Our Big Sky Vision - 2024 Update

2024 UPDATE

Our Big Sky VISION

Contents A LETTER FROM THE

04 COORDINATING COUNCIL (CCBS) TO NAVIGATE 05 HOW OUR BIG SKY VISION

06 STRATEGY SECTORS

06 Affordable Housing 07 Arts & Culture

08 Behavioral Health & Wellness 09 Business 09 Tourism 10 Education 11 Healthcare 12 Natural Resources 13 Recreation 13 Trails & Open Spaces 14 Social Services 15 Sustainability 16 Transit 17 Public Safety 18 Water & Sewer

19 WAYS TO ENGAGE

coordinating council of Big sky’s Vision Big Sky is a connected and thriving community within our resort town.

Mission

CCBS aims to coordinate, engage, connect, and influence community stakeholders including residents, workforce, non-profit and business leaders, and funders to shape impactful decisions and achieve the goals of Our Big Sky Vision.

A letter from the coordinating council Dear Big Sky Community, The Our Big Sky Vision, created in 2019, is being advanced for the betterment of our community’s residents and visitors. The origin of this vision came from engaged and active community members who realized that there was an opportunity to do something remarkable – create the vibrant, connected community in which we want to live.

Since that time, a great deal of progress in fulfilling this vision has been completed, and there is a great deal more to do in our ever-evolving community.

The Coordinating Council of Big Sky (CCBS) is responsible for delivering on this community-led vision. The CCBS is a combination of nonprofit and special district leaders dedicated to improving and building community. The vision of the CCBS is that Big Sky is a connected and thriving community within our resort town. To achieve this vision, the CCBS invites you to participate in further creating the community we want to live in together.

The following pages provide you an update on the Our Big Sky Vision. In each sector there are strategies and initiatives underway, and a sampling of milestones completed.

We invite you to join us in creating Our Big Sky. Your feedback and participation in this plan are key to its success.

The CCBS will be hosting a series of community forums to learn from you and provide an opportunity for your voice to be heard. Please join us! We are Better Together!

Sincerely,

The Coordinating Council of Big Sky

WHO IS THE COORDINATING COUNCIL OF BIG SKY? CCBS is a group of community leaders shepherding the Our Big Sky Vision and ensuring community input is represented in initiatives across sectors.

OUR GOAL

HOW TO NAVIGATE THE OUR BIG SKY VISION STRATEGY SECTOR

Defined area of importance to the Big Sky Community as defined by the 2019 Our Big Sky Vision. These may evolve according to community need and input in the future.

Create touchpoints in the community to ensure our work is reflecting the voice and the needs of our community.

STATEMENT

We rely on conversation with YOU to inform this goal going forward.

Strategy-Sector specific mission statement identifying the long term goal.

WAYS TO ENGAGE

INITIATIVES

• Attend a community forum • Reach out to strategy sector leaders • Attend publicly open board meetings

Initiatives advance the stated goal of the strategy sector. They address factors that are both important and urgent.

• Email us at ccbigskyinfo@gmail.com

SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS A highlight of some of the completed and ongoing progress made since the 2019 inception of the Our Big Sky Vision.

CONTACT

The individual who represents the entire strategy sector.

04 A Letter from the Coordinating Council (CCBS)

How to Navigate 05

S T RATE G Y S E CTOR

S T RAT EG Y S ECT O R

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

ARTS & CULTURE

STATEMENT

SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS

STATEMENT

SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS

A variety of stable and affordable housing options for local workforce and their families.

O NGO ING

Big Sky is an Arts & Culture hub.

ONGOING

INITIATIVES • Preserve existing stable and affordable workforce housing options across the community.

• Develop programs and tools to reclaim long-term rental housing that has been converted to other uses.

• Create a spectrum of affordable housing options to meet the needs of local families.

Good Deeds • Deed-restriction purchase program Rent Local • Long-term rental incentive program

INITIATIVES

Cold Smoke • Deed-restricted housing development

• Expand educational offerings.

C O MPLET ED

• Expand and improve year-round events and promote Big Sky as a year-round arts destination.

52 25

24 07 CONTACT

David O’Connor david@bigskyhousingtrust.org 06 Strategy Sector: Affordable Housing

12 02

MeadowView 52 permanently deed-restricted belowmarket condos sold to locals by Big Sky Community Housing Trust (BSCHT).

• Upgrade Arts & Culture infrastructure.

• Promote organizational diversity, equity, inclusion and sustainability.

Riverview Apartments 25 apartments built for low-income residents

by BSCHT.

