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Jan. 19, 2024

 

Montana emerged from the pandemic as one of the clear winners among the 50 states in the strength of its economic recovery, but those hectic days of booming growth are behind us today, according to a Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ economist.

“The development was not unexpected,” according to Patrick Barkey, UM’s director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research. “The outsized economic stimulus – three separate spending bills, in fact – that were rolled out in 2020 and 2021 were not repeated.  Enhanced and extended unemployment insurance benefits were terminated, generous loans and grants to businesses were not repeated, and even suspended student loan payments were reinstituted.”

Barkey and a team of BBER economists and industry experts will begin their nine-city tour next week to provide the economic forecast for the state and national economies. The seminar series begins next week in Helena.

In addition to an in-depth look at Montana’s economy, the 49th annual seminar features a keynote roundtable on this year’s theme – “Implementing the Green Energy Transition: What Would it Take?” – and includes the following keynote speakers:

• Suzanne Tilleman, Dean College of Business, Ñý¼§Ö±²¥
• Heather McDowell, VP Legal and External Affairs, Sibanye-Stillwater
• Chris Dorrington, Director, Montana Department of Environmental Quality
• Sonja Nowakowski, Administrator, Air, Energy, and Mining Division, Department of Environmental Quality
• Michael Freeman, Montana Governor’s Office

The keynote speakers will discuss the opportunities and challenges Montana will face with transitioning from fossil fuels to less carbon emitting energy.

“Re-engineering the global energy production infrastructure that currently produces 595 quadrillion BTU of energy, all but 13% percent of which use fossil fuels, in a mere 25 years is an undertaking without precedent,” Barkey said. “And Montana is a state with a bigger stake in this game than you may realize.”

The seminar will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the following cities:

Helena – Tuesday, Jan. 23, at the Helena Great Northern Hotel

Great Falls – Wednesday, Jan. 24, at the Meadow Lark Country Club

Missoula – Friday, Jan. 26, at the Hilton Garden Inn

Billings – Tuesday, Jan. 30, at the Northern Hotel

Bozeman – Wednesday, Jan. 31, at the Commons

Butte – Thursday, Feb. 1, at the NorthWestern Energy General Office

Kalispell – Tuesday, Feb. 6, at the Wachholz College Center

Lewistown – Tuesday, March 12, at Central Montana Head Start

Havre - Wednesday, March 13, at Hensler Auditorium, MSU Northern

 

Webcast streaming live from Bozeman is available in addition to in-person options. Continuing Education credits are offered for both the webcast only and in-person options. For more information and access to the online seminars visit or call 406-243-2782. Registration is $95 and includes lunch.

Visit economicoutlookseminar.com to learn more about BBER’s seminar or to register to attend.

Established in 1948, the Bureau of Business and Economic Research is the main research unit of UM’s College of Business. BBER researchers engage in a wide range of applied research projects that address different aspects of the state economy, including survey research, economic analysis, health care research, forecasting, wood products research and energy research. For more information visit or call 406-243-5113.