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expansion from 124 different revolving loan funds; applications for tax incentives, grants for workforce training and/or infrastructure development and advocacy. MBAC is a place where your voice can be heard by local and state elected officials and their managers. MBAC has a group of 72 small, medium, and micro businesses partnering with elected
and appointed officials, as well as leaders in the educational community, to effect positive regional change. Think of MBAC as a portal through which leadership and economic development resources flow to move this region to the forefront of America’s best places to live and work.
THE MBAC SERVICE AREA
The area has much to offer: Helena, the capital of Montana and most populated town in the region, is located at the crossroads of Interstate 15 and State Highway 12, just 12 miles east of the Continental Divide and midway between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. Your business can directly access 39 percent of Montana’s population: Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, and Missoula are less than 2 hours of Helena. The area offers business owners direct access to state government. Residents enjoy the buzz, sophistication, and culture of a capital city combined with country living and world-class outdoor recreation.
WORKFORCE
Forty six percent of Helena’s workforce has
an bachelor’s degree or higher educational achievement. Carroll College offers four year degrees and Helena College offers two-year associate degrees and certification opportunities. Use these institutions and generous state workforce development incentives for training new hires and developing existing employees.
REAL ESTATE
There is plenty of space for you, your family, and your business in the area and region. Developed and developable land and facilities are available
for lease and sale. Unincorporated Broadwater, Lewis and Clark, and Meagher counties are also great places for new businesses. New residential developments are springing up throughout the Helena area, and there is still land next to the rivers, lakes, and public lands within 30 minutes of Helena.
MONTANA IS BUSINESS-FRIENDLY
The 2015 Business Tax Climate Index (www. taxfoundation.org) finds Montana ranked 6th
in the nation for business tax climate. The index takes into account over 100 variables including corporate taxes, individual income taxes, sales tax (there is none) unemployment insurances and property taxes. Specifically Livability.com found Helena to be the 52nd small to mid-sized cities in the nation. More info: Montana Means Business, www.business.mt.gov.
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
Interstate freight and rail lines go in all four directions. Several nationwide transportation companies are headquartered in the Helena Region. Rail service is by Montana Rail Link and BNSF. The Helena Regional Airport, served by Delta - Skywest Airlines, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines, is within 10 minutes of most homes and downtown Helena.
UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE
The incorporated areas within the region have water, sewer, and gas with redundant sources of electric generation including hydro and wind and an extensive telecommunication backbone for commercial and residential customers. This includes a regional data center and multiple long haul fiber networks that include access
to dedicated dark fiber. Grant and tax credit programs are available to assist qualifying businesses with customized utility needs. Recent and planned upgrades of infrastructure services in the City of Helena mean that regional commerce and population growth is not outstripping infrastructure growth.
Contact us at MBAC for all of your commercial Financial and Relocation needs. (406) 447-1510, www.mbac.biz
REMEMBER TO EXPLORE MONTANA RESPONSIBLY | GO TO VISITMT.COM FOR DETAILS
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