Flathead Business Watercooler

BBER annual event addresses housing

The Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana will host its 47th annual Economic Outlook Seminar on Feb. 8 at the Hilton Garden Inn.

The theme is “Where housing is headed: how today’s imbalances will be resolved.”

The keynote speaker will be Abigail St. Lawrence with St. Lawrence Law, an attorney practicing in water rights, natural resource, environmental and administrative law.

To learn more and register to attend, visit https://www.economicoutlookseminar.com.

Chamber luncheon focuses on mental health

The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce’s January Business Matters Luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 18 at the Hilton Garden Inn on the topic of mental health in the workplace.

Josh Kroll of Park Side Credit Union, Kacy Howard, Executive Director of the Nate Chute Foundation, and Ronda Wakefield, a Human Resources Consultant for Northwest Montana Human Resources Solutions, LLC, will present about “building a workplace culture that supports mental health, reduces stigma, and attracts and retains top talent.”

To register for the event, go to https://business.kalispellchamber.com/events/details/2022-january-business-matters-chamber-luncheon-building-a-workplace-culture-that-supports-mental-health-51397?calendarMonth=2022-01-01.

Coffee Connect features new nurse practitioner

The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce’s January Coffee Connect event will take place from 8 to 9 a.m. on Jan. 21 at Alpine Health and Wellness, 1825 US 93 S, Suite A.

This month’s host is Dr. Elizabeth Miller, FNP, a family nurse practitioner who recently relocated to the Flathead with her family from Arizona. Miller has spent five years as a family nurse practitioner, and prior to that, Miller was a registered nurse for 12 years working primarily in the emergency department and recovery room.

Evergreen Chamber showcases new homes

The Evergreen Chamber of Commerce’s January Energizer event will occur from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 20 at 295 Kendal Loop. The event will showcase new homes by Terry Homes, plus it will include food, drinks and networking opportunities.

Financing available for green upgrades

A new financing program is available to Montana businesses to save money by installing energy efficiency, water conservation, and renewable upgrades to their buildings. The Commercial Property Assessed Capital Enhancements program (C-PACE), administered by the MFFA, began on January 1, 2022. C-PACE financing lets business owners use the savings from energy and water efficiency upgrades to cover the cost of installation, allowing them to make major upgrades to their facilities at no net cost to the business. The cost of these upgrades is repaid as an assessment on the property's annual tax bill, which allows for cheaper financing and better collateral.

To learn more, go to https://lastbestpace.com.

Webinar breaks down tax changes

JCCS and Kalispell Job Service will host a free webinar from noon to 1 p.m. on Jan. 24 about changes to the Federal (and Montana) tax codes. Certified Public Accountants David Gilmer and Marija Berney will present "A Business Tax Update for 2022 and Beyond."

To register, go to https://mt-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TztIFJSiSoqTkdMy7cC9oA.