LLC, based near Baker, is using its herd to help prevent the spread of wildfires and invasive weeds in an eco-friendly way. The company, owned by J.K. Kinsey, travels throughout Montana and beyond to provide its unique services. (NBC MT)

July 3, 2025 President Trump signed an executive order Thursday calling on the national park system to charge higher entry fees for foreign visitors. (CBS)

Jul 4, 2025 Northwestern Energy has begun installing smoke detector cameras throughout their service area in Montana. These cameras aim to identify wildfires as soon as they ignite, using advanced AI technology. (Montana Right Now) The smoke detection camera feed is open to the public and has surprisingly high quality image quality, check it out here.

DNRC and FWP News

Montana Drought Outlook Report Summer 2025 is available

July 02 2025 DNRC Modifies Recreational Use on State Trust Land Near Logan (DNRC)

Jul 2, 2025 Biologists with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks are working in the Little Belt Mountains of central Montana this summer on research designed to estimate the abundance and density of black bears in the area. The study is the third year of a multi-year project to help FWP gain a better understanding of black bear populations in different regions of Montana. (FWP)

July 03 2025 Initial Proposal Checkerboard Timber Permit (DNRC)

Sen. Sheehy lists Flathead Lake estate for $10.25 million

U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy's seven-acre estate on Flathead Lake is now on the market for over $10 million. Check out the Zillow Listing 

Jimmy Buffett Montana Ties

I never put this together until someone from Livingston mentioned that Jimmy had a handful of songs inspired by Montana especially since his sister Laurie married Tom McGuane who resided in Paradise Valley. Some of Buffets Montana inspired songs are Ringling, Ringling, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Livingston Saturday Night, Miss You So Badly, and Come Monday. Song list and Jimmy facts from 94.9 KYSS FM article.

This aint my 4th Rodeo

Many rodeos that take place throughout the State of Montana over the 4th weekend, here’s a list of some sourced from Destination Montana /Rodeos.

• Bigfork Rodeo - July 5-8, 2025

• Brash Rodeo Series - Columbia Falls July 3 and throughout the summer

• Drummond Rodeo - July 6, 2025

• Ennis NRA Rodeo - July 3rd & 4th 2025

• Harlowton Rodeo - July 2-3, 2025

• Livingston Roundup Rodeo July 1 - 4 2025 -The Livingston Roundup Rodeo has been a tradition since 1925 and continues that tradition with some of the finest rodeo action that the West has to offer, and some of the best rough stock in the country.

• Home of Champions Rodeo Red Lodge July 1-4, 2025

Bozeman trade pulse

4th of July Thunderhead approaching Gallatin Valley dropping hail and ¼ inch in places.

June 20, 2025 Bozeman, Montana is the most expensive destination in the United States to rent a car this summer (CheapCarRental.com/Survey)

The survey compared rental car rates at 100 U.S. airports during the period from June to August 2025. At an average of $156 per day for the most affordable rental car, Montana's Bozeman Yellowstone leads the rankings. Prices shown reflect average rates for the most affordable rental car for the period June 1- August 31, 2025. Bozeman (BZN) $156, Anchorage (ANC) $154, Portland (PWM) $131, Boston (BOS) $112, and Spokane (GEG) $108. The least expensive was Tampa Tampa (TPA) at $40.

Bozeman Planning updates from last week

The Northern SDP - New 7-story, mixed-use mid-rise multi-family building with 81 units, ground floor commercial and structured parking below at the NE corner of N 7th Ave and W Mendenhall St. (Bozeman Planning 25234)

Develop site for Church of Christ and associated parking area - Ellis Street, west of Haggerty Lane Intersection (Bozeman Planning 25144)

Bozeman Sports Park Ph 2 - Site plan for Phase 2 of the Bozeman Sports Park- developing the southern portion of the park with 2 synthetic turf fields, a 119-stall parking lot and additional parking for 50 bicycles. (Bozeman Planning 25143)

Fireworks

As of June 2, 2023, the sale and discharge of fireworks is PROHIBITED in the city and county enclaves. Anyone found to be selling or discharging fireworks shall have their fireworks confiscated, is subject to a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, subject to a $500 fine. Handheld sparklers are the only firework allowed to be sold or discharged in city limits. (City of Bozeman)

I watched fireworks on the 4th from a point where you could see both Bozeman, Belgrade, and Manhattan, Belgrade and Manhattan were going off! They also did a great job with the Fairgrounds display.

