Business
RONAN — A local woodworking business is working to become more involved in the community, starting with the Boys and Girls Club later this month. Tech Woods USA of Ronan specializes in thermally modified wood, which is wood that’s cooked to a degree that makes it harder, lighter, more durable, and higher performing. Started originally in owner Marty Perkins’ backyard in 2018, the small business’s nine employees primarily produce gunstock blanks. They have more than that to offer to the local populace, however. Offering up hobby wood for sale for locals to create everything from coffee tables to spinning projects, as well as starting to dabble in th...
POLSON — Valley Bank, which recently moved its Polson branch into the former First Citizens/Unity Bank building near the intersection of Highway 93 and First St. W., is bucking the banking industry’s downsizing trends with its new home. The spacious new digs, directly across the street f...
PABLO — Consumer rates at Mission Valley Power have changed as of April 1. What that means for different groups of consumers has left some confused. Jean Matt of Mission Valley Power explained the changes, and the ways in which they impact everyone. The power company had a rate study conducted...
LAKE COUNTY — Mission Valley Power gave an annual report to Tribal Council that week that included information about a possible rate hike that would help the power company manage rising costs of materials needed to help keep the lights on for the Flathead Reservation. According to General Mana...
LAKE COUNTY — Two local medical centers, St. Luke Community Healthcare in Ronan and Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson, are renewing efforts to get staff and contractors fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by March 15, the date set by a federal vaccine mandate recently upheld by the Supreme C...
News from the Office of the Governor HELENA — Governor Greg Gianforte announced that Montana entrepreneurs have a new tool to grow their businesses. Approved by the governor in December, the Montana Down Payment Assistance Program is a public-private partnership between the State of Montana and Mo...
News from the Montana Department of Revenue HELENA — The 2021 Legislature passed House Bill 303, changing how Montana taxes business equipment. The new law increases the business equipment tax exemption from $100,000 to $300,000 for Tax Year 2022. Businesses whose statewide market value of equi...
POLSON — On Feb. 10, a new medical spa will have its grand opening in Polson. Located inside Bella Vita Salon, the joint companies of Skin Beautiful and Skintegrity406 were established by two women brought together by chance. Julie Yonker had moved to the area from her home in Scottsdale, A...
News from the MPSC HELENA — The Montana Public Service Commission has opened an investigation into the adequacy of legacy telephone systems owned and operated by CenturyLink Communications, LLC, and its affiliated Montana carriers. Many rural Montanans rely on these legacy systems for phone servic...
News from Paddy Fleming MSU News Service BOZEMAN — Despite struggling with worker shortages, disrupted supply chains and increased shipping costs, Montana manufacturers fared relatively well during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic and could see a return to pre-pandemic activity this year...
