Economic Vitality Board Meeting of Bozeman, Montana - August 5, 2026

The Economic Vitality Board (EVB) of Bozeman, Montana, met on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, from 6:00 PM to approximately 7:21 PM. The meeting was held in person and via video conference. Key actions included approval of the May 6 and June 3, 2026 meeting minutes, approval of the CDBG Program Year 3 Annual Action Plan, and work sessions on vendor contracts and the Green Power Program. The board discussed economic development, housing, and energy sustainability.

Consent Calendar

• No consent items were presented.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during the meeting, either on non-agenda items or for specific agenda items.

Discussion Items

Approval of Minutes (E.1)

• The board unanimously approved the minutes from the May 6 and June 3, 2026 meetings. Motion by Kelsey Larson, second by Natsuki Nakamura. Vote carried 4-0 (Andrew J Hill, Natsuki Nakamura, Albert Jones, Kelsey Larson).

CDBG Program Year 3 Annual Action Plan (I.1)

• Community Housing Program Manager Brian Guyer presented the plan, noting the city’s status as a new entitlement community. He explained that the plan follows the Consolidated Plan priorities: increasing/preserving housing options, supporting vulnerable populations, providing critical community services, and responsible planning/administration.
• Key investments include funding for Family Promise water infrastructure (to expand transitional housing by four units, potentially serving up to 40 families annually), an eviction prevention program, and continued affordable housing activities.
• Projected outcomes include increasing transitional housing capacity and assisting approximately 200 low- and moderate-income households through community services.
• Guyer noted the city received approval from the Commission the previous night and emphasized the need for a timely recommendation to HUD. He also mentioned plans to explore child care and eviction prevention as future uses of CDBG funds.
• Board members discussed the absence of public housing investment, the flexibility of the fourth bucket (housing options), and the upcoming changes to CDBG under the federal housing bill passed in July. Staff noted they are meeting with HUD the next day to clarify implementation.
• Motion to recommend approval by Andrew J Hill, second by Nathan Stein. Vote carried 5-0.

Work Session: Belonging in Bozeman Vendor Contracts (J.1)

• Belonging and Engagement Coordinator Courtney Smith presented a recommendation from the Belonging in Bozeman plan (adopted December 19, 2023) to provide training on how to apply for city contracts and connect experienced vendors with small businesses.
• Smith shared statistics: Roughly 40% of city contracts are with out-of-state firms, 60% with in-state; about 30% are Bozeman-based, and another 30% are Montana-based outside Bozeman/Belgrade.
• She described the RFP (request for proposals) and RFQ (request for qualifications) processes, including posting on the city clerk's office, newspaper, and email notifications. She noted that RFPs are required for contracts valued at $80,000 or more by state statute.
• The proposed training would be developed in partnership with Prospera and include a panel from the city clerk's office and legal department, with a QA session.
• Board members suggested measuring success by tracking attendees and whether they later submitted RFPs/RFQs, using follow-up surveys, and addressing common errors. They also suggested considering outreach to specific sectors (e.g., construction) and leveraging lists, though staff noted limitations on using business licenses for solicitation.

Work Session: Green Power Program Lead Community Agreement with NorthWestern Energy (J.2)

• Sustainability Program Manager Natalie Meyer presented a program to allow NorthWestern Energy customers to purchase voluntary utility-scale renewable energy. Partners include the City of Missoula, Missoula County, and NorthWestern Energy.
• The program aims to develop new renewable energy (up to 50 MW initial cap) in Montana, with no cost impacts on non-participants. Participants receive a floating credit based on market rates, plus a capacity credit. The program is designed to be accessible to commercial, industrial, and residential customers (if authorized).
• The city has committed to filing with the Montana Public Service Commission by September 15, 2026, unless extended. Bozeman's potential subscription target is about 8.2 MW (based on community electricity use of 326,777 MWh annually).
• Board questions touched on risk and price volatility, potential benefits for agricultural land leases, recruiting universities (e.g., MSU) and hospitals, and how other states have structured similar programs. Meyer acknowledged the complexity of the floating credit but noted it helps prevent cost shifting.
• No formal action was taken; the work session provided input for future outreach and messaging.

Key Outcomes

• Approved Minutes for May 6 and June 3, 2026 (4-0).
• Approved the CDBG Program Year 3 Annual Action Plan recommendation (5-0).
• No formal decisions on vendor contract training or Green Power Program; discussions provided feedback for staff to incorporate.
• The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:21 PM.