Music on Main - Kalyn Beasley

Was checking to see whos performing July 10th for Bozeman’s Music on Main, its this group called Kalyn Beasley, looked them up on Youtube and found this music video called Ranchin’ Rich a parody of common farm/ranch struggles, looks like it was filmed near Red Lodge, they nailed this music video!

Northern Rockies

July 1, 2025 An $88 million satellite backed by billionaire Jeff Bezos that detected oil and gas industry emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas methane has been lost in space, the group that operates said on Tuesday. MethaneSAT had been collecting emissions data and images from drilling sites, pipelines, and processing facilities around the world since March, but went off course around 10 days ago, the Environmental Defense Fund, which led the initiative, said. (Reuters)

Jul 02, 2025 Trump's budget bill is 'bad news for America's clean energy future' (MSN)

• Tax credits for wind and solar farms end abruptly in mid-2026

• Tax credits for home energy upgrades will expire at the end of 2025.

• Credits for residential rooftop solar, EV purchases, and energy-efficient new homes will expire between late 2025 and mid-2026.

July 06, 2025 Employment Boom: Wyoming Unions Say Thousands Of Electricians Needed. Jerry Payne with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 322 told Cowboy State Daily he has a project in Kemmerer that will need 540 electricians. His counterpart with Local IBEW 415, Truett Thompson, needs another 400 to 500 electricians. That's just the tip of the iceberg, they say. (Cowboy State Daily)

Latter-day Saint Temples

During a Wyoming/Idaho trip, I drove by two temples under construction (one in Montpellier, ID and another in Rexburg, ID). Was curious to see how many are going up across the country, according to the Church of Jesus Construction Status page, there are 56 Under Construction, 8 Under Renovation, 119 Temples Announced (Temples only (not including a Stakes or Wards)

Montpellier, ID Temple under consturction

Since becoming President of the Church in January 2018, President Russell M. Nelson has announced locations for 133 temples, beginning with seven identified during the April 2018 general conference. To achieve this goal, the church is working with a company called BLOX of Birmingham, Alabama using a DMI (Design Manufacture, and Install) building technique, they say in most cases it will reduce the time to build the temple by more than half.

Have a great week,

Daniel Zavadil - Author of bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com

Hi and welcome to the 69th edition of the Bozeman Build Report discovering trade news around the area. Today we wrote about the Montana Logging Association, new data center approved near Great Falls, TowHaul special visits, Glacier Bank aquired Texas based Guaranty Bancorp, RIP Wally McRae, 100 year leases aimed to revitalize old towns, Saint Mary Siphon restored, saltwater disposal plant explosion, cloud seeding, new TD Kelsey statue in Belgrade. Extending outside of Montana we talk about a Cody, Wy artillery facility, Idaho Falls market, Teton Pass road work, and ranching in Wyoming’s deep snow country.

Thanks for reading,

Daniel

Support the Bozeman Build by sponsoring an edition or by sharing your projects!

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana and Bozeman Trade Pulse

Montana trade pulse

June 17, 2025 - New Stories from the Montana Logging Association. Karl Kanduch - steps down as president of the MLA (Logging.org)

