Update 3/21/19: The 406 Impact Districts (SB 340) was introduced in front of the Senate Taxation Committee by Sen. Webb, the sponsor. This bill will create a tool to spur catalytic growth and economic development across the entire state. Members of the committee heard support for SB 340 from numerous statewide organizations including the League of Cities and Towns (representing 127 Montana municipalities), Montana AFL-CIO (Unions), Montana Restaurant and Retail Association (businesses across the state), Montana Contractors Association (from asphalt pavers to welders, and everything in between), and the Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association (tourism partners around Montana),statewide businesses, local chambers of commerce, and numerous others. It was a strong show of support for a new model of economic development. This was amazing, however, the committee still wants to hear from you, before they vote on the bill. So, we’re asking you to quickly send off a letter to the committee. You can do so by following the the steps below:

1. Go to this website (https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/
2. Put your information in the required fields (Name, Address, etc.)
3. Select Committees, (S) Taxation, SB 340, and  select "For"
4. Compose your message
5. Click Send Message 

The Billings City Council, in a 5-5 vote on 2/25/19 elected not to extend the partnership agreement between Landmark Development and the City of Billings. This agreement, which was entered into on good faith by both parties that it would be in place until the culmination of the entire OBSD project, was in place for Landmark to deliver to the City of Billings the final Development Agreement, which was completed. Paramount to the agreement was a recapture clause that would allow Landmark development to recoup $1.3million in funds that they have absorbed throughout the duration of the development planning process.

With their refusal to extend this agreement through 4/30/2019, the council sent the following messages:

1. Private investment is not welcome in Billings, MT. The council will work with developers up to a certain point, but they will not see the project through to completion. Council took a development partner, a partner with whom most cities would welcome with open arms, spent time and resources investing in a project, and then, when it was time to make a stand, threw that relationship out the window.

2. Council does not place a high priority on economic growth and opportunity in Billings, MT. The points of contention which council members based their "NO" votes on could have been addressed in the previous 2 sessions. Rather than raise these points and engage in a discussion, council chose to make a shortsighted and uninformed decision to not extend the partnership agreement.

3. Council either does not understand, or refuses to acknowledge, that Landmark Development is the only partner who has stepped forward with enough experience, knowledge, and access to capital to see the project through to completion. There are no local developers that can jump-start the project. We can nickel and dime the project together over the next 10 years with local developers, but to have catalytic growth, we need Landmark and their partners.

4. Council does not care about their spending. In a climate in which municipalities are constantly looking to increase revenue and cut costs, council looked at a plan that addressed increased revenue and said "NO." And, by agreeing not to move forward, they essentially agreed to write a $1.3million check to Landmark should they not want to be involved moving forward.

5. Should the tool pass the legislature, it will become available for any community in Montana. Developers will have a new tool to help develop plans and programs, and the decision that council made does not indicate a welcoming environment for developers. While Missoula and Bozeman have welcomed developers with open arms, Billings essentially shut the door in their faces.

6. From the Billings Gazette, "Council member Roy Neece was absent from Monday night's meeting. Voting in favor of the agreement were Mike Yakawich, Denise Joy, Peggy Ronning, Shaun Brown and Mayor Bill Cole. Voting against it were Brent Cromley, Frank Ewalt, Chris Friedel, Reg Gibbs and Richard Clark." Elections have consequences, folks.

If you support OBSD, and support Landmark Development, please consider signing this petition and voicing said support. OBSD is not dead, and I believe Landmark will be our partner if the people of Billings stand up and show their support!

note!!!! Any funds collected through change.org go to promote this petition on their platform. There is no money being collected by me or anyone associated with OBSD.