Regional Review: FDI Adds to Vitality of the Mountain States

Dan Calabrese (Location USA / April 2013)

The Mountain States’ economies were driven over the past 12 months by a mixture of modern and emerging sectors, including information technology, and old standbys like dairy. At the same time, foreign investment came from a variety of sources to add to the vitality of the region. More

First Person: U.S. Oil & Gas Boom - The Road to Energy Independence Is Not Without Challenges

Alexander Frei, Director, Business Incentives Practice, Global Business Consulting , Cushman & Wakefield (Q1 / Winter 2013)

The editor of Area Development magazine recently discussed the latest developments in the oil and gas industry and their economic impact with Alexander Frei, Director of the Business Incentives Practice at Cushman & Wakefield of Illinois. More

How Corporate Taxes Impact the Business Climate

Area Development Online Research Desk (November 2012)

“Taxes are a fact of life,” the Tax Foundation states in a new background paper, but “not all tax systems are created equal.” With that in mind, the organization sets out every year to rank U.S. states in its “State Business Climate Tax Index.” More

The Leading Metros for "Prime Workforce" Growth

Area Development Online Research Desk (August 2012)

We ranked 365 MSAs across 23 economic and workforce growth indicators in our Leading Locations for 2012 report. Here, we rank the cities based only on the selected indicators from the overall report that measure workforce vitality. More

Regional Review: Mountain States Successfully Meet Economic Challenges

Dan Calabrese (August 2012)

Over the past 12 months, the Mountain States' economies have been driven by a mixture of modern and emerging sectors - such as IT - and old standbys like dairy, which also opened the door for expansion - even as the region braced to learn the economic impact of devastating fires that occurred in June and July. More

Montana Basic Business Taxes 2012

Area Development Online Research Desk (2012)

Montana's economic development, finance and tax organizations provide a range of incentive programs to initiate new business and commercial investment. Specific programs include no sales or use tax, and property tax incentives and abatements. More

Montana Direct Financial Incentives 2012

Area Development Online Research Desk (2012)

Montana's economic development, finance, and tax organizations provide a range of incentive programs to initiate new business and commercial investment. Specific programs include tax increment financing districts and services through the Montana Board of Investments. More

Regional Report: With Energy as a Main Economic Driver, Mountain States Look Towards Industrial Diversification

Cynthia Kincaid (July 2011)

While the Mountain region has greatly benefited economically from its mining, oil, and natural gas production, these states also recognize that they are exposed to energy volatility. Industrial diversification has helped fortify their respective economies. More

MONTANA at a glance

POPULATION: 998,199

LABOR FORCE: 510,551

RIGHT TO WORK: No

TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES:Natural resources, agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, energy

EXPANDING INDUSTRIES: High tech, aerospace, valueadded agricultural products, telecommunications, research and development, professional services, bioscience

COLLEGE GRADUATES: (Age 25 and over) 43.0%

BASIC BUSINESS TAXES:
Corporate License (Income) Tax: 6.75 percent of all net income; corporations subject to apportionment may choose between worldwide combined reporting and the water's-edge combination method of reporting (7 percent tax rate for water'sedge).

Sales and Use Tax: None

Property Tax: Levied primarily by local jurisdictions; the state levies about 101 mills and ensures equal treatment of property by standardizing assessment and appraisals; tax liability is determined by applying the appropriate tax rate for the property (14 classes of property) to market value, then multiplying by mill levy.

BUSINESS INCENTIVES:
Workforce training grants

Business economic development loans

Stand-Alone and Pooled Industrial Revenue Bond programs

Research and commercialization grants

Community infrastructure development loans/grants

Tax increment financing

Infrastructure incentives

Property tax incentives (for new or expanding industries)

Targeted industry tax incentives (for film productions, aerospace, renewable energy, and others)

Economic Development Trust Fund grants (for new job creation)