Gov. Gianforte Highlights State's Economic Comeback at Forum

Press Release

Governor Greg Gianforte today highlighted Montana's economic comeback, including the state hitting a record-low unemployment rate and more Montanans working today than ever before.

Gianforte promoted measures he's taken to lead Montana's economic comeback, including opening Montana for business, making Montana more competitive, and lowering taxes for hardworking Montana families.

"Over the past year, we've started to unleash the engine of economic growth, business development, and job creation that has sputtered for too long," said Gov. Gianforte at C&B Operations, a John Deere farm equipment dealership in Billings.

"We came in with the Montana Comeback Plan, we've been executing it, and it's working," the governor continued. "Our unemployment rate is the lowest it's ever been, and more Montanans are working than ever before in our state's history."

Speaking at the event hosted by the Coalition to Protect American Workers, Gov. Gianforte highlighted the pro-business policies enacted as part of his Montana Comeback Plan.

Delivering on his promise to Montanans and working with the legislature, Gov. Gianforte enacted one of the largest tax cuts in Montana history, providing $120 million in broad-based tax relief over the next two years. The governor cut income taxes, provided critical property tax relief, and reformed the business equipment tax to remove 3,400 small businesses, farms, and ranches from the business equipment tax rolls.

The governor cut taxes all while balancing the budget, cutting spending by $145 million, maintaining the state's "rainy day" fund, and avoiding cuts to essential services.

"With lower taxes and responsible, responsive government, our economy is going again, we're open for business, and Montanans are back to work," the governor said. "We'll continue to foster a climate where businesses can thrive and create sustainable, good-paying jobs and greater opportunities for more Montanans."

Last May, Gov. Gianforte made Montana the first state in the nation to end federal supplemental unemployment benefits and launch a return-to-work bonus program, which provided bonuses to more than 3,000 Montanans who reentered the workforce.

The governor's pro-jobs, pro-growth policies have resulted in the state's lowest recorded unemployment rate at 2.5%, total employment hitting a record high, and a record number of new businesses created in Montana last year.

Montana has not only recovered all jobs lost since the start of the pandemic, but also grown beyond that level, with 531,040 Montanans employed in December 2021 compared to 521,657 in March 2020. Since Governor Gianforte was sworn into office in January 2021, Montana's total employment has grown by about 20,000 jobs.

Marc Short, executive director of the Coalition to Protect American Workers, moderated a discussion focusing on Montana's ongoing economic comeback with the governor, Montana Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd O'Hair, and Montana Farm Bureau Federation Executive Vice President John Youngberg.

An earlier panel with Short, O'Hair, and Youngberg focused on the impact President Biden's Build Back Better plan would have on Montana farmers, ranchers, and small business owners.

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