June 18, 2025 Atlanta-based TAC Data Centers is proposing a 569-acre development adjacent to the AgriTech Park, north of Malmstrom Air Force Base and near the Great Falls Rainbow Power Substation. The company reportedly aims to invest $1-1.5 billion in the 2 million sq ft (185,805 sqm) development, known as Project Cardinal. Construction is set to begin next year, with the initial 135,000-200,000 sq ft (12,540-18,580 sqm) buildings coming online in late 2027/early 2028. Full campus build-out would be expected by 2030. Montana does not have a major data center market. Ziply and Hyperscale Data’s Sentinum unit operate facilities in the Treasure State. Atlas Power also operates a site in Butte. TeraWulf/Beowulf previously planned to operate a crypto site in Hardin, but this never came to fruition. Crusoe had deployed cryptomining modules powered by flared gas in the state, but has since divested them to NYDIG. (Data Center Dynamics)

Jun 23, 2025 U.S. Secretary of Labor visits Belgrade manufacturing facility TowHaul 

June 25, 2025 Kalispell, Montana-based Glacier Bank has agreed to acquire Mount Pleasant, Texas-based Guaranty Bancorp in an all-stock deal worth roughly $476.2 million, The acquisition would add 33 locations, including in Dallas and Houston, to the Montana-based lender’s footprint, as well as $3.2 billion in assets. (BankingDive)

June 26, 2025 Wally McRae, Montana poet and Colstrip rancher, died at 89 (MTPR)

“Some leave their mark on a branded hide. Some on the furrowed earth. Some aspire to reproduce themselves and those they birth. Some leave their marks on canvas, bronze or stone. It will survive, long after their creator no longer is alive. Some would build an edifice, an architectural gem, to serve throughout the ages as a lasting requiem. But grant to me this final wish. When I say that last amen: May my mark be carried lightly In the hearts and minds of men.”

Wally McRae’s funeral service will be held July 2 at the Rosebud County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall in Forsyth.

June 25 2025 The Montana Heritage Preservation and Development Commission is proud to announce the passage of House Bill 680, landmark legislation that allows for long-term leases on selected historic state properties. With this new authority, MHC is launching a formal application process for individuals, businesses and organizations interested in revitalizing Montana’s cultural assets through private investment and strategic partnership. (MT Commerce)

June 26, 2025 Just a little more than 12 months ago, the huge St Mary Siphon, more than a century old, which delivers water to thousands of ranchers and residents along Montana’s Hi-Line and eastern part of the state failed. On Wednesday, the United States Bureau of Reclamation announced the reconstruction project had been completed, thanks to an expedited review process by all levels of government, and emergency funding from Congress. (Daily Montanan)

June 26, 2025 Oil field disposal plant in eastern Montana explodes, no injuries (Record Patriot)

June 27th 2025 The Bureau of Land Management approved a NorthWestern Energy 16-inch natural gas pipeline that will be 74 miles from Helena to Three Forks. (NBC Montana)

June 28 2025 - America’s dive bars are disappearing. Montana didn’t get the memo. (The Guardian)

Jun 29, 2025 Could cloud seeding in the Big Hole Watershed benefit the Treasure State's agriculture? The study estimates potential increases in stream flow of between 20,000 and 60,000 feet in the Big Hole Watershed, depending on the program design and seasonal conditions. Estimated costs to implement the program vary from $12 to $60 per acre-foot. (Montana Ag Network)

Bozeman trade pulse

June 24, 2025 Has Bozeman’s rental market finally flipped? The company tracks and studies housing trends, and Rose said that 3,042 rentals have been built in Bozeman since 2021, with more than 1,000 of those units completed in 2024. Hundreds more, especially near the Montana State campus, are currently under construction, and, according to Rose, more than 4,000 rental units are still in the planning pipeline. (Montana Free Press)

Jun 25, 2025 A new bronze sculpture now greets drivers in Belgrade, standing 14 and a half feet tall in the center of the West Post roundabout, the piece is titled Touching the Big Sky, created by internationally acclaimed sculptor T.D. Kelsey. (KBZK)

Montana Picker

I randomly met David Perlstein last week at the bar, he’s the master mind behind Montana Picker who has spent the past 20 years here under the big sky digging, driving, and crawling for historical artifacts check him out on Facebook or Instagram @montanapicker

