Bozeman Build #72

Good morning, welcome back, and hello to new subscribers to the 72nd edition of the Bozeman Build Report covering Montana/Northern Rockies business and trade content. In this edition we covered teacher apprenticeship programs, giving locals access to priority hunting, State increased its loan incentives for MT wood producers, Whitehall gets new water infrastructure, Montana influencers, developments near water, Gallatin Valley Housing Report with interesting findings, busy weekend, and the Afton Star.

Enjoy,

DZ

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

Montana and Bozeman Trade Pulse

Montana trade pulse

July 2025 USDA Montana Newsletter was released last week (USDA)

July 2025 Montana Manufacturing News was released last week (MMEC)

• “ Additionally, we recently disbursed more than $38 million to ranchers who suffered grazing losses due to eligible drought or wildfire in 2023 and /or 2024. “

July 14 2025 Governor Gianforte, DLI Announces $4 Million Investment in Montana’s First Teacher Apprenticeship Program (State of Montana Newsroom)

Jul 14, 2025 The Best-Paying Construction Industry Professions in Montana (KULR8)

July 15 2025 Governor Greg Gianforte last week continued his 56 County Tour in Valley County and celebrated a new law that increases upland bird hunting opportunities for Montana residents. “Through the bill, we’re giving Montanans a 10-day head start for upland game bird hunting to encourage residents to enjoy our hunting season.” (State of Montana Newsroom)

Jul. 15, 2025 The Montana Department of Commerce Wood Products Revolving Loan Fund is now accepting new applications under revised guidelines adopted this month. The relaunch includes significant improvements to streamline access to capital, expand financing options and better support businesses in Montana’s wood products industry. (Commerce MT)

Jul 16, 2025 Fishing restrictions take effect Thursday on several rivers in southwest Montana (FWP)

Jul 16, 2025 Butte's historic steam plant gets $200,000 for structure-saving repairs (KXLF)

Jul 16, 2025 Seventeen horses and burros are available for adoption at the Hamilton training facility, with the online corral event happening through July 21. (BLM)

July 16, 2025 BLM Billings Field Office works with state agencies in Montana to conduct bat surveys (BLM)

July 17 2025 $2 million investment in a nearly-completed water treatment plant in Whitehall, one of many water and sewer infrastructure projects across the state. (State of Montana Newsroom)

July 18 2025 Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Director Charlie Brereton today announced the appointment of Dr. Daniel Bemporad as the interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Montana State Hospital (MSH). (DPHHS)

7/18/2025 Montana Maintains Near-Record Low Unemployment for Four Consecutive Years (State of Montana)

19 Jul 2025 Helix Exploration nears first helium production in Montana - ICYMI (Proactive Investors)

Montana YouTube Influencers

I was watching YouTube videos about a CAT 3406 engine (debatably one of the most reliable semi engines ever made) and noticed a Montana flag in the background of their shop and turns out this channel is Welker Farms based out of Shelby, Montana with 618K subscribers. On the note of Montana blue collar influencers, I also enjoy watching Meltin Metal Anthony with 109K subscribers, I believe he’s based around the Ennis area.

Love me some water access

Island Park 2004 - 2024

Canyon Ferry 2004 - 2024

Bozeman trade pulse

July 17, 2025 A Montana State University researcher is working to help transportation agencies and the U.S. military scan roadways and runways for potentially dangerous imperfections. “The hardware sensors are based on 3D laser triangulation principles to scan the pavement many thousands of times per second at highway speed to establish a 3D replica of the pavement surface. (MSU)

Jul 18, 2025 Chipotle opens new location by Gallatin High, more developments to come nearby (KBZK). This is Bozeman’s second Chipolte location, there is only one QDOBA.

Jul 18, 2025 The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and CK May Excavating plan to start chip seal work on Interstate 90 (I-90) the week of July 21, pending weather and other unforeseen factors. (KBZK)

Gallatin Valley Housing Report

I missed this back in April - my bad but I recall being super impressed with the 2022 and 2023 report. Here’s the link to the 2025 report published April 28, 2025 by the Gallatin Association of REALTORS - swmtrealtors.com/gallatin-valley-housing-report.

• There’s tons of sweet info in this study the more notable graphs were the Airport Activity on page 11 and the net migration declining to the rate of natural change. Increase in transients and decrease in locals here to stay?

• If the airport activity is true. Pre covid 2019 there was 63,000 monthly passengers. In 2025 there are appx 114,000 monthly passengers NEAR DOUBLE MONTHLY VOLUME over 6 years.

Bozeman 2004 vs 2024

Spanning from Love Lane to North 7th. Photos sourced from Google Earth.

Busy weekend debatably the busiest?

Discounting move in weekend or Cat Games. In between Music on Main, Music in the mountains PBR Big Sky, Big Sky State Fair, Googles Idea Retreat, it was really going on. I’m sure Whitefish/Kalispell felt busy as well hosting Under the Big Sky with some big country artists all in Montana at the same time.

Northern Rockies

July 19, 2025 Hoback Canyon in northwest Wyoming is notorious for being avalanche-prone. It’s been selected to get a new cutting-edge avalanche radar system that can detect potential slides 24/7 in any weather. That promises faster road closures and safety for drivers. (Cowboy State Daily)

July 20, 2025 Famous Sculptures Placed Around The World Come From Lander's Eagle Bronze (Cowboy State Daily)

Afton Wyoming Star

This star overlooking Star Valley or Lincoln County Wyoming got an overhaul in 2022. Building materials were transported up with a bulldozer, fabricated on site (steel), and has an LED strip running the top of the entire star. A bit more pronounced than painted rocks. See the Afton Star web cam here and star news article (SVI)

Thanks for reading,

Daniel Zavadil

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com