Guest column by Chris Mehl, Headwaters Economics— …Headwaters Economics recently completed a study of the Rocky Mountain Front region — Cascade, Lewis and Clark, and Teton counties — reviewing the area’s performance, how its economy is changing, and the potential impact of proposals such as the Heritage Act which would protect public land and traditional uses along the Front.
We found the Front’s economy well-positioned for future economic performance. The region has experienced stable long-term growth during recent decades, especially compared to many other parts of Montana, the area has avoided major employment swings associated with national recessions, and today has below average unemployment…
The spectacular public lands of the Rocky Mountain Front give the region a natural competitive advantage that aids the local economy, but that’s not the whole picture. For the longer term, the Front region has assets other communities the West lack; such as transportation hubs, relatively strong per capita income, high quality of life, affordability and overall stability. How the Front region combines these advantages will play a large role in determining the area’s future economic growth and prosperity.