MONTANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 1

MONTANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 1

ENVISION 2026 CABINET Ed Garding, Honorary Chair First Interstate BancSystem, Billings Don Chery Glacier Bancorp, Kalispell Erik Sletten Sletten Companies, Great Falls Bill Davies US Bank, Billings MONTANA CHAMBER EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP Webb Brown Montana Chamber, Helena Todd O Hair Cloud Peak Energy, Helena Aimee Grmoljez Crowley Fleck, Helena Greg Thayer Montana Milling, Great Falls This is about igniting sustained economic growth in our great state. WEBB BROWN, PRESIDENT/CEO Montana Chamber of Commerce Bill McGladdery Town Pump, Butte Richard Miltenberger InterWest Health, Helena Kathy Boelter Arrow Solutions Group, Billings 2 MONTANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

OUR VISION As the leading business advocate, the Montana Chamber of Commerce envisions a business climate that is optimal for Montana business prosperity. OUR MISSION To create and sustain an optimal business climate, business prosperity and a strong Montana economy, the Montana Chamber of Commerce, through advocacy, education, and collaboration works to provide an empowered and educated workforce, reduce business growth obstacles, and advance positions that promote success for Montana businesses. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES Over the next 10 years, the Montana Chamber of Commerce will create the opportunity for business growth and prosperity by improving Montana s business climate, quality of life, talent pipeline, and entrepreneurship through regulatory and legal reform, infrastructure investment and workforce development. TOP HALF PER CAPITA PERSONAL INCOME TOP 10 OF ALL US STATES IN GSP GROWTH TOP 10 OF ALL US STATES IN % OF JOB GROWTH TOP 10 OF ALL US STATES IN PER CAPITA PERSONAL INCOME GROWTH California Texas New York Florida Illinois Pennsylvania Ohio New Jersey North Carolina Georgia Over the next ten years we will track progress and seek ongoing engagement to support the Montana business community. Visit To view our digital dashboard demonstrating progress in relation to key Envision2026 metrics. MONTANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 3

1 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROMOTE AND SUPPORT STRATEGIES TO PROVIDE A QUALIFIED WORKFORCE STRATEGIES Seek to enhance and retain Montana s talent stream. Facilitate dialogue between business and education. Support candidates who advocate for enhancements to Montana s talent stream. Oppose legislation that would erode further development of Montana s talent stream. Seek to maximize the flexibility and responsiveness of K-12 and 2-Year and 4-Year educational institutions to meet local training needs and demands. Using the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Employment Projections and other credible resources as a basis, conduct an annual workforce development study to determine strengths and weaknesses in Montana s talent pipeline and promote public policy solutions designed to underscore strengths and resolve weaknesses. KEY METRICS Maintain Montana s top 25 ranking among US States in higher degree output and overall educational attainment as measured by the US Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics. Using the Annual Workforce Development Study, demonstrate trends in employment categories and identify training gaps at the K-12, 2-year and 4-year educational institutions. Maintain Montana s top 10 ranking among US States in the National Center for Education Statistics College Affordability Analysis. 4 MONTANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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2 BUSINESS CLIMATE REDUCE THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS TO IMPROVE THE BUSINESS CLIMATE STRATEGIES Embrace broad-based tax reform, including simplification and Business Equipment Tax relief. Reduce worker s compensation costs by proposing legislation that addresses issues such as ensuring worker s compensation insurance carriers have subrogation rights against at-fault third parties for medical claims and by leading initiatives that result in a safer workplace for Montana s workforce. Support a balanced Supreme Court, resulting in a predictable business environment. Propose legislation that reduces business costs(including health care costs), reduces business regulation, and improves the legal environment for business. Endorse and/or support legislative, statewide and judicial candidates who advocate for reduced business costs, reduced business regulation, and an improved legal environment for business. Propose legislation that improves Montana s business climate, including amendments to the Wrongful Discharge Employment Act, changes to the structure of Montana s Human Rights Commission, and oppose legislation that erodes the business climate. Oppose legislation that increases business costs, business regulations and serves to erode the legal environment for business. Seek to reduce extraneous permitting regulations and licensing. Support efforts to streamline the permitting and licensing process for industry. Seek to improve the regulatory environment for business. KEY METRICS Maintain Montana s top 10 ranking among US States in the Tax Foundation s Business Tax Climate Index. Improve Montana s ranking among US States in the Institute for Legal Reform s Legal Environment Index from #34 to the top 10. Improve Montana s worker s compensation ranking among US States in NASI s Worker s Compensation Analysis from 48th to among the top 25. Achieving the overall goal of strengthening Montana s business climate will not be easy and will not be free. It is gratifying to see Montana s business leaders rally behind this EMERGE IN TOP 25 great plan. ED GARDING First Interstate BancSystem Envision 2026 Honorary Chair 48 TH WORKERS COMP. RANKING MONTANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 7

We need to capitalize on our amazing assets and create our own future. 3 INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT PROMOTE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPORT BUSINESS STRATEGIES Support legislation that promotes public investment in basic services as defined by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Coordinate with the Montana Infrastructure Coalition. Endorse and/or support candidates who are committed to strategic infrastructure development. AIMEE GRMOLJEZ Crowley Fleck PLLP Montana Chamber Past Chair KEY METRICS Improve Montana s grade among US States in the ASCE Infrastructure Report Card from C-. 8 MONTANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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4 ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT MAINTAIN STATUS AS NATIONAL LEADER AND FOSTER ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT The Montana Chamber is an essential voice for Montana business and a leader in education and dialog on issues affecting all Montanan s. LANNY HUBBARD President and CEO of Montana State Fund STRATEGIES Support initiatives and specific legislation that enhances Montana s entrepreneurial support infrastructure. Eliminate barriers to entrepreneurial growth. KEY METRICS Maintain Montana s top 10 ranking among US States in the Kaufmann Entrepreneurial Index. Maintain Montana s top 10 ranking among US States in rate of New Business Start-ups. 0.5% RATE OF NEW ENTREPRENEURS 500 out of every 100,000 adults became entrepreneurs in a given month in Montana. Kaufmann Entrepreneurial Index MONTANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 11

RIVING ESULTS HAT ATTER Join the action. TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT ENVISION 2026 EFFORTS CONTACT: Webb Brown President & CEO (406) 431-9508 Webb@MontanaChamber.com Dan Brunell Operations Director (406) 431-3248 Dan@MontanaChamber.com 12 MONTANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE