ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PETER FOX, NRMEDD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE PROSPERA BUSINESS NETWORK Stuart Leidner, Executive Director Prospera Business Network U.S. Economic Development 2015 Charlotte Street, Suite #1 Administration, U.S. Department Bozeman, Montana 59718 of Commerce Phone: 406-587-3113 1401 Constitution Avenue, Fax: 406-587-9565 Suite 7800 Washington, DC 20230 STAFF SUPPORT Rob Gilmore, CDP, NRMEDD Executive Director Tom Rogers, AICP, Gallatin County Planning & Community Development Warren Vaughan, Gallatin County Planning & Community Northern Rocky Mountain Development Economic Development District Bozeman, MT 59715 David Fine, Park County (406) 763-4412 SPECIAL THANKS On behalf of the Staff a special thanks to members of the Report is hosted at: http://nrmedd.org/ NRMEDD Strategy Committee who provided guidance, support, outreach and technical knowledge to the creation of this Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. And to Mr. Earl Mathers, Gallatin County Administrator, who was instrumental in rejuvenating the NRMEDD. Finally, to all the dedicated individuals who make the District a vibrant and productive economy. 2 | P a g e Northern Rocky Mountain Economic Development District Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction …….……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………….7 A. Background ........................................................................................................................................... 7 B. Who We Are ........................................................................................................................................ 11 C. NRMEDD Board of Directors………………………………………………………………………………………………………….11 D. Partner Development Organizations in the Region ........................................................................... 14 E. History of Economic Development in Region ..................................................................................... 17 F. Organization and Management of CEDS Process ............................................................................... 19 G. Strategy Committee……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..22 H. Community Participation in the 2012 CEDS Process ......................................................................... 22 I. Organization of the Plan ...................................................................................................................... 24 Chapter 2: District Economy and Background Information.……………….…………………………………………………25 A. Background .................................................................................................................................... 25 B. Population & Demographics .......................................................................................................... 25 C. Socioeconomic Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 27 D. Existing Business, Industry Base, And Regional Clusters ............................................................... 43 E. Housing and Real Estate ................................................................................................................ 60 F. Healthcare ...................................................................................................................................... 63 G. Telecommunications ...................................................................................................................... 63 H. Transportation & Transit Systems .................................................................................................. 65 I. Education ....................................................................................................................................... 66 J. Public Services ................................................................................................................................ 70 K. Disaster and Economic Recovery and Resiliency Strategy ............................................................. 73 L. Wastewater Treatment ................................................................................................................... 87 M. Environmental Conditions………………………………….………………………………………………………………………89 N. Federal, State, and Local Resources………………………………………………………………………………………….105 Chapter 3: The NRMEDD Region: Economic Challenges & Potential…………………………....……………………107 A. Strengths / Opportunities ................................................................................................................ 109 B. Weakness / Concerns ...................................................................................................................... 