Governor Brian Schweitzer

Governor Links

Marketing Assistance Program (Part of $400,000 per year in Made in Montana Appropriation to Department of Commerce - HB 2)
NxLevel Training Progam Expansion (Part of $400,000 per year in Made in Montana Appropriation to Department of Commerce - HB 2)
State Main Street Program - (HB 481 & $125,000 per year appropriations in HB 2 to Department of Commerce)

Increase Threshold Exemption for Business Equipment Tax to $20,000, exempting 13,000+ small businesses from business equipment taxes (44% of those now paying) - (SB 48, which also eliminates the trigger that would have led to an $80 million per year tax shift to homeowners and commercial businesses)
State Main Street Program - (HB 481 & $125,000 per year appropriations in HB 2 to Department of Commerce)
Made in Montana Program - (SB 329 & $400,000 per year appropriations in HB 2 to Department of Commerce)
Tax Credit and Purchasing Pools for Health Care Insurance for Companies with Fewer than 10 employees - (HB 667)

Marketing Montana Program in Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity Appropriation (Share of $300,000 per year GOEO Appropriation - KB 2)
Business Recruitment Program in Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity Appropriation (Share of $300,000 per year GOEO Appropriation - HI3 2)
Land Information Act (SB 98, creates information vehcle for recruitment information)

Big Sky on the Big Screen Film Industry Tax Credit - (HB 584 with tax credits -- 12% on Montana labor and 8% on various Montana expenses related to film- making here)
Ethanol Incentives - (SB 293 -- 15% gas tax reduction for distributors; 20 cents per gallon incentive for up to 10 million gallons for Montana ethanol production using Montana products; mandated market once 40 million gallons are produced in Montana; Board of Investments Value-added loan program adapted for ethanol facilities)
Wind Energy Incentives - (SB 445 - a market of sorts is created by the requirement that a percentage of energy portfolio must by wind and other alternative energy sources)
Bio-diesel Incentives - (HB 776 -- sale & production tax credits)
Aerospace Infrastructure Bonding Improvements - (HB 493)
Technology Tax Increment Districts - (SB 167 - focuses on technology companies)

State-Tribal Economic Development Commission, Extend for 4 more years and fund with $120,000 carryover - HB 18)
Indian Country Economic Development Program ($500,000 per year to Department of Commerce - HB 2)
Appointed first "non-acting" Coordinator of Indian Affairs in 3 years (Position previously left vacant for 3 years) and significantly increase salary to begin to be comparable to other cabinet members
Hired Indian Economic Development Specialist as part of staff in Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity

Allocate $5 million to "Job-Related" New Worker Training - (HB 271, supplemental appropriation & HB 2 appropriations to Department of Commerce)
Integrate "Job-Related New Worker Training into Department of Commerce to coordinate with other economic development efforts - (HB 270)

Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund - (nearly $3 million this biennium - to grow for 20 years before being capped -- HB 249)
Board of Investments Venture Capital Approach (no legislation required)
Fund of Funds Venture Capital Bill - (SB 133)
Preserving Urban Renewal and TIFID Revolving Loan Funds - (SB 345)
Angel Network Coordination - (SJR 3)
Aerospace Bonding Improvements - (HB 493)
Rail Branch Line Revolving Loan Fund - (HB 757)
Technology Tax Increment Districts - (SB 167)

Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund - (Nearly $750,000 this biennium for capacity building - to grow for 20 years before being capped -- HB 249)
State Main Street Program - (HB 481 & $125,000 per year appropriations in HB 2 to Department of commerce)