The Progress Volume 34, Issue 2
www.buttechamber.org
February
Monday 10th—Executive Board( (11:30)
Important Message From Marko to Chamber Members and the Butte Community
Thuesday 11th—CVB Meeting (12:30) Thursday 13th—Board Meeting (7:00 a.m.) Wednesday 19th—Ambassadors (12:00)
(406) 723-3177
The month of January 2014 didn’t start on a real positive note, with the announcements of the pending closures of JCP, the Copper King Hotel and Dave’s Shoe Repair. To even lose one employee is devastating, not only for that employee and their families, but for the entire community. As a community we are diligently working to save the businesses that are pending closure and trying to find investors to buy the businesses so that they may stay open or reopen. This is not one person’s or entity’s job, but the responsibility of the entire community, collectively.
Inside this Issue: Business Card Social
2
Chamber Choices
3
Did You Know?
4
New Members
5
Save the Date
6
CVB Update
7
Upcoming Events
8
Upcoming Events
9
Reinvesting/New
10
Reinvesting/New
11
Brad Wilson
12
Civic Center Events
13
Customer Service Seminar
14
Letters of Thanks
15
Business Trends
16
Butte has been through this scenario many times over the past 50 years and has always bounced back to be even stronger than before. The mine closures of the 80’s saw unemployment in our community approaching 20%. Chief Executive Don Peoples unified our community as one, and Butte bounced back as “THE CAN DO CITY” receiving the designation of “ALL AMERICAN CITY.” This all happened because of a strong leader who had a clear vision. We have many positive and exciting projects that many of us are working on, including new economic strategies under Chief Executive Matt Vincent with Butte-Silver Bow, the Butte Local Development Corporation and the Butte-Silver Bow Chamber of Commerce. All of us have been contacted during the past few weeks by numerous potential investors and businesses. An economic outlook report is due in February that will show a number of positive indicators for Butte’s economy, including an average income higher than any of the larger cities in Montana, a small but steady population growth over the past five years and the announcement of the state’s first Community Hybrid Fiber Optic Network. This network, scheduled to go live in the coming weeks, is a public private partnership among Butte School District No.#1, Fatbeam, Inc., MERDI, Inc., and ButteSilver Bow. It is also a perfect example of what we can accomplish when we all work together! All 34,000 of us, the citizens of Butte, are ambassadors for our community. When you are visiting with family and friends at a restaurant or on the streets of Butte, you never know who the people are that are next to you and what their purpose is in our community. These very people could be potential investors that could help our community to grow and prosper. In closing, I ask you to look back on our past to propel us into the future and remember that we are the “CAN DO” city. Our words, actions and attitudes are what people will see us as and let’s put our best foot forward to show everyone that we are the most resilient people and community in the state of Montana. Sincerely, Marko Lucich Executive Director
Business Card Social Hosted By Big Sky Living Big Sky Senior Living hosted our January Chamber/Business Card Social on Thursday, January 30th.
Butte-Silver Bow Chamber of Commerce Visitors’ Center 1000 George St. Butte, MT 59701 (406) 723-3177
It was well attended by almost 100 community members. The piano played in the background while the crowd visited, ate amazing food catered by their kitchen. The night was great for visiting with old friends as well as meeting some new one. A great number of new members were in attendance! Big Sky Senior Living prepared three amazing gift baskets for business card giveaways. They also let everyone know about their next event, which will be February 14th at Big Sky Senior Living— A Chocolate Extravaganza!
Executive Board
Board of Directors Shane McCarthy, Safeway
Paula Ruark, President Town Pump Hotel Group Pete Akey, President-Elect Glacier Bank Jim McKenzie, Treasurer Newland & Co. Ed Stepan, Vice President REC Silicon Mark Hughes, Vice-President Super 8/CVB President Desiree Shogren, Vice-President Comfort Inn of Butte Paul Tash, Vice-President Tash Communications Todd Tregidga, Vice-President Montana Tech
Desiree Shogren, Comfort Inn of Butte
Don Peoples, Individual Member Cindi Shaw, Council of Commissioners
Ed Stepan, REC Silicon
Pat Fleming, Fleming & O’Leary Attorneys
Paul Tash, Tash Communications
Jim Woy, Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co., P.C.
