Happy October and welcome to the 83rd edition of the Bozeman Build Report covering business and trade events happening in the Northern Rockies, thanks for reading today!

Todays post will be shorter than the average report although we still cover enough ground relating to a 2026 Freight Plan, growing beans, auctioning airplanes, tracking fires via satellite, and a few more stories.

_{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 Trade Pulse

The biggest public works project in Billings' history – the NEW Water Treatment Plant & Reservoirs are coming soon, and we need your help naming these reservoirs that will secure Billings’ water supply for generations to come! (Billings Public Works)

October 1, 2025 New Training Program Prepares Inmates for Job Opportunities in Manufacturing (MMEC)

Oct 1, 2025 Waterfowl season across Montana opens on Oct. 4. This includes ducks, mergansers, geese and coots. Swan hunting is allowed only by special permit. (FWP)

Oct 2, 2025 Large predator relocation notification law goes into effect. In anticipation of this law, earlier this summer FWP began informing county sheriffs, county commissioners and tribal governments within the county or tribal government boundaries where a large predator is relocated. (FWP)

Oct 1, 2025 NorthWestern Energy, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in partnership with River Design Group (RDG), have begun a project to improve habitat conditions for trout in an area of the lower Madison River. Trout numbers in the lower Madison River are at historic lows due in part to low population recruitment and limited spawning and rearing habitat. (FWP)

October 2, 2025 NorthWestern Energy, the state’s largest public utility, is asking regulators to allow it to temporarily tap a credit for customers to help pay for an additional $18 million associated with buying more of the Colstrip plant. (Daily Montanan)

Oct. 2, 2025 The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that more than $1.8 million in grant funding has been awarded to six Montana communities to support vital public safety and development projects in coal-impacted areas. The funding was allocated to these communities by the Montana Coal Board. (Commerce MT)

Oct 3rd 2025 The Montana Department of Transportation is beginning a federally-mandated process of updating its freight plan, a report that includes transportation statistics and looks at shipping problem areas. The 2026 Freight Plan will update the 2022 plan to comply with federal regulations — it also opens up the state to more federal funding through the National Highway Freight Program. Montana was projected to receive more than $15 million through that program in fiscal year 2025, according to the Federal Highway Administration. (Daily Montanan)

Oct 3rd 2025 - On Sept. 29, Montana Environmental Information Center filed a lawsuit against the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, alleging that the state failed to properly consider and disclose the climate impacts and greenhouse gas emissions associated with Yellowstone County Generating Station (MTFP)

October 4, 2025 National Park Service sites contributed to about 9,293 jobs in Montana, about $408 million in labor income, added $675 million in value to the state’s economy, and contributed about $1.2 billion in economic output, according to the report. (NPS)

Oct 4, 2025 Longtime Belgrade community development director Jason Karp retiring (Montana Right Now)

Oct 4, 2025 Despite tough season, beans remain strong crop for eastern Montana. The harvest is expected to continue until the end of October, with yields averaging about 2,200 pounds per acre. (Terry Tribune). Learn more about USA Dry Pea, Lentil & Chickpea Production at agresearch.montana.edu

MDT News

From MDT News

9/29/2025 On October 1, House Bill 586 (HB 586) becomes effective, updating Montana’s Child Passenger Safety Law. HB 586 mandates the type of restraint a parent or caregiver must place a child in while in a motor vehicle. Children under the age of 2 must be placed in a rear-facing harness seat; children ages 2 to 4 in a rear-facing or forward-facing internal harness seat; and children 4 to 8 in a forward-facing internal harness or booster seat.

• 9/30/2025 US 2 Rose Crossing to Glacier Airport project pauses for winter

• 10/2/2025 Ronan improvements at US 93 with 3rd Ave, Old US 93 complete

• 10/3/2025 Bridge deck rehabilitations to occur near Big Timber and Columbus during the spring of 2026.

DNRC News

From dnrc.mt.gov/News/

• 9/30/2025 Public Notice Slocum Creek Timber Permit - Hamilton Unit

• 10/3/2025 Public Notice Union Timber Permit - Missoula Unit

Northern Rockies

Found this map site called Data Center Map plotting active data centers around the World, here’s a regional snapshot.

Wyoming’s Big Horn County has a unique problem on its hands—16 vintage aircraft in various states of disassembly, and no way to properly store or make use of them. So county officials turned to the internet and are now in the process of auctioning the airplanes to interested members of the public, some for as little as $25. (Flying Mag)

September 10th, 2025 - Boise - The Idaho Department of Lands has partnered with OroraTech USA to become the first in the nation to deploy a statewide satellite-based wildfire detection and monitoring system, giving dispatch centers and firefighters a powerful new tool to protect Idaho’s landscapes, communities, and economy. (Orora Tech)

Sep 30, 2025 BLM delivers on administration priorities. Here’s a look at what the BLM accomplished in just the first nine months. (BLM)

Have a great week!

Daniel Zavadil

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com