Northeast Montana News

Two recent reports show that Bozeman ranked first among more than 500 micropolitan areas – urban clusters populating between 10,000 and 50,000 people – for the number of its new business startups and overall economic strength.

Published by ShivarWeb and Policom, using data from the U.S. Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the reports support the notion that Bozeman’s business environment is a fiscal highlight for the state. Led by the innovation coming out of Montana State University, Bozeman has been attracting high-tech interests for several years.

“The university is the petri dish that keeps our community vibrant,” Brit Fontenot, director of economic development for the city of Bozeman, told the Northeast Montana News. “They don’t just grow camelina, they turn camelina into jet fuel. Businesses then get started here to deal in whatever that commodity is. That’s the kind of university we have here.”

Brit Fontenot, director of economic development for the city of Bozeman

The lifestyle is attractive for people who don’t want long commutes – and also want to be at the gateway to Yellowstone National Park, Fontenot said.

“When people are getting out of college, they’re looking not just for a job but, ‘What suits my lifestyle?’ Fontenot said. "That’s the entrepreneurial spirit, the startup mentality.” 

Having the right kind of infrastructure, which has included building a fiber-optic network around the city, has been fundamental to Bozeman’s economic growth. Among other highlights Fontenot discussed:

- Bozeman has one of the nation’s highest concentrations of optics companies – more than two dozen – including Bridger Aerospace and Blackmore Sensors and Analytics, which was just purchased by a self-driving car startup.

- The outdoor-recreation business provides a significant boost, including Simms Fishing Products, a longtime leading manufacturer of waders, as well as Mystery Ranch Backpacks, used by military, firefighters and sport hikers.

- In the evolving pharmaceutical industry, SiteOne Therapeutics has been at the forefront of developing non-opioid pain-management medicine.

Venture capitalists have taken notice, and a new firm, Next Frontier, recently opened in Bozeman.  

“These guys brought their money from San Francisco and they invested in Montana companies,” Fontenot said. “We don’t really compete on an incentive-based approach, we say ‘Here’s what we can give you, a thriving business community and happy employees whose quality of life helps you reduce costs through less turnover.’”

It’s tricky keeping up with the demand for workers, Fontenot said. 

“We try to stay ahead of these things, to support Bozeman’s growth and economic viability in the long term,” he said.