No headline

Mentor Monday series offers resources for women

PowerHouse Montana, the online platform connecting Montana women to the mentors and resources they need to succeed, will host a session called “Being Engaged in the Community is Better for Your Business” on Monday as part of the Mentor Monday series. It begins at 9 a.m. at the Montana West Economic Development office, 44 Second Ave. W. in Kalispell.

Tracy McIntrye of Rural Economic Designs is the presenter. She worked with nonprofit organizations for 20 years before opening her consulting company. Rural Economic Designs provides leadership, strategic planning and development solutions for organizations and communities. Over the years McIntyre has expanded to serve rural communities on a statewide level.

PowerHouse Montana’s monthly Mentor Monday series was created as a way to encourage mentorship and networking among Montana women. Mentor Monday is the in-person manifestation of PowerHouse Montana that happens on the fourth Monday of every month. These events were created as a way to encourage mentorship and networking among Montana women.

PowerHouse Montana is a new initiative of the Women’s Foundation of Montana with two goals in mind: connecting Montana women with the resources, mentors and opportunities they need to create thriving businesses and thriving lives; and increasing the number of Montana women in leadership by providing a go-to source for organizations and companies looking for their next chief executive officer or board chair.

PowerHouse Montana offers quarterly educational webinars aimed at increasing the success of women in business and periodic gatherings and conferences to provide opportunities for cross-sector education, collaboration, innovation and idea sharing.

For more information and to register visit www.powerhousemt.org.

Flathead jobless rate increases in February

Flathead County’s unemployment rate increased slightly in February, posting at 6.7 percent, compared to 6.4 percent in January.

Surrounding counties in Northwest Montana also showed an uptick in the number of jobless people. Lincoln County’s unemployment rate in February was 10.5 percent, up from 10 percent the previous month. Sanders County posted 9.5 percent, up from 8.9 percent. Lake County showed 5.6 percent, up from 5.2 percent in January, according to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.

Meanwhile, the state unemployment rate continued its downward movement in February, declining 0.1 percentage point to 3.8 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate also declined by 0.1 percentage points to 4.7 percent in February.

“Montana’s economy is off to a hot start in 2017, with thousands of new jobs added just last month,” Gov. Steve Bullock said in a press release. “More Montanans are at work than ever before in our state’s history and Montana businesses are creating good-paying jobs being filled by our friends, families, and neighbors.”

Payroll employment in Montana increased by 3,000 jobs over the month, with the private sector adding 2,800 jobs. The construction, retail trade, and leisure activities industries also posted sizable job gains.

Payroll employment in Montana increased by 2,700 jobs over the month, with private jobs gaining by 3,100 jobs, but public sector jobs declining by 400. Total employment levels, which include self-employed and agricultural workers, indicated a statistically insignificant decline of 536 jobs over the month. Since January of last year, Montana has added over 4,500 jobs.