BILLINGS, Montana, Oct. 28 -- The Montana Department of Commerce issued the following news release: Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney and Commerce Director Tara Rice joined community leaders, business owners and local policymakers in Billings today to discuss innovative ways to enhance tourism and strengthen local economies across eastern Montana, as part of the Eastern Montana Tourism Partner Initiative. The initiative is a collaboration among the Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development at Comm more PR

HELENA, Montana, Oct. 28 -- The Montana Department of Commerce issued the following news release: Governor Steve Bullock today announced that more than $31.6 million in federal housing tax credits will be allocated to six communities in Montana to preserve or build new affordable homes. "Having a safe place to live that Montanans can afford is crucial for the economic growth of our vibrant communities across the state," Governor Bullock said. "These homes are so important to providing stable h more PR

HELENA, Montana, Oct. 29 -- The Montana Department of Commerce issued the following news release: * * * - Big Sky Film Grant program supports the development of Montana's film industry * * * Governor Steve Bullock today awarded $500,000 in Big Sky Film Grants to feature film, television and documentary productions that will be filmed in Montana. "Montana is meant for the big screen, and these productions will highlight unique stories in which Montana becomes a supporting character," Governo more PR

HELENA, Montana, Oct. 31 -- The Montana Department of Commerce issued the following news release: Governor Steve Bullock today announced that six Montana businesses will share more than $600,000 in economic development grant awards. These grants will support the creation of up to 114 jobs at growing businesses across Montana. "Montana's economy is thriving and in order to make sure it remains that way, we must invest in local businesses and the people who fuel our vibrant communities," said Go more PR

BOZEMAN, Montana, Oct. 29 -- Montana State University issued the following news: Montana State University has launched a planning initiative that will involve Montana tribes in a "true equitable partnership" during every step of research that involves Native entities. The university began the collaboration recently during the inaugural MSU Tribal Partnership planning meeting held at MSU. More than 100 tribal representatives and university administrators, faculty, staff and students involved in more PR

BOZEMAN, Montana, Oct. 30 [TNSgrants] -- Montana State University issued the following news: One day, instead of requiring a painful needle injection, vaccinating against a host of formerly fatal diseases could be as simple as swallowing a pill. But getting to that point means first gaining a better understanding of how the immune system works in the complex human gut, according to Montana State University researcher Diane Bimczok. "There's a big gap in our understanding," said Bimczok, assist more PR

BOZEMAN, Montana, Oct. 29 -- Montana State University issued the following news: On the launch pad at White Sands Missile Range, the 10-foot section of a NASA sounding rocket housing scientific instruments designed and built by a team at Montana State University to observe explosive events in the sun's atmosphere was encased in Styrofoam to shield it from the New Mexico sun. Graduate student Catherine Bunn monitored the instruments' temperature, chilling them as needed with liquid nitrogen. Fe more PR

HELENA, Montana, Oct. 28 -- Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Matt Rosendale issued the following news release: Open enrollment for 2020 Obamacare health insurance plans starts this Friday, with cheaper prices across the board thanks to a new program championed by State Auditor Matt Rosendale. Every single health insurance plan sold in Montana's individual market will cost less in 2020 than it did in 2019 due to the Montana Reinsurance Program, with annual premiums being about $ more PR

MISSOULA, Montana, Oct. 31 [TNSgrants] -- The University of Montana issued the following news release: The Headwaters Foundation recently awarded the University of Montana's Big Sky Poll a $114,000 research grant for an investigation of the barriers to civic engagement in the state. The foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the health of Montana communities, serves 15 western counties and the Flathead Indian Reservation. The Big Sky Poll is an applied interdisciplinary learning experi more PR

MISSOULA, Montana, Oct. 30 -- The University of Montana issued the following news release: Patrick Barkey, director of Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana, has been elected the 2019-20 president of the national Association for University Business and Economic Research. AUBER is the premier professional organization for regional economics centers, with members from leading universities and affiliate organizations across the United States. "It is humbling to fo more PR

MISSOULA, Montana, Oct. 28 -- The University of Montana issued the following news release: The Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana recently won a national award of excellence in electronic publications for its Montana Business Quarterly magazine. The honor was presented by the Association for University Business and Economic Research (AUBER) at its 2019 conference in Savannah, Georgia. For 57 years, the Montana Business Quarterly has provided research on econ more PR

MISSOULA, Montana, Oct. 28 -- The University of Montana issued the following news release: Today, University of Montana President Seth Bodnar joined with strategic partners to launch the Tech Skills for Tomorrow Initiative, an effort aimed at providing education and training to address the high-tech workforce needs of Montana businesses. Bodnar invited several collaborators to the launch, including Amazon Web Services, Montana High Tech Business Alliance, Missoula Economic Partnership the Mont more PR

MISSOULA, Montana, Oct. 30 -- The University of Montana issued the following news release: American Indian and Alaska Native populations experience higher rates of mental health disparities than the rest of the U.S. population, with suicide as the second leading cause of death in 2014, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. So far there is little understanding of a culturally responsive approach to address this issue. Thanks to an American Indian/Alaska Na more PR

POLSON, Montana, Oct. 31 -- The University of Montana issued the following news release: In late-October, researchers from the University of Montana's Flathead Lake Biological Station hosted a workshop focused on advancing the scientific knowledge of mining impacts on water quality and salmonid-bearing watersheds. Thirty-nine science and policy experts from academic institutions, state and federal agencies, indigenous governments, and NGOs gathered at the FLBS facilities in Yellow Bay to parti more PR