Author: Steve

The Choteau Chamber of Commerce board, meeting on June 1, canceled the annual 4th of July Steak Fry in the Park, the nonprofit group’s largest fundraisers. The board also postponed Brewfest until Labor Day weekend for an end of summer celebration.

The Chamber has already approved sponsoring Choteau’s 4th of July parade at 10 a.m. but with a modified route that winds through neighborhoods on the south, northwest and northeast sides of town.

The route has been modified and moved off of Main Avenue to discourage people from congregating and failing to socially distance while they watch. Additionally, all parade entrants need to be riding in vehicles, riding horses or riding bicycles or other means of transportation. No walkers will be allowed.

Special thanks to the Choteau Acantha Newspaper for letting us use some of the verbiage from their forthcoming story in the June 3rd, 2020 edition. Please support local journalism and a great Choteau Chamber of Commerce member by subscribing to the Choteau Acantha today.

The Montana Department of Labor is posting frequently asked questions and resources for businesses and employees at its new webpage dedicated to providing novel coronavirus-related information. 

Bookmark http://dli.mt.gov/employer-covid-19 

• Know before you go: Know the local public health guidelines before arriving at your destination.
• Stay home if you’re sick.
• Understand some services and destinations may be limited.

Governor Steve Bullock is asking visitors to do their part slow the spread of COVID-19 which means taking the same social distancing and sanitation precautions as Montanans. 

The June 1 reopening of Montana’s tourism amenities and services will be gradual. It’s important to understand what is open and closed before arriving in the state. Tribal Nations in Montana have extended stay-at-home orders indefinitely and continue to exercise caution to protect their elders and other vulnerable populations from the spread of COVID-19. At this time, all tribal lands are closed to visitors. Refer to each tribal government website for real-time updates. 

Travelers can expect the Montana National Guard to continue to conduct screenings in airports and train depots and refer anyone with COVID-19-related symptoms to local public health officials. 

To support Montana’s destination communities, the state will assist with establishing the following protocols:

• Establish test centers and ensure adequate supplies are available to meet resident, seasonal employee, and visitor needs within Montana’s most visited destination communities.
• Coordinate a community snapshot testing plan to create an early warning system for potential community spread in the most highly visited and highly vulnerable destination communities. 
• Develop contingency plans for managing sick visitors, including contact tracing capabilities.

The state will also develop an informational campaign to encourage visitors to learn local guidelines and restrictions before they visit, to stay at home if sick, and to convey that some services in destination communities will potentially be limited during this year’s tourism season.

• Phase 2 Effective Monday, June 1:
  • Phase Two will allow places of assembly to become operational that did not open in Phase One beginning on June 1 as long as they can meet social distancing guidelines and limited capacity requirements. 
  • Group gatherings can increase from 10 to 50 people. Avoid gathering in groups of more than 50 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for appropriate physical distancing. Groups larger than 50 people should be cancelled unless physical distancing can be maintained. 
  • Capacity can increase from 50 percent to 75 percent.
  • Concert halls, bowling alleys, and other places of assembly may operate with reduced capacity and if they adhere to strict physical distancing guidelines.
  • Vulnerable Montanans should still continue to stay home when possible during Phase Two. 
  • Visitation at nursing home and assisted living facilities remains suspended except for certain compassionate care situations. 
  • Employers should continue to encourage telework wherever feasible
  • The 14-day travel quarantine for out-of-state travelers and residents arriving from another state or country to Montana for non-work-related purposes will also be lifted on June 1

Governor Steve Bullock launched nine new programs on May 7 for Montanans out of work, families with limited resources, small businesses, non-profits and others impacted by COVID-19.

Applications are still being accepted for financial relief for things like rental and mortgage assistance, business and non-profit grants, grants to serve seniors and those living with a disability, food banks and local food producers.

Learn more and apply at COVIDRELIEF.MT.GOV

The Montana Business Adaptation Program will provide reimbursement for COVID-19 expenses related to keeping staff and customers safe – from the purchase of personal protective equipment to resources needed for staff to work remotely. Eligible small business must be Montana-based, employ 50 or less, have incurred eligible adaptation expenses since Feb. 15 due to COVID-19, and be in good standing with the Secretary of State or local tribal government. Nonprofit entities are eligible. Eligible expenses include costs related to communication, remote work equipment, cleaning supplies, tools to enhance social distancing and sanitation, travel and hotel costs related to quarantining workers. Total funding available is $20 million, the maximum reimbursement amount per business is $5,000.

Apply at https://commerce.mt.gov/Coronavirus-Relief

From the State of Montana Newsroom:

GOVERNOR BULLOCK ANNOUNCES MONTANA TO ENTER PHASE TWO OF REOPENING PLAN ON JUNE 1ST

Governor Steve Bullock announced the state will move to Phase Two of the Reopening the Big Sky plan and will lift the 14-day out-of-state travel quarantine beginning June 1 as Montana continues to have the lowest number of positive COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations per capita. 

“Montana has been an example for the rest of the nation in our response to this global pandemic. I have no doubt that we can continue to be that example, but only if Montanans, businesses, and visitors alike continue to take seriously the responsibility we all have in protecting others,” Governor Bullock said. “As we continue with the next phase in our reopening, our goal together as Montanans for the foreseeable future is to mitigate the spread of the virus.”

“The individual actions of Montanans have collectively made a difference. Staying 6-feet away, washing hands, wearing masks while in public, and staying home when sick, have all contributed to us being able to move forward with the plan to reopen Montana. We are at an important milestone and if each of us continues to do our part to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading, we’ll stay on the path to fully reopen Montana,” John Felton, Yellowstone County Health Officer and President/CEO of RiverStone Health, said.

