Rebranding could help the town distance itself from past asbestos pollution.
Economy
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Social services give rural families a safety net
Issues of affordable housing and transportation impede rural families from getting out of poverty.
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In a shuttered mill, a Montana town sees business potential
Frenchtown is waiting on a Superfund designation to clean up toxic remnants.
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In a district losing money, students from afar fill the gap
After a mill closure, a town is offseting losses by allowing out-of-district students.
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No zoning? No problem.
Lack of zoning laws allow entrepreneurs to thrive in East Missoula.
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On the outskirts of Missoula, growth comes with challenges
An influx of new people to nearby communities has strained town systems.
Posted inFebruary 19, 2018: Unfrozen North
‘Orphaned’ oil and gas wells are on the rise
Wells left behind by industry threaten to overwhelm Western states.
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In Montana, houses are replacing farmland
Can lessons from Vermont keep local agriculture alive?
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What the two-wheeled tourist can offer tiny towns
Cycling tourism contributes nearly $377 million annually to Montana’s economy.
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How to turn motorized rec into a sustainable economy
In 2010, Challis, Idaho, created a trail for ATV riders. Now, it’s enjoying an economic boost.
Posted inMay 14, 2018: Death in the Alpine
Craft breweries aren’t a new trend — but co-op pubs are
In Montana, the town of Ronan hops on the brewery bandwagon.
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Can rural towns stem the trend of population decline?
Small-town Choteau, Montana, is working to find answers to the question that is plaguing 23 of the state’s counties.
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A majority of Montana counties face primary care shortages
The gap in health care access is particularly acute in rural areas.
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The ‘scenery economy’ reinvigorates a Montana town
Tourism has given Philipsburg new life — but it’s brought few permanent families.
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Nonprofits make rural home ownership more plausible
In the final part of a series on Boulder, Montana, a pathway for solutions for affordable housing woes.
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How to turn a struggling small town around
In the first part of a series on Boulder, Montana, a well-rounded economic development effort.
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The future of small-town Montana rides on public lands
From Dupuyer to Columbia Falls, a look at the growing recreation economy.
Posted inFebruary 19, 2018: Unfrozen North
Why some young professionals settle in small-town Montana
As rural areas struggle to hold onto youth, a look at a few young professionals who returned.
Posted inJanuary 22, 2018: A Separatist State of Mind
Hemp is one town’s way out of a uranium mining past
A former mining region embraces a trade with a ‘hippie’ reputation.
Posted inFebruary 5, 2018: Caught Between Crises
How Trump’s tax bill pits the rich against the poor
We are witnessing a government restructuring and a cultural divide widening.