Northern Rockies

June 24, 2025 US Ballistic Laboratories is currently working to launch a “Load, Assembly, Pack” (LAP) facility on the City of Cody’s northern edge that will fill, assemble and pack artillery shells. (Powell Tribune)

June 28, 2025 Gillette’s Cyclone Drilling To Do Wyoming’s First 3-Mile Well And 4-Mile Well Is Next (Cowboy State Daily)

Idaho Falls

Tons of spec homes and larger scale multi family popping up around Bonneville Counties Idaho Falls. According to a 2023 checkr article, IF was ranked #13 in the list of Americas fastest growing cities. While Idaho as a whole is seeing rapid population increases, Idaho Falls stands out due to factors like a relatively affordable cost of living and proximity to outdoor recreation. At the time the article was written 2 years ago, Provo was ranked #1, Boise #2, Coeur D’Alene #3, Bend #4, and St. George #5. Idaho Falls Population in 2024 was 68,063, Rexburg’s population was 40,695, and Bonneville County Idaho’s population was 123,957 comparable to Gallatin Counties 2024 population of 126,984. The average Idaho Falls, ID home value is $395,363, up 2.1% over the past year. Population Data from United States Census Bureau.

Highway 22

About a year ago today Jun 29, 2024 - A massive landslide on June 8 knocked out State Highway 22 that runs through the Teton Pass, which connects Jackson, Wyoming, with Victor, Idaho. Ironically a year after, they planned to do a Final Closure for Permanent Repairs Thursday, June 27 at 6 p.m. to Saturday, June 30 at 6 a.m. (looks like they wanted to get that done before the 4th of July weekend) (JacksonHole.com)

Green River Cows

I have some rancher friends residing in North Sublette County Wyoming near Daniel/Merna areas. One rancher leases their pasture seasonally (May - September) to ~5,000 head of black/red angus cows that get trucked in from Utah, Colorado, and Washington. Another rancher nearby runs his cattle all year and in the winter they need to groom/pack down their feeding areas with a snow cat.

Thanks for tuning in and have a fantastic week,

Daniel

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com

Happy Solstice and welcome back to the Bozeman Build Report where we cover trade news and content around the Northern Rockies. Today we discovered fishing restrictions, grants, solar bill vetoed, flipping houses (wind), manufacturing reports, Bitterroot ski area for sale, summer solstice odd weather, new projects and more. On the Northern Rockies sections we wrote about a $260M transmission connection between North-South Dakota and Wyoming Power grids, public lands for sale, golf course watered by center pivots, and metering irrigation ditches.

Balsamorhiza - Balsam Root

Enjoy,

Daniel

Support the Bozeman Build by sponsoring an edition or by sharing your projects!

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana and Bozeman Trade Pulse

Montana trade pulse

Fishing restrictions starting to take effect on some rivers. FWP's drought policy provides for angling restrictions when flows drop below critical levels for fish, when water quality is diminished or when maximum daily water temperatures reach at least 73 degrees for three consecutive days. Water temperatures of 77 degrees or more can be lethal to trout (FWP)

June 16 2025 Governor Greg Gianforte today announced the appointment of Marta Bertoglio as Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. (MT Commerce)

June 18 2025 21 Montana communities will share $5.9 million in grant funding for 31 historic preservation projects. (MT Commerce)

June 18, 2025 Gov. Greg Gianforte vetoed a bill to boost private community solar projects across Montana, arguing it gives “vast, unfettered discretion” to the Public Service Commission to determine solar credits. (Daily Montanan)

Jun 18, 2025 Monday's wind and hail storm wreaked havoc in Shepherd, flipping one family's trailer home upside down. (KTVQ)

6/19/2025 2025 Third Quarter Oil & Gas Lease Sale – Scoping Notice (DNRC)

June 19 2025 2025 recipients of the Opportunities in Rural Economies planning grant have been selected and will share almost $500,000 in funding. (MT Commerce)

June 20, 2025 - June 2025 Manufacturing News (Montana Manufacturing Extension Center)

