Annual economic tour focuses on Montana's transportation future

The Daily Inter Lake

As the country officially enters a recession, Montanans are wondering how the local and state economies will be affected.

Economic researchers and experts from throughout the Montana University System will be in Kalispell on Feb. 10 to fill in some of those blanks as they present the 34th annual Montana Economic Outlook Seminar.

It's part of a nine-city seminar schedule planned for January, February and March.

"It's shaping up to be an economic story that won't skip over Montana," Patrick Barkey said. He's the director for the Bureau of Business and Economic Research which sponsors the seminars each year. "It will be a challenging year for businesses, households and governments alike."

This year's seminar theme is "Montana's Transportation Future: Opportunities Around the Next Curve."

It features Steve Albert, director of the Western Transportation Institute, discussing the connection between Montana's transportation system and its economy. As in the past, economist Paul Polzin will highlight the latest economic trends and explain what they mean for Montana. He will present an economic forecast specifically for the Kalispell area.

Polzin will do the same in Great Falls, Missoula, Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Sidney and Miles City.

The forecasts are particularly timely because they incorporate the most current data and analysis, Polzin said, some as recent as this month.

Bureau researchers and other experts will examine recent trends and the outlook for Montana's important industries - tourism, real estate, health care, agriculture, manufacturing and forest products.

The series begins in Helena on Jan. 27. Each one runs from 8 a.m. until the end of the luncheon, about 1 p.m.

Kalispell's seminar will be in the Hilton Garden Inn on U.S. 93 at the south end of the city. The $80 registration fee includes the seminar, a proceedings booklet, lunch and a one-year subscription to the Montana Business Quarterly, the state's award-winning business journal (a $35 value).

Continuing education credits are available for a $20 processing fee.

For more information or to register, visit the Web site www.bber.umt.edu or call 406-243-5113.