Public Art • Gibbous and Lightning installation • Utility box wrap • Lighting improvement • Ousel Falls pollinator garden and sculpture relocation • Pedestrian tunnel mural New Events • Oktoberfest • Wildlands Festival • Metal in the Mountains

Riverview Apartments East 24 apartments built for moderate-income residents by Lone Mountain Land Company.

• Songwriter Festival • Savor

Yellowtail Residences 7 permanently deed-restricted below-market condos for sale to locals.

• Artisan Festival • Labor Day Art Sale

Big Sky School District 12 on-campus teacher residences built.

Big Sky Community Organization 2 deed-restricted employee apartments built.

WMPAC Fall Season Expansion • Building improvements and outdoor public art addition.

• LMLC summer concerts

CONTACT

Brian Hurlbut brian@bigskyarts.org

Education • ACBS art class expansion • Big Sky Artist Collective studio, multi-day classes, gallery • Kids music classes

Strategy Sector: Arts & Culture 07

S T RATE G Y S E CTOR

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH & WELLNESS STR ATE GY SE C TOR

STR ATE GY S ECT O R

STATEMENT

STATEMENT

A positive climate where businesses can prosper.

Quality visitor experience that is balanced with local needs.

INITIATIVES

INITIATIVES

• Serve the needs of the business community with retention and recruitment activities.

• Create a year-round destination economy.

BUSINESS STATEMENT

SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS

Holistic behavioral health & wellness options support our community members.

C O MPLET ED

INITIATIVES • Increase strategic and well-resourced staffing and diverse programming for wellness services in Big Sky. • Increase community education and prevention support, services and programs.

Behavioral Health & Wellness Coalition partner organizations onboarded and continually support new specialists- Peer Support Specialist, Community Health Worker, Bilingual Case Manager, psychiatry and other mental health staff.

Expanded community education and prevention offerings including: suicide awareness education, Holistic Emotional First Aid training, free mindfulness workshops, grief support groups, Promoting Healthy Boundaries series, and more.

Developed a grassroots, peer-to-peer Navigator Network, onboarding over 30 diverse community members who provide trusted, organic support and serve as key entry points to resources and help to reduce stigma associated with mental and behavioral health.

Coalition partners and the navigator network launched bewellbigsky.org- Big Sky’s resource navigation tool and a one-stop-shop to find local behavioral health and wellness resources.

CONTACT

Shannon Steele ssteele@bewellbigsky.org 08 Strategy Sector: Behavioral Health & Wellness

Established feedback loops between behavioral health and wellness coalition partners and navigator network. Navigators share key insights into mental and behavioral health trends, needs, and barriers to care, while coalition partners provide updates on the resources available to community members.

• Support the full-time and seasonal workforce in Big Sky.

SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS ONGOING • Prospera business roundtable and coaching initiative.

• Community workforce initiative.

• Develop Big Sky’s future leaders through the Leadership Big Sky Program.

• Continued data collection to assess cost of living and economic impact.

TOURISM

• Develop Big Sky into a world-class destination.

SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS C OM P L E TE D • Conducted 2023 Visitor and Resident Sentiment Survey with over 1500 respondents.

• Based on 2023 Survey and input from community stakeholders over 18 months, published the Big Sky Destination Stewardship Strategy and began implementation with action team networks.

• Data collection to support the tourism economy.

CONTACT

Brad Niva | brad@bigskychamber.com

Strategy Sector: Business & Tourism 09

S T RATE G Y S E CTOR

EDUCATION STR ATE GY SE C TOR

HEALTHCARE STATEMENT

STATEMENT

SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS

A quality, affordable, accessible education for all children.

Big Sky School District (BSSD) launched its 4K classroom, and Discovery added a second early childhood classroom. Greater Gallatin United Way (GGUW) launched the KidsLink summer camp, and BSCO and GGUW began offering after care programs.

All of this work helped to alleviate the need for more enrollment options for 3 and 4-year-old children during the school year and summer. The Arts Council has also created more opportunities beyond school hours for older children, adding classes and camps when there is no school or summer camp.

INITIATIVES • Increase available child care spots to meet demand.

• Increase affordability of child care.

• Increase affordable housing options for educators.

• Increase opportunities for students in summer and non-school hours.

Morningstar Learning Center (MLC) added two classrooms for children under 3, increasing infant and toddler care in Big Sky by 80%. MLC and Discovery each began offering need-based tuition assistance programs. MLC initiated an employee housing program to support the retention of early childhood educators in Big Sky, adding to BSSD’s work with Habitat for Humanity to provide housing for K-12 teachers.