Alana Ferko, Butte Plaza Mall
Lynn Lloyd, Montana Standard
Linda Granger, School Trustee/Highlands College
Chuck Wright, St. James Healthcare
Paul Babb—Northwestern Energy
Chris Ackerman, Cherry Creek Radio
Tami O’Connell, Stix & Stonz
Herb Kelsey, Farm Bureau Financial
Karen Corbin, KXLF TV
Judy Jonart, School District #1
Maura Uggetti, Copper Ridge Healthcare
Andy Zdinak, BLDC
Becky Sprunger, United Blood Services
Jeff Gorman, McDonald’s
Colin Higgins, Mackenzie River Pizza
Kristen Rosa, Butte-Silver Bow
Bob Bentley, Jr., Bentley Construction
Machelle LeProwse, JCP
Matt Vincent, BSB Chief Executive
Todd Tregidga, Montana Tech
Donald Blackketter, Chancellor Montana Tech
Pete Akey, Glacier Bank
Paula Ruark, Town Pump Hotel Group
Jim McKenzie, Newland & Co.
Meet the Staff
Marko Lucich, Executive Director — mlucich@buttechamber.org Maria Pochervina, CVB Director/TBID Executive Secretary—mariap@buttecvb.com Stephanie Sorini, Marketing, Membership & Bookkeeping Director —marketing@buttechamber.org Cheryl Ackerman, Receptionist/Staff Associate — bsbchamber@gmail.com
Montana Chamber Choices
Chamber Choices Still Connecting You to Affordable Health Coverage Options! Change can be exciting, innovative and rewarding; we anticipated this type of change with the decision to endorse the Associated Employers Benefit Plan and Trust. AE Group Benefit Plan and Trust can provide Chamber Choices members and small businesses across Montana a variety of options in Health Benefits that we have offered in the past- and more such as: group medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans. AE Benefit plans operate in a similar way Chamber Choices operated before, the AE Benefits Plan offers saving to its members in the form of rate stabilization. Another benefit to the AE Trust is that administrative costs are less than 10%, whereas with most insurance carriers it is around 20%. AE also brings new options to small businesses with the AE Private Exchange, “Bright Choices.” Bright Choices is a different way to buy employee benefits. This online portal allows you to give your employees a set amount of money or defined contribution and then each employee has the option to choose the benefit package that best suits their needs. In addition and separate of the Private Exchange, AE Group Benefit Plan and Trust offers several health insurance options as well as ancillary benefit options. The AE Health Trust offers its members a self-funded group trust with many different deductible and coinsurance options that can be tailored to fit the needs of your organization. Members can choose from High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP’s) or traditional plans that are also HSA eligible plans as well. Just like Chamber Choices, AE offers a variety of ancillary benefits such as Vision Service Plan (VSP), Dental benefit options and many more. Remember Chamber Choices coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield can continue until your renewal in 2014. Then, the Affordable Care Act requires you to select another choice. Chamber Choices will no longer be an association health insurance program once those renewals are complete. However, Chamber Choices encourages you to check out our new endorsee-Associated Employers. For more information on Associated Employers go to www.associatedemployers.org or if you have other questions please contact Kim Weisert at 406-442-2405 ext. 105 or kim@montanachamber.com
Volume 34, Issue 2
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Did you Know?
