Business Buzz: Hip Strip moves, new All Nations director, pumpkin fundraiser, housing help
Here's some business news in the Missoula area:
Le Petit Outre coffee shop at 129 S. 4th St. W. in Missoula has applied for a building permit from the city to perform a tenant improvement to the retail/restaurant space at 529 S. Higgins Ave. on the Hip Strip. The 529 S. Higgins location was most recently Legacy Lounge, and before that it was the Iza restaurant. The owner of Le Petit did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In 2022, a group of local developers announced a long-term plan to redevelop a half block of buildings near the Hip Strip, including the building that currently houses the Le Petit coffee shop, into a new mixed-use apartment and retail complex. One of the longtime businesses in the block, Kent Bros. car repair, already relocated.
The nonprofit Poverello Center homeless shelter in Missoula is selling pumpkins to raise money for its food programs. The locally grown, organic pumpkins can be purchased for $12 from the Good Food Store, Rattlesnake Market, Missoula YMCA and The Trough restaurant. Last year, the Pov served over 122,000 free meals to 2,037 people, along with 62,400 sack lunches.
The nonprofit All Nations Health Center in Missoula has announced that Ryan Wetzel is the organization's new executive director.
"Ryan Wetzel, a born and raised Montanan and descendent of the Blackfeet Nation, is a former professional basketball player, hall of fame athlete, coach, motivational speaker, and mental health professional whose extensive background (extends) nearly 20 years across areas of suicide prevention, drug and alcohol prevention, law enforcement, community corrections, mentoring, clinical case work and health care administration," the organization said in a press release.
All Nations said Wetzel holds a bachelor's degree in liberal studies with a concentration in organizational communication and public relations from Montana State University-Billings. He also earned an associate's degree in general studies with a focus on behavioral health from the University of Montana. The organization said he is a husband and father.
In December of 2023, the organization fired behavioral health supervisor Lily Gervais. Then, in February of 2024, former executive director Skye McGinty resigned .
The Montana Department of Commerce has a variety of tools to help renters, homeowners, and prospective buyers afford their homes and deal with hardships. For more information, visit commerce.mt.gov/Housing/ .
The University of Montana has hired Jeffrey Michael to serve as the next director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research.
Michael joins BBER from the University of the Pacific, where he has served as director of public policy at the McGeorge School of Law since 2021. He specialized in economics and regional economic forecasting, according to a press release from the university.
Michael was previously the executive director of the Center for Business and Policy Research and the director of the Business Forecasting Center in the Eberhardt School of Business at the University of Pacific for 13 years.
"BBER has a tremendous legacy of helping business, government and the public understand the economy of Montana," Michael said. "I am excited to contribute to BBER's mission and engage with Montana business and civic leaders on critical and emerging economic issues."
Longtime BBER Director Patrick Barkey will stay on as research director until June 2025, when he plans to retire.
"We are truly fortunate to be bringing on a new leader with the experience and skills of Jeff Michael to the state of Montana," Barkey said. "He will hit the ground running in putting his own stamp on everything that we do."
As BBER director, Michael will lead the team of 20 research professionals at a research center that produces economic and industry data for all geographic areas of Montana. They also present economic forecasts at the annual Economic Outlook Seminars throughout the state.
Family Promise of Missoula, a program of the Missoula Interfaith Collaborative, recently announced the launch of a new food program in partnership with the Missoula Senior Center. The joint venture will provide nutritious and family-friendly dinners to families and children living in the Meadowlark Family Housing Center, the organization said in a press release. The meals will be prepared by the staff of the Missoula Senior Center and served to families by dedicated volunteers from Family Promise.
"The Meadowlark is such a gift to our community, and we are committed to serving delicious and healthy food to our families," said Sue Furley, a Family Promise volunteer. "Partnering with the Missoula Senior Center helps us to meet that goal. We are very thankful."
Family Promise provides temporary and emergency shelter, related services and support to families with children experiencing houselessness and assists them with obtaining safe and permanent housing. They co-manage and co-operate the Meadowlark Family Housing Center with the YWCA Missoula. The Family Housing Center provides short-term emergency shelter for up to 31 families. In the previous year, 107 families, including 179 children, received shelter or additional assistance.
Missoula Animal Control will host an adoption event this Saturday, Oct. 19, at Subaru of Missoula, located at 5175 Expressway, from noon to 4 p.m. The shelter will have dogs, cats and kittens available and ready to go home. The event is part of October's Subaru Loves Pets Month, when a local Subaru retailer partners with a local shelter to help animals find loving homes.
Anyone who attends the event will have their named entered to win a gift basket with animal apparel, gift cards, pet toys and treats from local businesses. Those who adopt an animal in the month of October get a bonus entry. There are currently a dozen dogs and 15 cats available for adoption.
The Missoula Public Library recently won the first-place Green Library Award from the International Federation of Library Associations. It is the first library in the U.S. to win the designation.
"Libraries are uniquely positioned to serve as resilience hubs for their communities, and this award highlights the role Missoula Public Library plays in that mission," said Missoula Public Library Director Slaven Lee. "With the support of MSR Design and A&E Design, we've created a space that not only conserves energy and resources but also fosters resilience through shared learning, collaboration and access to resources. We believe libraries can lead the way in building stronger, more sustainable communities in the face of global challenges."
Big Sky Smiles and Sedation, a dental office in Missoula, will be open on Monday, Nov. 11 for Veterans Day to serve veterans only. From 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., they'll be providing free dental care and same-day "smile repair" to selected veterans. Participants must apply beforehand. For more information call 406-549-6222.
David Erickson is the business reporter for the Missoulian.
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