Jun 20, 2025 A 2,000-acre ranch in the Bitterroot Mountains of Western Montana that was once so hopeful of being the base of a major new ski area that more than 20 ski runs were created has gone up for sale for $24 million. (Snow-Forecast)

MDT News

News released by the Montana Department of Transportation last week (MDT News)

• Final work on Great Falls Urban Pavement Preservation project

• Bigfork celebrates Bridge Street Bridge's iconic revival

• Montana Transportation Commission Meeting

• Proposed US 2 reconstruction near Zurich

• Proposed safety enhancements for Beckwith Street

Summer Solstice

Eureka Montana on June 22 received 16 hours, 11 minutes of daylight 5:36 am – 9:47 pm. Glacier received some snow on Saturday, here’s a screenshot from the Logan Pass Webcam (NPS/Glacier).

Bozeman trade pulse

Jun 17, 2025 New Subdivision “Meadow Bridge” Proposed on Bozeman’s South Side, designating 25 acres with 45 buildable residential lots, 1 designated park lot, and 3 open space lots (Bozeman Real Estate Group)

Jun 17, 2025 The Gallatin County Commission has adopted the Gallatin County Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Action Plan, a significant step toward reducing traffic fatalities and serious injuries on county roadways. The plan aims to reduce roadway fatalities and serious injuries by 50% by 2034. (KBZK)

Jun 19, 2025 The Freestone apartments are complete and are now leasing. These units start at $2,190 for a one bedroom and go up to $3,365 for a 2 bedroom. (Bozeman Real Estate Group)

Resurrection University Parish filed planning permits with the city to construct a rectory and addition to the Parish Student Center. (Project 25233)

William Martel

Born in Pervomais’k, Ukraine in 1939, he spent he spent his early childhood years on a walk about through war-torn Europe. The Martel family immigrated to America in 1952. Their first stop was Baker, MT and then settled in Bozeman, MT in 1956. The story of this magnificent journey was captured by author Mark Sullivan, in his bestselling book, The Last Green Valley. William founded Martel Construction in 1960 with his father Emil and was later joined by his brother, Walter, in 1967. (Obituary of Bill Martel)

Northern Rockies

June 17, 2025 Jackson Town Council on Monday approved the town’s largest ever hotel and condo complex, a massive 244,000-square-foot development by Mogul Capital. It’s a third smaller than the company’s original proposal and will take up a city block. (Cowboy State Daily)

Jun. 18, 2025 The insurer for some of Oregon’s largest ski resorts is leaving the state, saying it’s become too costly to do business here because of how state law handles liability when skiers suffer injuries. Eric Morgan, who manages claims for Safehold, told lawmakers in written testimony the company insures ski resorts in 37 states. Oregon, he said, is “an extreme outlier” that accounts for 20% of its nationwide losses up to $1 million and 50% of its losses between $1 million and $10 million. (Oregon Live)

June 19, 2025 The $260 million, 260-mile transmission expansion is approaching the finish line. Black Hills Energy Spending $540M To Connect North-South Wyoming Power Grids (Cowboy State Daily)

Public land for sale

People are throwing a fit online about the “sale of public lands”, it makes me squeamish as well, especially after looking at the ArcGIS map of “eligible land” both BLM and USFS for sale. The bill forces the arbitrary sale of at least 2 million acres of Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands in 11 Western states over the next five years, and it gives the secretaries of the interior and agriculture broad discretion to choose which places should be sold off. Not sure how this will shake out, many unknowns.

Watering golf course with center pivot

Caribou Highlands Golf Course outside Grace, Idaho irrigates their golf course with a center pivot and grows hay on the other half of the pivot circle. An Idaho farmer started up this course and mini RV resort in 1995. (Caribou Highlands)

Water meters on irrigation ditches

Irrigation district workers used to make flow estimates based on a water meter, they still do this however your starting to see more of this process become digitalized. Intermountain Environmental (IEI) of Logan Utah sells, installs and supports state of the art measurement and control instrumentation throughout the United States since 1993. I ran across a father son team from IEI wiring up some measurement tech on some ditches outside Grace, ID.

