This Saturday, October 11^th, the American Heart Association will be hosting its annual Missoula Heart Walk.  This charity event is a fund raiser for the organization which helps to fund research and other initiatives in the fight against heart disease and stroke. 

The Missoula Area Economic Development Corporation, in partnership with the Montana Technology Enterprise Center, has created a team to participate in this year’s event.  The three mile walk begins at the UM Oval at 10:00 am. 

Current fundraising efforts for the cause total over $94,000.  The MAEDC/MonTEC Walk Team has set a modest goal of $500 and hopes to exceed it.

“Any and all donations are appreciated,” states Jessica Allred-Meyers, team organizer.  “We got in the game relatively late, but we’re pushing to make it count.”

 To show your support for this cause, you can sponsor the MAEDC/MonTEC Walk Team by following this link. 

In partnership with Montana Community Development Corporation, the BitterRoot Economic Development District, Ravalli County Economic Development Authority, and the Sustainable Business Council, MAEDC will sponsor the upcoming Real Estate and Development in the Northern Rockies Conference (http://www.newwest.net/realestate08/index/ )  presented by NewWest.  Staff will be presenting information at a booth during the conference.

Key note speakers for the event include the President and CEO of Plum Creek Timber, Rick Holley.  The focus of this year’s event is “Navigating a Changing Market”, and will include discussions on the economy, the changing politics in the West, sustainable building and business practices, as well as growth and transportation issues.  For a complete schedule please visit: http://www.newwest.net/realestate08/schedule/  .

Portions of this conference have been approved for continuing education credits for several professions, including real estate agents, attorneys, planners, and architects.  For more information about continuing education, please visit:  http://www.newwest.net/realestate08/conted/  . 

 Held October 23-24, this event addresses a collection of issues relevant to economic development; NewWest has an impressive line up of experienced and esteemed speakers planned to convey the topics.  MAEDC is pleased to be a part of this event, and encourages participation. 

Montana's wood products industry is in trouble.  National economic trends such as the decline in construction and high energy prices have combined with supply problems to cause a sharp drop in lumber mill capacity utilization.  Other manufactures like Missoula's pulp mill are struggling to obtain an adequate supply of raw material at a competitive price.

The wood products industry is vital to Montana's economy.  Although there is optimism that demand for lumber will pick up in the future and that fiber supply from the National Forests will eventually increase, will the industry survive the current crisis?

MAEDC has taken the position that retention of the wood products industry is an economic development priority.  According to the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at The University of Montana, wood and paper products manufacturing accounted for 9% of Montana's economic base in 2006.  Much of this is concentrated in the nine Western Montana counties.

MAEDC has met with six of the seven major mills in Western Montana to identify short-term measures to help this industry survive.  A list of recommendations has been completed and submitted to the Governor's Office of Economic Development. MAEDC will provide follow-up so interested persons can keep track of the status of these recommendations. It is well understood that not everything on the list will be implemented, but, to the extent possible, quick action is needed.

Read the Recommendations.