Who hosted the very first Winter Olympics? ANS: Chamonix, France in 1924. Who was the first Winter Olympic Gold Medalist? ANS: Charlew Jewtraw from Lake Placid in the US What event did Charlew Jewtraw win the first Gold Medal in? ANS: 500 meter speed skating
Page 4
Why is the Super Bowl measured in Roman Numerals? ANS: Because a football season runs over two calendar years. Which player has won the Super Bowl MVP three times? ANS: Joe Montana When was the first Groundhog’s Day? ANS: February 2, 1887
The Progress
*new members become active and are listed when payment is received. Manson Law Firm, PC Law Firm Daniel D. Manson, Attorney at LAw 501 E. Park St., Ste #102 Butte, MT 59701 Phone: 406-497-7875 Email: office@mansonlawmt.com Website: www.mansonlawmt.com Butte Motor Company DBA Butte GM Auto Car Dealership Wayne Sterns, Manager 3900 Harrison Ave. Butte, MT 59701 Phone: 406-494-3031 Website: www.gmofbutte.com
Twisted Sisters Boutique Mistina Lee, Noelle McGree, co-owners 2214 Amherst Ave. Butte, MT 59701 Phone: 406-494-6868 Website: www.shoptwistedsisters.com/ Whitnee’s Boutique & Salon Whitnee Whalen, Owner 1207 E. Front St. Butte, MT Phone: 406-422-3935 Email: whitnee@whitneeselite.com Website: www.whitnesselite.com
The Salvation Army Non-profit Douglas Rykiel, Caseworker 1229 Harrison Ave. Butte, MT 59701 Phone: 406-782-7863 Email: douglas.rykiel Website:www.imsalvationarmy.org
Bagdad Shrine Center Non-profit/Fraternal/Hospital Network Tara, Secretary 314 W. Park St. Butte, MT 59701 Email: bagdadshrine@hotmail.com Phone: 406-782-6949
Mariah Day McCarthy Scholarship Foundation Non-profit organization/Education & Scholarship Jon Wick, Executive Director P.O. Box 66 Butte, MT 59703 Phone: 406-498-6328 Email: info@mariahschallenge.com Website: www.mariahschallenge.com
Encore Entertainment Network, LLC Entertainment, Conventions John Raymond, Owner 3001 Wynne Butte, MT 59701 Phone: 406-565-4300 Email: encore.johnraymond@gmail.com Website: corpentertainment.net Herbergers Retail Tom Rolfson, Manager 3100 Harrison Ave. Butte, MT 59701 Phone: 406-494-5366 Website: www.herbergers.com
Paper Lantern Lighting! Butte High students, lead by Montana History club’s Rebecca Schnabel and Maggie Gammons, are selling paper lanterns, $5 each, in honor of the recent suicides in the community. All the proceeds are being donated to a suicide prevention program. (The students are currently looking into which program they will be donating to.)
Where: Original Mine Yard When: Saturday, February 22, 2014 Time: 6:30 p.m. More information to follow! Contact Chris Fisk at 490-0646 if you need more information. The Butte Chamber of Commerce takes these recent events seriously and would strongly encourage anyone in the community to donate to the cause!
An Update from the Convention & Visitors Bureau Great news to share!!!! The Montana Office of Tourism (MTOT) awarded the Butte CVB a grant from the Tourism e-Marketing Technology Grant monies in the amount of $9,000 for a Butte Virtual Tour Website and Mobile App. The grant application was submitted through the Butte CVB in cooperation with: City-County of Butte-Silver Bow (BSB) Local Government’s Justin Ringsak, Butte Chamber of Commerce, Mainstreet Uptown Butte, BSB Parks & Recreation Department, BSB Historical Preservation Office, Forest Service and Butte Local Development Corp. The total cost of this project is estimated at $22,810.00. This project meets the needs of a Visitor Assessment funded by the BSB Historical Preservation Office conducted by consultant Vicky Soderberg of Cygneg Strategies. The assessment reinforced what the CVB, BSB Government, and others felt; Butte needs a greater online presence offering comprehensive and accurate information. Moving forward I will be working with Justin and others in the tourism community to gather content for the Virtual Tour Website and Mobile App. It our goals to have a minimum of 25 attractions and sites along with 25 businesses represented in Year 1. The launch date for both the Virtual Tour and the Mobile App is July 2nd. As we move forward I’ll keep you posted. On January 8 & 9th a small dynamic group met in Helena to begin the process of putting together a marketing plan to attract meetings and conference to Butte. Present at the retreat was: Dorea Wilmoth, Desiree Shogren, Trina Peterson, Joan Kronebusch from the Town Pump Hotel Group, Melissa Bolton Best Western/Hampton Inn, Mark Hughes-Super 8, Julie Shelton-Fairmont, Bill Melvin-Butte Civic Center, John Raymond-Encore Entertainment, Marko Lucich-Chamber, Bill McGladdery-representing the TBID was with us on the 8th. Pam Gosink from the MTOT facilitated the function. We identified Butte’s traditional and non-traditional meeting facilities, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT) analysis, our market(s), and where we go as we move forward with deadlines. John Raymond offered to set up a survey to the association market to determine how Butte meets the meeting criteria for a conference location. The group also was able to set up a very preliminary budget for the TBID board to review and discuss. It was a great format for us to meet, share information and ideas. Now we just have to get moving on getting projects accomplished. I hope all of you are in great health and spirits as we begin to close out the winter season and look forward to springtime in Montana.
Maria Pochervina-CVB/TBID
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The Progress
Upcoming Butte Chamber of Commerce and Community events: February 1st, 2014, Chinese New Year Parade celebrating The Year of The Horse. Starts at BSB Courthouse. For details visit www.maiwah.org February 3rd, 2014, "The Miracle Worker" at The Motherlode Theatre at 8:00pm. Call 723-3602 or www.buttearts.org for details. February 6, 2014~39th Annual Economic Outlook Seminar~Making Montana The First Best Place~How Entrepreneurship is Creating High Paying Jobs~ at La Quinta Inn. Register Online at www.bber.umt.edu Or 406`243-5113 February 7 & 8th, 2014~Elite Professional Bullriders Finals~at the Butte Civic Center Friday~after the finals stay for The Dirty Shame Band Saturday~The Copper Mountain Band February 11 & 12, 2014 at 8:00am-5:00am "Grant Proposal Writing Class" classes will be held at Headwaters-65 E. Broadway. Register today by calling 533-6780 orwww.regonline.com/headwaterssbdcgrantclass February 13, 2014 from 5:30pm-7:00pm Business Card Social at Montana Tech Business Department February 15, 2014, at the Butte Civic Center~Beach Party with Garrett Wilkins and the Parrot Heads (Jimmy Buffet tribute band) February 18, 2014 at 7:00pm Marquis Vintage Suites Dementia/Alzheimer Support Group at Marquis Vintage Suites Community Center-300 Mount Highland Drive~for additional details call Dan at 494-0083 February 21, 2014, Digger's Uncorked~7-10pm Front Street Station~tickets can be purchased at Hennessy Market, Mackenize Rive Pizza, Summitt Beverage orwww.go.mtech.edu/events/diggers-uncorked-2014 February 22nd, 2014, The Butte Symphony presents "Classical Music from the Movies" at The Mother Lode Theatre at 7:30pm. For additional details please call 723-5590 orwww.buttesymphony.org. February 27th, 2014, from 4:00-6:00pm at the Marquis Vintage Suites Community Center at 300 Mount Highland Drive~Alzheimer's CafĂŠ~ a social setting for anyone that would like to bring someone with Alzheimer's or Dementia. Dinner will be provided as well as entertainment. March 1, 2014, at Butte Civic Center~ Harlem Globetrotters March 16, 2014 at The Butte Civic Center~"Spring Bridal Fair" March 18, 2014~ at 7:00pm Marquis Vintage Suites Dementia/Alzheimer Support Group at Marquis Vintage Suites Community Center300 Mount Highland Drive~for additional details call Dan at 494-0083 March 27th, 2014 , from 4:00-6:00pm at the Marquis Vintage Suites Community Center at 300 Mount Highland Drive~Alzheimer's CafĂŠ~ a social setting for anyone that would like to bring someone with Alzheimer's or Dementia. Dinner will be provided as well as entertainment. For additional details call Dan at 494-0083 March 27th, 2014, Business Card Social at the Butte Chamber of Commerce forToastmaster's Top of the Morning. March 30th, 2014, "The Addams Family, A New Musical Comedy" at The MotherLode Theatre at 7:00pm. Please call 723-3602 or visit www.buttearts.org for additional details. April 2nd, 2014, Bagdad Shrine Center will have a benefit concert for their transportation fund to transfer children (patients) and their families to one of their hospitals for treatment. 6:00pm at the Masonic Ball Room at 315 W Galena. The entertainer will be "Cowboy Brad Fitch", a John Denver tribute. Costs of tickets are a donation to the transportation fund. For additional details call 782-6949 or 7233251 . April 3rd-6th, 2014~7th Annual Butte Depot-Crossroads Shootout 4 on 4 full court Basketball Tournament~Benefiting Mariah's Challenge. April 4th, 2014, "Hair" will be performed at The Mother Lode Theater at 8:00pm. Please call The Mother Lode at 723-3602 or www.buttearts.org for additional information.
