From the road on the Jobs Listening Tour
December 27, 2011
Helena Independent Record
Chuck Hunter, Co-signed by Rep. Tony Belcourt (Box Elder), Rep. Robyn Driscoll (Billings) and Rep. Jon Sesso (Butte).
From “Montana’s Trailhead” (aka, Billings) to the “Real Frontier” (Miles City) to “Montana’s Sunrise City” (Sidney), the first leg of the Democrats’ Jobs Listening Tour was informative and time well spent. We want to thank all the folks we met for their hospitality and taking time to share insights on a responsible approach to job creation.
In eastern Montana, jobs are aplenty. People generally seem enthusiastic about the development prospects in their area. Growth is coming rapidly, though, and locals also expressed concerns about the daunting challenges that have come with those jobs.
The top priority we heard is getting state help with infrastructure. The oil boom has stressed roads, schools, water and sewer systems, safety services, you name it. Housing, in particular, is a major concern for oil field workers, teachers, truckers, everyone; even longtime homeowners are getting squeezed out.
We saw the makeshift “man camps” and people are concerned about health and safety. There are motels under construction and subdivisions in the works. But investment capital is scare, and civic leaders expressed apprehension about having to raise utility rates, especially for residents on fixed incomes.
<- Go BackSign Up for Email
Give Us Your Thoughts
