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Executive Committee Meetings
9.16.24 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes
10.21.24 Executive Committee Meeting Recording
Policy Committee
01.08.25 Policy Committee Meeting Recording
Meeting Summary for Policy Committee
Date: January 8, 2025
The Policy Committee focused on strategies and updates regarding key legislation and initiatives:
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Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Bills:
Discussions centered on House Bill 19 and other TIF-related bills. The team emphasized supporting transparency in TIF processes while monitoring the potential impacts of proposed amendments. Concerns included the effects of the amendments on urban redevelopment, economic growth, and existing TIF districts. -
Senate Bill 1 - Blighted Area Definition:
The revised definition of "blighted area" raised concerns about its potential limitations on urban redevelopment and its applicability to unincorporated areas. The team agreed to support amendments but noted challenges if changes were not implemented. -
Addressing Vacant Buildings:
The team highlighted the economic and social impacts of vacant properties, particularly in smaller communities. An example from Lewistown was discussed to illustrate the challenges of redeveloping non-urban areas. -
Montana Border Investment Program:
Adjustments to infrastructure loan qualifications, particularly for rural areas, were explored. Discussions included increasing flexibility to support job creation and economic development in underserved regions. -
Workforce Housing Tax Credit Bill:
The bill was discussed as a key initiative to address housing shortages and support workforce development. It was aligned with the team’s policy priorities. -
Exploring Other Significant Bills:
Various property tax and infrastructure bills were reviewed for their broader economic implications. -
Conduit Bonding Expansion:
Changes to expand access to conduit bonds, particularly for wood products facilities and school trust lands, were deliberated. The team emphasized the importance of collaboration with legal experts to maximize the benefits for municipalities and organizations. -
Legislative Engagement:
A legislative dinner was announced to strengthen networking and advocacy efforts.
This concise summary captures the essence of the discussions and key themes without listing next steps. Let me know if further refinements are needed!
Conference Planning Committee
09.06.24 Conference Planning Committee RecordingMeeting Summary
The committee discussed the progress on securing a discounted rate and catering for the reception, as well as the need for cocktail tables. The team celebrated the $31,000 in sponsorships secured and discussed the possibility of using cookies or chocolates as speaker gifts. The team also confirmed the setup with Blue Pony Transportation for the tour. Things are moving into place and are looking on track for the conference in a few weeks.
Education & Professional Development Committee
07/09/2024 Committee Meeting Recording
Meeting Summary
The team discussed our underutilization of Grow America trainings and proposed leveraging messaging to increase enrollment. They also suggested inviting local experts to conduct webinars on topics such as responding to RFIs, TIF and TED overviews, and Brownfields 101. We have $40,000 to allocate for training by December. Great Falls was chosen by IEDC for a Rural Summit in June 2025, and the group proposed sponsoring this event with the full $40,000 to allow all MEDA members to attend at a discounted rate (typically costing $1,000 each). Commerce is supportive of MEDA's engagement with IEDC. The group agreed to present this proposal to the Executive Committee for further discussion.
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