April 15th, 2014~~ at 7:00pm Marquis Vintage Suites Dementia/Alzheimer Support Group at Marquis Vintage Suites Community Center-300 Mount Highland Drive~for additional details call Dan at 494-0083 April 16 and 17th, 2014 Montana Small Business Development Centers~ "Invest in Success~Embracing Technology for your Small Business" at Montana Tech.www.regonline.com/investinsuccess for more details.
April 23rd, 2014 Business Card Social~Butte Plaza Mall April 24th, 2014 , from 4:00-6:00pm at the Marquis Vintage Suites Community Center at 300 Mount Highland Drive~Alzheimer's CafĂŠ~ a social setting for anyone that would like to bring someone with Alzheimer's or Dementia. Dinner will be provided as well as entertainment. For additional details call Dan at 494-0083 April 26th, 2014, The Butte Symphony presents an evening of Russian and French Classics at The MotherLode Theatre at 7:30pm. For additional details call 723-3602 or visit www.buttearts.org. April 26th, 2014, Montana Tech~Digger Auction~at the HPER at Montana Tech May 2nd, 2014, Uptown Art Walk from 5:00-9:00pm. For additional details visitwww.facebook.com/uptwonartwalk May 7, 2014, Bill Drury Customer Service Seminar~Butte, MT (more info to follow) May 2014, Date TBD:
Business Card Social at The Marquis Vintage Suites
Upcoming Festivals: St. Patrick’s Day~ March 16th and 17th Contact: Linda 406~299~3067 Butte Freedom Festival~ July 3rd Fireworks July 4th Parade Contact: Linda 406~299~3067 Montana Folk Festival~July 11, 12 & 13 Contacts: George 406~565~2249 Evel Knievel Days~ July 24, 25 & 26 Contact: Chad 406~491~6066 AnRiRa~August 8, 9 & 10
Sincere Thank You to our 2013-2014 Reinvesting Members! A-1 Ambulance A&M Fire Safety Aaron’s Aaron m Shearman, DDS ABC – 18 KWYB TV Acadia Montana Ace Hardware Ackerman Insurance Agency Advanced Dermatology AggQuip, LLC American Federal Savings Bank Amherst Animal Hospital Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co., P.C. ARC Electric Auto Magic Bagdad Shrine Center Baker Auto & Towing Bank of Butte Beaverhead/Deerlodge Forest Belmont Senior Center Bentley Construction Co. Bert Mooney Airport Beruble, Dan Best Western Plus Butte Plaza Inn Better Business Bureau Big Brothers Big Sisters of Butte Bob Ward & Sons Books & Books Bowman Appliance Service Boyd Taylor, CPA, PC Brooks Hanna Ford BSW, Inc. Burke Partners, LP Butori Collision Center Butte Board of Realtors Butte Broadcasting - KBOW, KOPR, KGLM Butte Business Center Butte Care & Rehabilitation Center Butte Center for the Performing Arts Butte Civic Center Butte Community FCU Butte Copper Company Butte Days Inn Butte Family Dental Butte Family YMCA Butte Glass Volume 34, Issue 2
Butte GM Auto Center1 Butte Job Service Butte Mini Nickel Butte Pathology, LLC Butte Produce & Supply Co. Butte Rescue Mission Butte School District #1 Butte-Silver Bow Business Dev. Center Butte-Silver Bow County Attorney Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Butte Weekly Career Futures Carpet Mill Outlet CCCS, Inc. Charles A. Kestle AIA & Associates Charter Business 1 Clean-N-Dry Laundry Services Columbia Plaza/Highland View Manor Comfort Inn of Butte Communication Matters Community Coordinated Child Care Continental Divide Chapter CHRM Copper City Wireless Copper Ridge Health & Rehabilitation Center Corette Black Carlson & Mickelson P.C. Costco Wholesale Courtney, Ann Mullany Courtney, Michael Creative Illusions D.A. Davidson & Co. DanManson, Attorney At Law Daniel Financial Services Daniel Insurance Agency, Inc. Dave Svejkovsky Construction, Inc. Davis Business Machines Dee Motor Co. Diana Hoshue Driscoll’s Pharmacy Eagle Satellite of Butte, Inc. EASE Medical Management & Billing Company Easter Seals – Goodwill ED Tech FCU Edward Jones Investments, John Chioutsis Empire Office
