“It’s very consistent across all of our big national monuments that those growth trajectories really remain steady over time,” said Megan Lawson, an economist at Headwaters Economics and lead author of the study.
A recent study from Headwaters Economics, an independent research nonprofit, found that jobs and incomes have nearly doubled in communities around the monument since its designation in 1996.
“We feel keeping the public informed and involved is how we keep this moving forward and keeping it on track, on budget and on time,” Dion said, noting Headwaters Economics will help with community relations efforts.
When it comes to metrics like population and job growth, or local earnings per capita, rural communities largely continue their existing trajectories, the report by Headwaters Economics found, with only minor positive impacts from the creation of expansive monuments. “It’s a shockingly consistent story, really, across all the big monuments that national monuments support stable, diversified local economies,” said Megan Lawson, the study’s author. “They’re not a destructive force; they’re a stabilizing force.”
This dynamic has played out at dozens of national monuments across the country, including Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears, says a new report from Headwaters Economics, a Montana-based independent research group.
“If the homes are part of this problem, they must fundamentally be part of the solution, and in the most simplest form, by reducing risk proactively, before the wildfire becomes the disaster is our best chance at long term insurance retainment,” said Dr. Kimi Barrett, a lead wildfire research and policy analyst at Headwaters Economics.
Those three elements combined — embers, direct flame contact, and radiant heat — are what burn communities to the ground, says Kimiko Barrett, lead research and policy analyst at the nonprofit Headwaters Economics.
Kristin Smith, a coordinator for Headwaters Economics’ FloodWise Community Assistance Program, recently alerted Dion to the Montana DES’ Resiliency Fund, a pilot program, and helped the city submit a letter of intent to apply.
Research from Headwaters Economics shows that rural counties with significant federal land have historically seen stronger job growth than other states.
Pushing the vast majority of owners of already-built homes in high-risk areas to renovate and rebuild is a challenge, said Kimiko Barrett, lead wildfire research and policy analyst at Headwaters Economics, a nonprofit research group focused on land management.
Kelly Pohl with Headwaters Economics, a Bozeman-based think tank specializing in planning and land-use issues, described Metcalf’s research as establishing a “really interesting finding” that raises questions about the cost of providing fire and public safety service to rural lots and building out water, sewer and transportation infrastructure.
Calling rising wildfire insurance rates an “urgent challenge,” a Headwaters Economics and Columbia Climate School report released this month points to potential approaches to address the financial burden on Montana property owners.
The report pointed to an analysis by Headwaters Economics, which found boating and fishing in Iowa contributed $341 million to Iowa’s GDP in 2023. Hunting, shooting and trapping generated $116 million.
The county is now collaborating with state agencies, Snowy Mountain Economic Development Corporation, and nonprofit partners (such as Headwaters Economics’ FloodWise Community Assistance program) to plan and construct recreation opportunities and projects to decrease flood risk throughout the site.
n August, it entered into an agreement with Montana-based nonprofit Headwaters Economics, which selected Santa Fe as one of the participants in its Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire program.
As the city and county move forward with the bond election, Headwaters Economics will support the effort by potentially hosting a website with information about the bond and the West Glendive levee project, as well as assisting with community outreach and education on the project’s importance.
According to property tax data analyzed by Headwaters Economics, a nonpartisan research group, 37,600 acres of land in Park County were converted to housing between 2000 and 2021.
A new analysis from the nonprofit Headwaters Economics finds that millions of culverts and stream crossings across the U.S. are undersized for today’s heavier, more frequent storms.
Also in 2019, Headwaters Economics in partnership with the Montana Outdoor Heritage Project conducted research showing annual funding gaps of millions of dollars for working lands, wildlife conservation and recreation needs.
A report from the community development research nonprofit Headwaters Economics found a complete home retrofit using affordable materials costs between $23,000 and $40,000. With high-end materials that provide the best protection, it can cost upward of $100,000.
