Gianforte stops at Belltower

Last week, Governor Greg Gianforte traveled through southeast Montana as part of his 56 County Tour, making stops in Carter, Fallon, Powder River, and Wibaux counties.

"It's great to be back in southeast Montana to sit down and hear from my bosses - the citizens of Montana," Gov. Gianforte said. "I share their priorities of greater opportunity, good-paying jobs, tax relief, the best education possible, affordable, high quality health care, safe communities, attainable housing, stronger families, and responsive, effective government. We'll continue to deliver for them."

In Wibaux, the governor fielded questions from Montanans over lunch at the Palace Cafe. Some questions were on housing, workforce development, firefighting, broadband, border security, and Medicaid provider rate increases. The group also discussed the governor's investments in mental health.

To fill gaps in the state's behavioral health system, the governor introduced the HEART Fund in his first year in office to provide for a full continuum of behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment programs for communities.

"A lot of times, that's our biggest problem. There's nowhere for folks who need help to go," said Wibaux County Sheriff Shane Harrington, on the governor's HEART Fund.

Last month Gov. Gianforte also made a $300 million investment in behavioral health care and developmental disabilities services in Montana.

Continuing the tour in Fallon County, the governor met with Baker High School science students at Baker Lake, which was destroyed by a tornado in 2017.

Supporting the restoration of the lake, the students collect water samples and report their findings to the Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency.

While in Baker, the governor also recognized U.S. Army veteran Robert Singer with the 2022 Montana Governor's Veteran Commendation.

Nominated for the award, Singer has served the town of Baker for decades as a volunteer firefighter, rescue squad member, and ambulance driver.

In Carter County, the governor traveled to Belltower to tour Montana Legacy Ranch's meat processing plant, Montana Legacy Cuts.

Owned and operated by the O'Connor family, Montana Legacy Ranch raises 100 percent certified organic grass-fed beef, which is then processed, dry-aged and packaged at Montana Legacy Cuts.

"We never transport cattle off of our ranch. They are processed in our own USDA processing facility," Montana Legacy Cuts owner Ty O'Connor said.

Increasing meat processing capacity in the state to add value to Montana commodities is among the governor's top priorities. Last summer, meat processed in Montana facilities more than doubled in state Fiscal Year 2022.

To support small business owners, the governor also increased the business equipment tax exemption from $100,000 in 2021 to $1 million this year, eliminating the tax burden for 5,000 Montana businesses, farms and ranches.

The following morning Gianforte was joined by county commissioners, ranchers, small business owners, and other Powder River County residents at a town hall.

"From Ekalaka to Broadus, Montanans want a government that works for them," Governor Gianforte said. "That's why better serving our customers, the people of Montana, is a top priority."