Bozeman Build Report #29

Howdy makers of Montana

Welcome back and a warm welcome to all new subscribers to the Bozeman Build Report covering trade related activities happening in Montana and around the Northern Rockies. Today we’re talking about Amazon wages, affordable housing discussions, chain saw shops, West Post builders, foundations, pump trucks, NorthWestern energy 10 year MT anniversary, food production books, Reed Points 2024 downtown sheep drive, labor market easing, horse shoe art, homes for teachers, shooting range developments, fence line rebuilds, Basin Electric, and Gardiner. Please enjoy the next 5 minutes covering what Montana is made of.

Keep the saw sharp and happy to have you,

Daniel

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When, what, and who is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered every Monday morning focused on mountain West trades with an emphasis on Montana. We are not a financial or building advisors.

Bozeman and Montana Trade Pulse

Bozeman trade pulse

Amazon Locker started posting jobs at $16/hour

September 5, 2024 - On Monday, Sept. 23, Bozeman Mayor Terry Cunningham will host two presentations to discuss the state of affordable housing in Bozeman, and how city officials are responding to housing related issues. Both presentations will be the same, first at noon at the Ellen Theatre, and second at 6 p.m. at Gallatin High School.

Looking for a chain saw specialist - visit Matts Saw Shop and Lube it in Belgrade

Bozeman MT Project Portal

There were no “new” projects added within the previous 7 days.

West Post Developments

New big names coming to West Post Development. According to a photo from a reddit post it appears the following companies will build a new location here:

• Maverik - This will be their second Montana location, Helena was the first, not sure how Town Pump feels about this!

• Hyatt - Hotel chain

• First Security Bank

• Tractor Supply Co - Giving Murdoch’s a run for its money!

• CS Structures - A Bozeman based contracting group

• “Hotel with Small Indoor Water Park” - sounds like fun!

• Rivian - Some comments were mentioning this will be a service center

Cell wall pour South Bozeman

V concrete from Manhattan allowed me to stop by and take some photos of their great work earlier last week.

New Cats big Darktronics screen

Montana State University's Bobcat Stadium receives a video and audio upgrade in the summer of 2024, when an LED video display and custom audio system from Daktronics in Brookings, South Dakota

Pump truck

Based on a conversation with the truck driver, the City of Bozeman is looking to part ways with this truck soon since they will be upgrading.

Montana trade pulse

September 2024 USDA Montana Newsletter

Old news - August 20, 2024 - As part of the National Hydropower Day celebrations, NorthWestern Energy is excited to announce a special event to commemorate 10 years of hydroelectric power in their Montana service territory.

Aug 28, 2024 - Central Montana rancher addresses issues of food production in new book - “Feeding a Divided America: Reflections of a Western Rancher in the Era of Climate Change.” - Lewistown News

Sep 2, 2024 - Reed Point - 2024 Sheep Drive. Enjoy this downtown drive after a few political ads 🙂 

Sep 04, 2024 - HELENA — The Montana Department of Labor and Industry says there are signs the state’s tight labor market may be beginning to ease. - KBZK Read up on the 2024 Montana Labor Day Report Here

Sep 04, 2024 - HELENA — 
Helena Area Habitat for Humanity is looking for 40 women volunteers to work alongside women who are building their own homes to provide a better future for their families. - KBZK

Sep 04, 2024 - GREAT FALLS — In Fort Benton, a unique artist named Dale Robertson has been capturing the essence of the American West through his remarkable horseshoe sculptures. -KBZK Read more about Dales bio here.

Sep 04, 2024 - Ronan schools providing housing options for teachers -KBZK

September 4, 2024 - The Montana Supreme Court has overturned a lower court order temporarily suspending two pro-construction housing laws passed by the 2023 Montana Legislature, ruling Tuesday that the laws can take effect as a challenge brought by a Bozeman-based homeowners coalition is litigated. - Daily Inter Lake 

September 5, 2024 - HELENA – Approximately $260,000 was awarded to three projects through the Shooting Range Development Grant Program, which is administered by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. - Montana Outdoor

Sep 05, 2024 - Organizations and businesses in Wyoming are rallying to raise money to donate fence supplies to farmers and ranchers in need, following the wildfires this summer. - Montana AG Network

September 6, 2024 - Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota is one of the recipients splitting over $7.3 billion from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Basin Electric Power Cooperative is one of 16 entities receiving dollars from the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program. -KMIT

MDT News

20240906-150154 | Construction On Buckhouse Bridge To Take Place Sept. 9-10
20240906-120606 | Missoula Median Cable Rail Construction Starting Soon
20240905-131551 | Clean And Fog Seal Shared-Use Path Alongside Eastside Highway

Dormers with doors

Gardiner

Home of Buffalo Days and the North entrance to Yellowstone. I was recently curious to see which entrance of Yellowstone receives the most traffic, any guesses?

This data is from 2021 however it appears the North entrance through Gardiner admits the second most visitors out of 5 of its peer entrances.

Here are a few captures from working a job here last week.

Commodities

Covering volatility, building materials, and commodities of the Northern Rockies prices as of gathered from tradingeconomics.com 

Volatility

• WTI crude oil futures fell 8% last week marking their lowest level since June 2023.

• Milk increased 10.58% last week or 40.93% since the beginning of 2024.

Building Materials

Northern Rockies Ag

Weather

6-10 Day Outlooks

Warm smoky start to the week winding down in temperatures picking up some rain and fall temps mid week. Outlooks provided by the National Weather Service.

History of the week

Shows undercut or half tunnel effect being accomplished. Drill with handkerchief attached shows direction of drill hole for plug-shot in undercutting. From: "Construction Progress Report (1925) for Transmountain Highway, Glacier National Park" by W. G. Peters. - Montana State Library 

Have a great week and please share what you’re working on,

Daniel Zavadil

bozemanbuild.com & blockbiome.com