Tester Announces #EmployMT Plan

In Speech to Montana House of Representatives, Senator Lays Out Economic Agenda

(Helena, Mont.) – Speaking to the Montana House of Representatives, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced his #EmployMT plan to create jobs and strengthen the state’s economy.

Tester, former President of the Montana Senate, laid out his plan to strengthen American businesses, cut red tape, increase access to capital, and boost infrastructure investments and workforce training.

“From Sidney to St. Regis and everywhere in between Montana is full of the hardest working people in the nation,” Tester said. “Employ Montana will rebuild our infrastructure, create a marketplace for our products, pave the way for innovation, invest in our workforce, and responsibly develop our resources. This will let folks know Montana is open for business.”

Tester highlighted SiteOne Therapeutics, a Montana company that is developing ways to manage pain without the use of addictive opioids. Noting that SiteOne used the Small Business Innovation Research Grant Program to help get off the ground, Tester committed to fighting for increased investments in startup capital.

Tester also spotlighted Glacier Bank saying he will work on the Banking Committee to cut red tape for Montana’s community banks and credit unions which provide families with mortgages and small businesses with startup loans.

“With regulatory relief our businesses will have better access to capital and be able to invest in their product, hire more workers, and expand their markets,” Tester said.

Tester said he will introduce the Berry Amendment Extension Act to require the Department of Homeland Security to purchase American textiles to outfit its workforce, and the Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage Act to provide tax credits to companies so they can burn coal cleaner.

Tester also highlighted a key partnership between the Anaconda Job Corps and Montana Precision Products as a model for connecting businesses with skilled labor.

Tester noted that he would be working to strengthen the pipeline of well-trained workers into Montana economy.

“Montana’s workforce is second to none,” Tester said. “My Employ Montana plan includes lean and mean investment in our workforce-an investment that is designed to meet the needs of the community.”

Tester also said he would be working with local carriers to increase access to high speed Internet to connect Montana businesses with new markets.

For more information about Tester’s #EmployMT plan click HERE.