Thanks for reading, have a terrific week!

Daniel

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com

Good morning, welcome back to the 67th edition of the Bozeman Build Report, and happy Fathers Day to any dads reading this! Today we have a June USDA Newsletter, see Montanans attitudes toward tourism, burying trees, BLM Livingston wild horse adoption, spreading firefighting costs to landowners, grasshoppers, Nelson Meadows, Hyalite mineral, line striping, soda ash plants get acquired, and Bentonite.

Grounded boat art display

Enjoy - Daniel

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana and Bozeman Trade Pulse

Montana trade pulse

June 2025 USDA Montana Newsletter (USDA)

Montana Residents' Attitudes Towards Tourism - 2024 (UM Scholar Works)

Jun 09, 2025 Gentry's family lost numerous Ponderosa pine trees during the Poverty Flats Fire that burned 75,000 acres in July of 2021. Now they're rehabilitating it, burying all the logs and other biomass. Gonzalez-Kramer said the sale of carbon credits will help pay for the project. (Mast Reforestation)

Jun 10, 2025 Successful adoptions and community engagement at Upper Yellowstone WHB Event Of the 56 animals offered, 40 wild horses and burros found new homes with private adopters. (BLM)

Jun 11, 2025 Bode Miller's most recent ski brand venture, Peak Skis, seems to have closed its doors for good. As of publishing, their website is no longer accessible, social media accounts have gone silent, and local reports indicate their Bozeman, Montana HQ is quiet. A recent post in the skitalk.com forums further backs this up. (Powder.com)

June 11 2025 Communities of Big Timber, Fort Benton, Wibaux and Winnett have been accepted as members of the Montana Main Street Program, which supports downtown revitalization efforts. (Commerce MT)

June 11, 2025 Landowners in Montana are not paying their fair share of wildfire costs to the tune of at least $30 million, according to a new report from the Legislative Audit Division. In 2023, for example, the state spent $41 million on fires — $4.5 million on attempts to mitigate risk and damage from fires, $13.5 million on capacity and ability to dispatch firefighters and then $23.1 million on actual suppression efforts. Landowners do not pay the state for suppression efforts. (Daily Montanan)

Jun 12, 2025 Montana producers in the Golden Triangle region are preparing for potential grasshopper population surges and sawfly outbreaks that could threaten crops. (Montana Ag Network)

June 12th 2025 Missoula community members are signing a petition over the decision to close the St. Patrick Hospital family maternity center. (NBC Montana)

June 12th 2025 Air Force 2 landed at Butte’s Bert Mooney Airport on June 10, with Vice President JD Vance aboard. (NBC MT)

June 13, 2025 The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) today announced the completion of a feasibility study on wintertime cloud seeding to enhance mountain snowpack in southwest Montana. The study highlights the potential for cloud seeding to increase water availability, which is crucial for agriculture, recreation and overall water security in the region. (DNRC)

MDT News

MDT News updates posted last week.

• Fairview West project to receive chip seal and final striping

• Open house scheduled for Walnut & Ash Improvements project

• Open house planned for 7th Avenue North in Bozeman

• I-15 Wolf Creek construction resumes

• Construction project to rehabilitate I-15 in Helena begins

Bozeman trade pulse

Bozeman Planning Projects published last week

25037 - Gran Cielo 2 Subdivision - Develop a Major Subdivision that includes water, sewer & storm utilities within a public ROW and roadway improvements. (South of Graf Street, West of South 27th Avenue, and North of Kurk Drive)

25067 - Velocity Car Wash SP - Carwash Site Plan (3100 W Main Street Bozeman MT)

Nelson Meadows

Nelson Meadows Business Park – new M-1 zoned, master planned commercial subdivision currently under construction in the Bozeman. (Nelson Meadows)

Hyalite

Hyalite is a transparent form of opal with a glassy lustre. It may exhibit an internal play of colors if natural inclusions are present. It is also called Muller's glass, water opal, and jalite. (Mindat.org)

Bozeman fresh paint

A crew has been working around town knocking out thermoplastic handwork updating crosswalks and other pedestrian road interfaces. Line strip contracts vary by city or county contract and budgets but are typically either thermoplastic, epoxy, or waterborne paints.