“Since this COVID-19 emergency began Governor Bullock has consistently listened to city and county governments around the state as he has formulated a strategy to respond. And that strategy has worked. Thanks to Governor Bullock’s leadership, Montana has escaped the tragedies other states have experienced. We are fortunate to have him at the helm as we reopen Montana. We are thankful for his commitment to ensure we will keep Montana safe during the summer months as we rebuild our economy,” Cynthia Andrus, Deputy Mayor, City of Bozeman, said.

“We are grateful for Governor Bullock’s diligence as he works to reopen Montana safely and continues to and consider the unique concerns and challenges in tribal communities including a large population of elderly Montanans and families in multi-generational households. The Blackfeet Tribal Business Council appreciate Governor Bullock has respected tribal sovereignty and decisions to put in place more restrictive measures to keep tribal communities safe and has supported our efforts to contain the virus through increased testing,” said the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council.

In consultation with public health and emergency response officials, Governor Bullock outlined the following indicators which allow Montana to move into Phase Two beginning on June 1:

• A downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period.
• The current ability to contact and trace, along with plans to add additional contact tracers to the existing workforce.
• Ensuring that health care workers have the supplies they need to treat COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients.
• Ramping up testing capacity to eventually meet a target of 60,000 tests a month and prioritizing testing for vulnerable Montanans and tribal communities. A total of 5,600 tests were conducted last week. Increased testing continues with sentinel testing efforts in nursing homes and assisting living facilities, testing events in tribal areas, and drive through testing being conducted at a few sites.

Under Phase Two, effective June 1, avoid gatherings in groups of more than 50 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for appropriate physical distancing. Groups larger than 50 people should be cancelled unless physical distancing can be maintained. It is recommended to continue to social distance in gatherings of any size.

Under Phase Two, effective June 1, restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries and casinos remains in the same operations status as Phase One, but with an increase to 75% capacity. Gyms, indoor group fitness classes, pool, and hot tubs can operate at 75% capacity and only if they can adhere to strict physical distancing and they exercise frequent sanitation protocols. Concert halls, bowling alleys, and other places of assembly may operate with reduced capacity and if they adhere to strict physical distancing guidelines.

All businesses are required to follow the social distancing and sanitation guidelines established in Phase One, and Montanans are strongly encouraged to continue sanitation practices, including hand washing and wearing masks in public places like grocery stores.

“Social distancing, wearing a cloth mask, washing your hands, and sanitizing are all part of our new normal. If not for you, do it for others, especially for the most vulnerable among us,” Governor Bullock said. “Not following these guidelines could put us in a position where we have to go backward, instead of being able to continue to move forward.”

Vulnerable Montanans should still continue to stay home when possible during Phase Two. Visitation at nursing home and assisted living facilities remains suspended except for certain compassionate care situations.

Effective June 1, the 14-day travel quarantine for out-of-state travelers and residents arriving from another state or country to Montana for non-work-related purposes will be lifted. The Montana National Guard will continue to conduct screenings in airports and train depots and refer anyone with COVID-19-related symptoms to local public health officials.

To support Montana’s destination communities, the state will assist with establishing the following protocols:

• Surveillance testing of employees.
• Enhanced contact tracing resources deployed to these areas as requested by local authorities.
• Ability to surge personal protective equipment to impacted health care systems.
• Guidelines for operation for business that see high-tourist activity.

Montana’s gradual and phased plan to reopen began on April 26 with Phase One which allowed schools, places of worship, main street and retail businesses, and restaurants, breweries, and bars to reopen under social distancing guidelines. Governor Bullock also provided additional guidance to allow gyms, movie theaters, and museums to reopen under the first phase on May 15. 

Governor Bullock and his Coronavirus Task Force will continue to monitor cases closely and carefully to analyze Montana’s work to contain the virus.

The Directive and its Appendix are posted online at covid19.mt.gov.

Great Falls Development Authority Top Ten

Each week GFDA send out the latest information, including time-sensitive COVID Resource updates, tools and resources directly to your inbox.

Click here to receive these e-blasts.

Let Us Part of Your Business Advising Team

Results matter. GFDA works with businesses, communities, and partners across the region to get results. If you are opening a business, growing a business, selling a business, or just trying to survive these unprecedented times, we are here to help. Their qualified business advisors work across the entire north central Montana region to get results. 

Download their menu of services to see how they can help you.

Survey Request

Community partners want to know how GFDA can better aid your business in these uncertain times. They’ve helped statewide economic development partners craft a Montana Business COVID Impact Survey. Your results are shared in aggregate, not individually, but there is a place for you to request more information and have a community partner reach out to you. 

They hope to bring more tools and resources that meet your needs, but they need to  know what your needs are: We appreciate your participation! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GFDev 

The Chamber Board met with City and County officials at their May meeting to discuss the criteria for opening the Visitor Center. After being informed of the Governor’s sanitation requirements for the various phases of reopening and looking at the tourism forecast, the Chamber Board opted to keep the Visitor Center closed for the 2020 season.

To help facilitate visitors that may come through Choteau, the board opted to put information directing visitors to the VisitChoteau.com website, the Chamber’s 800 number which will be forwarded to the City Offices, and will have a live chat feature placed on the Visit Choteau website so that visitors can get instant information while they’re in Choteau.

Also on the board’s agenda at the May meeting was discussion on how to make Choteau world-renown 4th of July Celebrations work in each of the reopening phases. The Chamber Board will be presenting the options and timelines at the Chamber’s General Membership Zoom meeting on May 13th.