CONTACT

Healthy populations with access to local high-quality healthcare services.

INITIATIVES • Improve access to medical specialties.

• Increase access to counseling and psychiatric services in Big Sky. • Expand transitional care to include palliative and hospice care.

SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS Hospice and Palliative Care Services Comprehensive End-of-Life Care and Support: Develop and enhance hospice and palliative care services to provide compassionate, patient-centered care for individuals with terminal illnesses, ensuring families receive essential support throughout the care process.

CONTACT

Kelly Reynolds kreynolds@bozemanhealth.orgorg Mariel Butan mariel@mlcbigsky.org 10 Strategy Sector: Education

Dustin Shipman dshipman@bssd72.org Strategy Sector: Healthcare 11

S T RATE G Y S E CTOR

NATURAL RESOURCES

STR ATE GY SE C TOR

RECREATION

STATEMENT

SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS

Our natural resources are enhanced and protected for future generations.

O NGO ING

INITIATIVES • Increase awareness for residents and visitors of local natural resource sensitivity.

• Improve water quality and quantity of local streams and aquifers.

• Enhance and protect critical habitat and connectivity for fish, wildlife & water.

• Improve natural resource data and assessments to guide management decisions.

• Alpenscapes: collaborative education and outreach for sustainable landscaping practices.

STATEMENT

World class, year-round recreational opportunities for Big Sky.

A connected community through trails, parks, and open spaces.

INITIATIVES

INITIATIVES

• Enhance BASE as an accessible recreational & community center.

• Expand trails and paths in Big Sky.

• Restoration projects at 35 locations along the Gallatin River.

• Landowner Assistance Program & noxious weeds educational signage at community trailheads to engage all community members in understanding the importance of native species

• Expand and enhance youth and adult athletic playing fields for residents of Big Sky that meet regulations to host tournaments and visiting teams.

• Noxious weeds educational signage at community trailheads.

• Little Coyote Pond and West Fork Stream restoration.

• US-191/MT-64 Wildlife & Transportation Assessment.

SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS C OM P L E TE D

12 Strategy Sector: Natural Resources

• Increase parks and open spaces.

SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS • Construction of a new park accessible to all residents and visitors.

• Offered 45 Health and Wellness Programs weekly.

C OM P L E TE D

• Expanded BASE hours during the winter months to better serve workforce.

• 18 miles of new trails.

• Hosted clubs and events open to the public such as Storytime, Book Clubs, Sewing Clubs, Health and Wellness Fairs.

Kristin Gardner kristin@gallatinrivertaskforce.org

• Create additional ADA compliant trails and opens spaces.

ONGOING

• Created after school program for elementary school students.

CONTACT

TRAILS & OPEN SPACES

STATEMENT

• Provide accessible and affordable behavioral health and wellness opportunities through recreation & programs for all ages.

C O MPLET ED

STR ATE GY S ECT O R

• Provided indoor rock climbing instruction, youth basketball clinics and games, indoor volleyball and dodgeball leagues and tournaments.

• Huff’s Trek, which is gravel and provides access to wilderness for persons with mobility challenges.

• Partnered with library to create a story book trail.

CONTACT

Whitney Montgomery whitney@bsco.org

Strategy Sector: Recreation & Trails 13

S T R ATE G Y S E CTOR

S T RAT EG Y S ECT O R

SOCIAL SERVICES

SUSTAINABILITY

STATEMENT

SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS

STATEMENT

SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS

Robust social services exist for a thriving workforce and livable community.

C O MPLET ED

A community-based solution to develop sustainability and climate neutrality.

One Less Car Commuter incentive to reduce single occupancy vehicles in the canyon.

INITIATIVES • Increase access to local, state and federal supportive services.

• Create new access points to service for both English and Spanish speakers.

• Develop coordinated entry and increase collaboration among all service organizations.

• Integrated Community Health Worker, Peer Support Specialist, and Bienvenidos Spanish Speaking Case Manager into client operations at the Big Sky Food Bank.

• Social Service partner organizations implemented a Community Support Group for J1 and other seasonal workforce; published new J1 and other seasonal workforce resource guide.

• Continued Voucher Program for workforce clothing and household necessities supports; on average, supporting Big Sky workforce with $3000/month for purchasing of produce and household necessities IN ADDITION to free emergency food box services.

• Offered Medicaid re-enrollment guidance, opportunities and counseling as well as application assistance for SNAP and other public benefits including Free/Reduced Lunch, Senior Groceries, Kidspacks and Snack Pantry program at the Big Sky School District.

