Bozeman Build #45

Hello and welcome back to the Bozeman Build Report covering trade news around Montana! In this edition we talk about Power Whiskey, Montana 2024 manufacturing report is released along with new 2025 programs announced, Laurel natural gas plant under re review, US Steel, Montana not on board with YNPs bison herd expansion plan, Black Butte Copper Mine gets the green light from MT supreme Court, MT pollinator seed mix, Uhaul publishes report showing top growth States in 2024, Bobcats, pallets now banned in Custer Gallatin Forest, weekly weather report, snow status, and the ultimate Montana mail delivery outfit.

Happy New Year!

Daniel

Support the Bozeman Build by advertising with us!

_{When and what is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered Monday mornings focused on Montana trades. We are not construction or financial advisors.}

Bozeman and Montana Trade Pulse

Montana and Bozeman specific section (Bozeman & Montana trade pulse)

Montana trade pulse

Dec 30, 2024 Power, MT native Ryan Pfeifle brews single malt Whiskey to offset the expenses of operating a barley malt farm. Farm Alazana whiskey is still a few years away from release as it ages in barrels. (Montana Ag Network)

January 2, 2025 MSU’s Montana Manufacturing Extension Center releases 2024 report. Below graphics were put together by the Montana BBER showing 2023 base earning industries along with GDP share.

January 2, 2025 The Smart Manufacturing Technologies Outreach Initiative is launching three programs in the 2025 New Year including… (MMEC)

• A Mobile Technology Unit, a large van that will travel the state for technology demonstrations at manufacturing facilities, workforce events, and other forums.

• Statewide Smart Manufacturing workshops

• Smart Manufacturing Technician certificate program at Highlands College, a new state-approved apprenticeship, and a program to place college interns in technology-focused internships at several manufacturing facilities each year.

Jan 03, 2025 The Montana Supreme Court ruled Friday that state regulators failed to conduct an adequate environmental review of NorthWestern Energy's Laurel natural gas plant, but the plant is allowed to continue to operate. (KTVQ)

January 03, 2025 TOKYO & PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nippon Steel Corporation ("Nippon Steel") (TSE: 5401) and United States Steel Corporation ("U. S. Steel") (NYSE: X) today issued the following statement on President Biden’s decision to block their proposed transaction. (USS Investor Relations)

Jan 3, 2025 Workers in Montana’s manufacturing sector saw their wages increase by nearly $8,000 on average over the past year, according to a new report released by the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center at Montana State University. (Bozeman Daily Chronicle)

January 3, 2025 Montana is suing Yellowstone National Park over its plan to increase the park’s bison herd. The plan the park adopted this summer allows the herd to grow to up to 6,000 animals. The ten year average of the park’s herd is around 5,000. The state of Montana wants the park to maintain 3,000 bison. This was a population target included in a court mediated settlement following a previous lawsuit that Montana filed 30 years ago. (Wyoming Public Media)

January 4th 2025 Montana’s highest court upheld the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation permit for the Black Butte Copper Mine North of White Sulphur Springs. Now the project can proceed as planned. (NBC Montana).

• BBCs landing page mentioned that the mine offers a STEM summer camp and tours. Visit blackbuttecopper.com/community/ for more info.

• The current drill program is planned to extend into mid summer of 2025 and is expected to lead to expansion and increased definition of the Johnny Lee Copper Zone. The company added a second drill in late November, 2025 and plans to add a third in January, 2025. (Resource World)

MDT Advertised Bid Packages

For the January 30, 2025 Letting (MDT Contracting)

• 201 – SF 169 N57 WID AND SLP FLAT

• 202 – BAD ROUTE REST AREA

• 203 – MT-200 WILDLIFE DETERRENT MAT

Drain field pollinator garden mix

Planned seed mixture/revegetation plan to be used for the drain field areas around a MDT project proposal for the (Bad Route Rest Area) renovation project. 23% grass, 57% flower/forb, 20% milkweed.

U-Haul Growth States of 2024

Super cool that U-Haul publishes these reports sharing data on where their customers are moving to and from. The top 2024 Uhaul growth states were South Carolina, Texas, North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. If were focused on the States surrounding Montana with high numbers of U-Haul immigrants were mentioning Washington ranking in at #7, Utah #9, Idaho #10, Montana #24, and Wyoming #36. The 5 States with the lowest growth were PA, NY, NJ, MA, and CA.

Here’s an infographic map showing 2023 figures by State, orange indicating top 10 growth States and blue highlighting top 10 move-out states. (Uhaul)

Bozeman trade pulse

Today Monday January 6th - Bobcats Meet North Dakota State with National Title at Stake! Kickoff is 5 pm MT/6 pm CT, and the game airs nationally on ESPN.

January 1st, 2025 The Bozeman Ranger District is implementing a new ban on the possession of pallets on National Forest System lands within the district. (USDA)

Jan 1, 2025 Bozeman School District is launching a new program to provide students with practical construction skills. The initiative, led by Career Outreach Coordinator Karl Schwartz, aims to prepare students for careers in construction by offering hands-on experience. (Montana Right Now)

Weather

Monday moisture instore across Montana daily highs ranging from a mellow 30-40 degrees throughout this week with some more snow across the State expected this weekend. Eastern half of the US receiving cold temps all week as the arctic blast works its way out of the States. The 10-15 day outlook is forecasting below average temperatures headed toward Wyoming and Montana starting next weekend (Jan 15-20th timeframe.) Weather models provided by Ag-WX.

Snotel update below showing most of Montana sitting around average snowpack with the exception of the Little Belt Mountains at 130% above average, Bridger range 110%, all Northern Montana Ranges at +110%. Montana snow underdogs include Mountains around Helena, The Beartooth/Absarokee Range, and the East side of the Sawtooths between Great Falls and Browning.

History of the week

1930 Ford Model A Rural Mail Delivery Cabriolet Convertible Coupe

This very special Model A Ford convertible coupe or cabriolet was originally manufactured around June of 1930. It is believed that this car was shipped new to eastern Montana by rail from the Ford assembly plant in Chicago. If you know how Model A's were distributed back then, please let me know. This car was modified in 1936 by Roman Chupp of Bloomfield Montana for Milton Hill, also of Bloomfield Montana. Milton used it to deliver rural mail around Bloomfield Montana which is in northeastern Montana. A Model T Ford truck rear axle assembly was installed along with four Goodyear 11.25 x 24 pneumatic tractor tires mounted on 24" tractor tire rims. These wide and tall tires let this car float over packed snow drifts as well as plow through deep loose snow due the increased ground clearance. (Geek Bobber)

Have a great week and please share what your working on,

Daniel

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com