112 3 Northern Rocky Mountain Economic Development District Chapter 4: Regional Goals & Implementation…………………………………………………………………………………….116 Chapter 5: Plan Evaluation ....................................................................................................................... 130 Appendix A: Resource Documentation & Bibliography……………………………………………………………………...131 Appendix B: Bozeman Meeting Summary………………………………………………………………………………………..141 Appendix C: SWOT Survey/Input Form……………………………………………………………………………………………150 Appendix D: MEDA – Livingston Assessment…………………………………………………………………………………..151 Appendix E: MEDA – Belgrade Assessment…………………………………………………………………………………..…212 List of Charts Chart 1: Gallatin County Demographics. Source: U.S. Census………………………………………………………………..26 Chart 2: Park County Demographics. Source: U.S. Census…………………………………………………………............26 Chart 3: Components of Employment, Gallatin County MT……………………………………………………………………28 Chart 4: Components of Employment, Park County MT…………………………………………………………………………29 Chart 5: Number of Jobs per Sector, Gallatin County 2009…………………………………………………………………….29 Chart 6: Number of Jobs per Sector, Park County………………………………………………………………………………….29 Chart 7: Average Earnings per Job & Per Capita Income, Gallatin County MT………………………………………..32 Chart 8: Average Earnings per Job & Per Capita Income, Park County MT…………………………………………….32 Chart 9: Wages and Employment, Services Industry vs All Other Industries, Park County 2010……………..33 Chart 10: Components of Personal Income, Gallatin County MT……………………………………………………………34 Chart 11: Non-Labor Income Share of Total Personal Income, Gallatin County MT………………………………..34 Chart 12: Components of Personal Income, Park County MT…………………………………………………………………35 Chart 13: Non-Labor Income Share of Total Personal Income, Park County MT……………………………………..35 Chart 14: Average Annual Unemployment Rate, Gallatin County MT…………………………………………………….36 Chart 15: Average Annual Unemployment Rate, Park County MT…………………………………………………………37 Chart 16: Inflow & Outflow of Earnings, Gallatin County MT………………………………………………………………….38 Chart 17: Inflow & Outflow of Earnings, Park County MT………………………………………………………………………38 Chart 18: Employment Change During Recessions & Recovery Periods, Gallatin County MT………………….39 Chart 19: Employment Change During Recessions & Recovery Periods, Park County MT……………………...39 Chart 20: Population, Gallatin County MT Compared to Montana………………………………………………...........40 Chart 21: Employment, Gallatin County MT Compared to Montana……………………………………………...........40 Chart 22: Personal Income, Gallatin County MT Compared to Montana………………………………………………..41 Chart 23: Unemployment Rate, Gallatin County MT Compared to Montana………………………………………….41 4 Northern Rocky Mountain Economic Development District Chart 24: Population, Park County MT Compared to Montana……………………….……………………………………..42 Chart 25: Employment, Park County MT Compared to Montana……………………………………………………………42 Chart 26: Personal Income, Park County MT Compared to Montana……………………………………………………..42 Chart 27: Unemployment Rate, Park County MT Compared to Montana………………………………………………43 Chart 28: Number of houses sold 2005-2010, Gallatin and Park Counties……………………………………………..61 Chart 29: Number of houses sold 2005-2010, Gallatin and Park Counties……………………………………………..62 Chart 30: Airplane Deboardings by Location Source: Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport………..65 List of Tables Table 1: Age Ranges, Gallatin and Park Counties (Source: U.S. Census)………………………………………………...27 Table 2: Top 20 Private Employers in Gallatin County……………………………………………………………………………30 Table 3: Top 20 Private Employers in Park County…………………………………………………………………………………30 Table 4: Annual Average Labor Force – Gallatin County…………………………………………………………………………35 Table 5: Average Annual Labor Force – Park County………………………………………………………………….............36 Table 6: Gallatin County Employment 2010…………………………………………………………………………………………..44 Table 7: Park County Employment 2010………………………………………………………………………………………………..45 Table 8: Gallatin County Retail 2010………………………………………………………………………………………………………48 Table 9: Park County Retail 2010……………………………………………………………………………………………………………49 Table 10: Gallatin County Agricultural Statistics…………………………………………………………………………………….50 Table 11: Park County Agricultural Statistics……………………………………………………………………….…………………52 Table 12: Lodging Facility Use Tax (4%) Collections, 2006…………………………………………………….………………..55 Table 13: Yellowstone National Park Visitors……………………………………………………………………….………………..56 Table 14: Big Sky Resort and Bridger Bowl Visitors…………………………………………………………………………………57 Table15: Bank Deposits in Gallatin County – June 2011…………………………………………………………………………58 Table 16: Bank Deposits in Park County – June 2011……………………………………………………………………………..59 Table 17: Single Family Residences in Gallatin and Park Counties………………………………………….………………60 Table 18: Residential Distressed Sales