CONTACT

Sarah Gaither Bivins sarah@bigskyfoodbank.org 14 Strategy Sector: Social Services

INITIATIVES • Improve building efficiencies and increase green energy supply.

• Reduce transportation emissions.

• Support local ecosystems and sequester carbon.

• Decrease waste sent to the landfill by increasing product reuse, food recovery, composting, and recycling streams.

Riverview Solar Collaboration with Big Sky Community Housing Trust to provide equitable onsite green energy to workforce housing.

Big Sky Resort Forever Project A focus on building efficiencies for one of the largest tourist attractions and employers in the community.

Procurement Guidelines Created a ‘How-To Reduce Business Waste’ through sustainable purchasing practices and implemented with largest employers and provided through the Chamber of Commerce to create source reduction for waste.

Sustainable Owners Association Workshops Facilitate Sustainable Owners Association Workshops to engage property owners and associations in collective best practices.

CONTACT

Lizzie Peyton bigskysno@gmail.com Strategy Sector: Sustainability 15

S T R ATE G Y S E CTOR

S T RAT EG Y S ECT O R

TRANSIT

STATEMENT Big Sky and the region have world-class transit infrastructure & services.

INITIATIVES • Commit high investment to expand coverage of Skyline Transit service, thus enabling car-optional lifestyle while improving transportation sustainability.

• Prioritize employees traveling from Gallatin Gateway, Four Corners, and Bozeman.

• Enhance and update existing facilities and transit user technology.

• Increase partnership opportunities with both private and public transit providers.

• Pursue new dedicated funding sources, such as local uniform mill levy, while continuing current funding sources to leverage federal grant opportunities.

PUBLIC SAFETY

SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS

STATEMENT

SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS

O NGO ING

The development and growth in the Big Sky community over the past 5 years have increased the demand for emergency services for Big Sky Fire Department, Gallatin County Sheriffs, and Search & Rescue.

• Increased Sheriff’s Department presence in the community.

• Introducing and expanding new transportation service modes, such as the on-demand Connect service, while increasing commuter service frequency.

• Public-private transit partnerships for seamless and integrated rider experience opportunities.

• Developing transit-supportive facilities such as park-and-rides in areas north of Big Sky, high quality bus stops/pull-outs and waiting huts on Hwy 64 and an in-town mobility transfer point.

• Enhancing transit’s appeal by introducing transit user technology, such as electronic fare payment and real-time data of bus location.

• New Fire Department Training Facility.

• Training new deputies to increase coverage to 24/7.

• Continue upgrading emergency communications infrastructure.

INITIATIVES • Enhance communications for all emergency responders.

• Educate and disseminate natural disaster information: community notification through Everbridge, emergency evacuation, and safety zones.

• Ensure sufficient public safety staffing for Big Sky Fire Department, Sheriff’s Office, Search and Rescue, and Emergency Management.

• Big Sky Fire Department hired a dedicated fuels reduction crew.

• Fire Adapted Big Sky - collaboration of community stakeholders that are vested in working together to build community resiliency and make Big Sky and its residents and visitors more wildfire adapted.

• Neighborhood ambassador program to actively assist community on fire preparedness protocols.

C O MPLET ED • Introduced on-demand (CONNECT) service in Town Center and Meadow Village area.

• Took delivery of several new/replaced vehicles, including 53 Passenger Commuter Buses.

CONTACT

Darren Brugmann dbrugmann@bigskytd.com 16 Strategy Sector: Transit

• Created 5-Year Strategic Plan to implement vision and goals for the immediate future.

CONTACT

Mike VanMeter | Michael.VanMeter@gallatin.mt.gov

Strategy Sector: Public Safety 17

S TR ATE G Y S E CTOR

WATER & SEWER STATEMENT

WAYS TO ENGAGE • Attend a community forum

• Reach out to strategy sector leaders • Attend publicly open board meetings • Email us at ccbigskyinfo@gmail.com

To be good stewards of the water and sewer system, environment, public health, and safety while providing reliable and sustainable services for the community.

INITIATIVES • Expand sewer treatment & disposal capacity.

• Expand water capacity.

• Water conservation.

• Stand-Up Canyon & Water Sewer District.

SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS • New water treatment facility completed in 2024.

• Continued water conservation efforts.

CONTACT

Johnny O’Connor johnny@wsd363.com

18 Strategy Sector: Water & Sewer

Ways to Engage 19

Our Big Sky

This Our Big Sky Vision update was made possible with support from the Big Sky Resort Area District.