Erb, Beverly M. Eric H. Johnson, DMD Express Employment Professionals Fairmont Chalets Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Fairmont RV Park Farm Bureau Financial Services Fickler Oil Co., Inc. Finlen Hotel First Baptist Church of Butte First Citizens Bank First Montana Bank Fleming & O’Leary, PLLP Front Street Market Front Street Station Frontier Home Health & Hospice Gem Mountain Glacier Bank Golden Sunlight Mine Gollehon, Greg Granite Mountain Bank Great Harvest Bread Greenfield Printers H & H Contracting H&R Block-Butte Harrington’s Floor & Window Coverings Harrington’s Surgical Supply Harrington Pepsi Cola Harrison Avenue Realty Headframe Spirits Inc. Hertz Rent A Car Herzog, Dr. James P., DDS Highland Hearing Center PLLC Highlands Veterinary Hospital Hoffmans R&M Services Holiday Inn Express & Suites Homestake Lodge Homestead Real Estate Howard Consulting, LLC Human Resource Council (HRC) Insty Prints of Butte J & C Body Shop Jack Atcheson & Sons Jensen Jewelers Jim Gilman Excavating, Inc. Jordan Contracting, Inc. Page 10
Sincere Thank You to our 2013-2014 Reinvesting Members! K & K Roofing Kissock Realty Kleen King of Butte, LLC KXLF TV Legion Oasis Apartments, Inc. Leo McCarthy Insurance Agency Les Schwab Tire Center #909 Lisac’s Tri Stop & Casino Little Caesars Lucky Lil’s Casino Lydia’s MacDonald Auto Repair MacKenzie River Pizza Co. Mahugh Fire& Safety, LLC Main Stope Gallery Mariah’s Challenge Mark Rule & Co. Marko Lucich Markovich Construction & Real Estate Marquis Vintage Suites Mary Walks, CPA & Associates Matt’s Place McDonald’s of Rocker McGlashan, Zena Beth McLeod Realtors, LLC Meadow Gold Dairy Mergenthaler Transfer & Storage Mile High Federal Credit Union Millers Boots & Shoes Monson, Dr. Michael Montana Abstract & Title Company Montana Broom & Brush Montana Chamber Choices Montana Club Montana Orthopedics Montana Precision Montana Resources Montana Retail Montana Standard, The Montana Tech Digger Athletic Association Montana Tech Foundation Montana Tech of the University of Montana Montana Wilderness Association Morris Marketing Morrison-Maierle, Inc. Page 11
Motel 6 NCAT Northwest Noodles ‘n Wraps Northwest Pipe Fittings, Inc. Northwestern Mutual Financial Network O’Keefe Drilling Old Works Golf Course Optimum Our Lady of the Rockies Papa Murphy’s Take-N-Bake Pizza Pat Foster Insurance/State Farm Patience Peale Pekin Noodle Parlor Perkins Family Restaurant & Bakery Pioneer Technical Services, Inc. Pioneer Weed Control, Inc. Pizza Hut PJ Trophies Poor, Roth & Robinson, P.C. Pork Chop Johns Port of Montana PPL Montana Prigge & Otten, P.C. Pro-Build Public Housing Authority Quarry Brewing LLC Quiznos Sub Ray E. Peterson, CPA, LLC REC Silicon Redline Sports Rhodia, Inc, Riddles Jewelry Rocky Mountain Eye Clinic Rocky Mountain Hospice Rocky Mountain Insurance Rocky Mountain Sleep Disorder Center Royse’s Hamburgers, Shakes & More Rusty Canvas Safe Space Salvation Army Shea Realtors & Home Improvement Center Shepperd’s Candies Silver Bow Center Silver Bow Pizza Parlor Sims, Paul G., DDS, PC
