A new economic report touts the potential of one of the country’s most picturesque landscapes — the Rocky Mountain Front west of Great Falls — to draw people and jobs to the region.
“The more funny colors you have on the map, the more likely you are to get attention,” says Chris Mehl of Bozeman-based Headwaters Economics, referring to colors on maps that denote protected areas.
The Coalition to Protect the Rocky Mountain Front hired Headwaters to complete the study after U.S. Sen. Max Baucus of Montana introduced the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act last year. The act would provide additional protections for 275,112 acres of federals lands.…
Baucus was interested in the economic impact the legislation would have on the region, Mehl said.
The study looked at Cascade, Teton and Lewis and Clark counties.
The report says the public lands associated with the Front give the region a competitive advantage in attracting businesses, retirees (8,000 baby boomers retire each day) and “foot-loose” service sector employment.…