Northern Rockies

June 13, 2025 Utah Sen. Mike Lee is bringing back a proposal that would allow the federal government to sell off several million acres of public land in Utah and other Western states. Introduced Wednesday evening, Lee’s amendment to congressional Republicans’ budget bill, nicknamed the “big, beautiful bill,” renews an effort initially spearheaded by Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, and Mark Amodei, R-Nevada, that sought to dispose of 11,500 acres of Bureau of Land Management land in southwestern Utah and some 450,000 acres of federal land in Nevada. (Daily Montanan)

Friday and Saturday Night, Northern Lights dipped across the Montana/Canada boarder (NOAA)

June 12, 2025 WE Soda, the world's largest producer of natural soda ash, confirmed this week that it’s downsizing 26 positions following a $1.43 billion acquisition of Genesis Alkali's two Wyoming mines. (Cowboy State Daily) WE Soda Ltd is based in London, UK.

Bentonite

From Riverton you could either take Highway 20 through Grey Bull or Highway 120 through Cody returning to Southwest MT. Highway 20 goes through Big Horn County which is home to around 8 Bentonite mill or mining operations. There is also a cluster on the NE side of the State called Colony. According to the Wyoming Mining Association Bentonite is known as the clay of a thousand uses. Wyoming is the number 1 producer in the world accounting for 93% of the nations and 70% of the worlds bentonite producing ~5.2 million tons/year. Read also the Wyoming State Geological survey Bentonite Report covering more of the geology stuff. (WSGS)

Thanks for reading,

Daniel

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com

Good morning and welcome back the Bozeman Build covering Montana and Northern Rockies Trade News. Today we discovered squirrel caused power outage, MTN news upgrading from VHF to UHF radio frequency, heightened wildfire risk this season, protecting drinking water, Helium production expansion, $23M to coal communities, Northwest Rate Hike near 25% year over year, rangeland research, Bull Mountain Coal mine greenlight, Big Sky fire station, Bozeman public schools trade program, and new traffic lights. Around the Northern Rockies we cover geyser webcams, steel tariffs, Monks building cathedrals, and wind disputes.

BLM Horse Auction in Livingston captured by bluecollarfilm.com

Enjoy,

Daniel

Support the Bozeman Build by sponsoring an edition or by sharing your projects!

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trade content and news. We are not a financial or building advisors.}

Montana and Bozeman Trade Pulse

Montana trade pulse

Jun 02, 2025 Mike Hoggan of Valier is sharing stories from his four-decade career in wildlife management in a new book. Hoggan spent more than 42 years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services Program, working alongside sheep ranchers and managing predator populations. (KTVQ)

June 3 2025 - Northwestern Energy says a squirrel is to blame for Tuesday's power outage in Helena. The animal entered the energizing equipment in a substation, knocking out power around 7:05 a.m. But conflicts can still happen. In 2011, an East Missoula neighborhood lost power after an eagle dropped a deer fawn on a high-voltage line. (KTVH)

Jun 04, 2025 MTN News Upgrades Frequencies for Enhanced Over-the-Air Broadcasting. Scripps is the company is making the switch from VHF radio frequency to UHF. (KBZK)

June 4, 2025 - State wildfire briefing indicates fire season ‘could be significant’. The briefing also included a long-term weather forecast from Northern Rockies Coordination Center meteorologist Dan Borsum who said computer projections are calling for a dry and hot summer. He also said some weather patterns are similar to high fire danger years in the past – like 2000, 2002, 2006, 2017 and 2021. (Daily Montanan)

Jun 05, 2025 Forest thinning continues around Butte's reservoir to protect drinking water, A project to remove fuels, such as down trees and branches, from the 2,300-acre area around the reservoir has been ongoing since 2023. (KPAX)