Sorini, Dr. Peter, MD Southwest Montana Community Federal Credit Southwest Montana Financial Center Special Olympics Montana Special Olympics Montana – Southwest Area Spherion Staffing & Recruiting Splash-N-Dash St. James Healthcare Staack’s Motorsports Stacey L. Carpenter, CPA Start Now Personal Training Services Steele’s Furniture Appliance & Electronic Stix & Stonz Carpet Subway of Butte Summit Beverage Summit Surgery Center, LLC Sun Rental Center / Party Tyme Super 8 Sysco Montana Tash Communications The Peak Inc. The Waterford Center Timberline Security & Services, LLC Toad Hall Manor Toastmasters of Butte Town Pump Toyota of Butte/Scion of Butte Triple “s” Building Center TruGreen Tucker Transportation Twisted Design TwoWheelz United Blood Services United Way of Butte & Anaconda Uptown Café Uptown Works Utility Specialties, Inc. UTRS Vision Net, Inc. Vu Villa Wayrynen Richards Funeral Home Welker Chiropractic Wells Fargo Home Mortgage World Museum of Mining Newsletter Title
Brad Wilson for making the 2014 Winter Olympics!
10th Annual Chocolate Extravaganza! When: Friday, February 14th Time: 2:00 p.m. Where: Big Sky Senior Living 3701 Elizabeth Warrren
Volume 34, Issue 2
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The Progress
Letters of Thanks Chamber of Commerce, Thank you for letting us use the trolley for the Ghost Walk. -Butte High School Montana History Club
Damsel in Defense Damsel in Defense was founded in 2011 by two women friends with a passion for personal safety.
Non-lethal defense was their main objective; guns were not an option. Looking at the US national statistics of crimes against women, they knew they needed to make products available to their friends and family as well as other safety-conscious women. They wanted a line of products that would be fashionable and appealing to women and which would Equip, Empower and Educate women of all ages. In less than 2 years Damsel in Defense has welcomed nearly 3000 Independent Damsel Pros. The products have been featured on national television and were seen on NBC’s Today Show. So, their mission began. Equip women with products that can protect them! Empower women to protect themselves! Educate women to back up their purchase with self-defense training! Although we use humor in our marketing, our safety and the safety of those around us: our daughters, mothers, grandmothers and every female friend and relative we care about is a very serious issue. All products must be sold, carried and used responsibly according to current local, county, state and federal laws. products you are supporting the mission to empower women as well as supporting a charitable organization; Damsel in Defense partners with organizations that make a difference, especially those aiding victims of sexual assault; a portion of sales are donated to these organizations.
-Pat Campbell
The Progress
PERIODICALS U.S. POSTAGE PAID BUTTE, MT
POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to: Chamber of Commerce, 1000 George St., Butte, MT 59701. Membership investment includes $3.00 per year subscription. The Progress (USPS 124-550) is published monthly by The Butte-Silver Bow Chamber of Commerce, 1000 George St., Butte, MT 59701. Periodical Postage Paid at Butte, Montana.
Business Trends December 2013
MONTH/YEAR
MONTH/YEAR
December 2012
December 2013
% CHANGE
447,593.84
350,709.76
-21.6%
19,483,865.83
25,747,946.28
32.2%
13,738
13,775
0.3%
Labor Force
18,313
17,730
-3.2%
Employment
17,304
16,801
-2.9%
1,009
929
-7.9%
5.5
5.2
-5.5%
11
5
-54.5%
1
3
200.0%
CONSTRUCTION Year to Date
WATER
EMPLOYMENT
Unemployment Unemployment Rate
MAIL Tourism Requests General Information