Jun 05, 2025 Helix Exploration raises £4.5m to fast-track helium production in Northern Montana (The Montana Helium Fairway)

June 05 2025 The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that 39 Montana cities, towns, counties and water and sewer districts will share more than $23.7 million of grant funding to help communities construct or upgrade water and wastewater systems and bridges. The funding is through Commerce’s Montana Coal Endowment Program. (MT Commerce)

June 6, 2025 - NorthWestern Energy announces another rate increase If the Montana Public Service Commission signs off on the most recent increase, the average residential customer will be paying $127.16 in July, according to information from the agency. Altogether, that would be a more than 25% increase from May 1 to July of this year. (Daily Montanan)

June 6, 2025 Through new research, a team in Montana State University’s College of Agriculture has published a comprehensive look at wildlife species that depend on rangeland ecosystems, sifting through nearly 1,600 animal types. The work, titled “An Inventory of Rangeland Wildlife in the Western United States,” (MSU News)

Department of Animal & Range Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA

June 6th 2025 - Federal government OK’s expansion of Bull Mountains coal mine Friday to a long-delayed expansion of Signal Peak Energy’s Bull Mountains coal mine near Billings. (Montana Free Press)

DNRC News

From https://dnrc.mt.gov/News/

• Governor’s Drought and Water Supply Advisory Committee to Meet June 4

• Initial Proposal Foothills North Block Forest Management Project

• 2025 Second Quarter Oil & Gas Lease Sale - Sale Results

Bozeman trade pulse

Jun 03, 2025 Construction beginning: Jackrabbit Amsterdam Intersection (MDT News)

Jun 05, 2025 New Big Sky Fire Station Breaks Ground After a Decade in the Making (KBZK)

June 5, 2025 An 86-acre parcel of Montana state trust land near Logan will be closed temporarily for a routine site assessment as part of a proposal to develop the parcel into a formal shooting range. (Montana Outdoor)

Jun 06, 2025 The 108 West Babcock project has moved into the Public Notice phase with the city of Bozeman. This project is proposing the demolition of the existing structure to build a 4-story mixed-use building with commercial on the first two floors and 4 residences on the upper two floors. (Bozeman Real Estate Group)

Jun 06, 2025 Bozeman Public Schools launches new construction trades program (KBZK)

New Traffic Light on Kagy

The City set up a temp light off 7th and Kagy, appears that they are testing it out for now figuring traffic patterns, will probably set up a permanent one here soon.

Grant Street renovation project

Grant Street between the SUB and College of Engineering is torn up aiming to convert Grant Street to a more pedestrian friendly walkway spanning from South 11th to South 7th. See more active MSU projects at Current MSU Construction Projects

Northern Rockies

May 22, 2025 Geothermal energy in the Great Basin of Nevada and adjoining states could produce electricity equal to one-tenth of the current U.S. power supply, the U.S. Geological Survey assessed in a paper released today. (USGS)

Monday, June 2, 2025 Yellowstone Volcano Monthly Update - Yellowstone Caldera activity remains at background levels, with 119 located earthquakes in May (largest = M2.7). Deformation measurements indicate a small amount of caldera subsidence since early October. On May 31 at 8:39 p.m. MDT a small eruption occurred at Black Diamond Pool in Biscuit Basin, site of a hydrothermal explosion last summer. The event was recorded by a new webcam installed earlier in May.

June 3, 2025 Steel and aluminum tariffs increase to 50 percent as of June 4th. (Whitehouse.gov)

Carmelite Monks near Meeteetse Wyoming are using CNC technology to build a gothic temple. carmelitegothic.com/

Similar to Eastern Montanans concerns over Berkshire Energy wind towers (see Eastern Montana Wind Facebook Page) , Ranch Family near Laramie Files Lawsuit to Block Wyoming Wind Lease, Citing Generational Legacy (Cowboy State Daily), Idaho Falls residents have also been pushing back resulting in House Bill 146 requiring the installation of light-mitigating technology systems on wind energy conversion systems.” (East Idaho News)

Thanks for reading,

Daniel

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com