The 2023 Economic Outlook Seminar is Coming This Winter to 9 Montana Cities!
Economic Outlook Seminar 2023
The 2023 Economic Outlook Seminar will highlight the latest economic trends for local economies and the state of Montana, with special focus on the new wave of in-migration and what it means for the state.
The Future Of Montana: What The New Wave Of In-Migration Means For The State
What does the future hold for the Montana economy? That perennial question takes on a special significance in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that sent plenty of folks from congested urban areas around the country to live in places like Montana and other Mountain West states.
For those on the move, the promise of keeping their jobs in the big city while enjoying the lifestyle and space of the West has had a powerful appeal. And their arrival is sure to be felt in everything from housing markets to the political landscape. Join us as we focus on how these powerful new trends will reshape economic growth.
Why Attend EOS 2023?
BBER economists will present national, state, and local economic forecasts for Montana’s largest communities, and industry experts will give their outlook for the state’s important sectors, including tourism, health care, real estate and housing, agriculture, manufacturing, high-tech and forest products.
Keynote Speaker
An information packed half-day seminar with Dr. Bryce Ward, an urban and regional economist
BBER’s long-running economic outlook seminar series will run from January through February 2023 in seven Montana cities. Attendees will have the opportunity to network and take advantage of the insightful economic forecasts that have benefited the Montanans for 48 consecutive years.

Bryce Ward
Bryce Ward is the founder of ABMJ Consulting, a firm that provides economic analysis, testimony, strategic advice, conflict resolution, and project management to clients nationwide. He has a PhD in economics from Harvard University and BAs in economics and history from the University of Oregon. He has expertise in urban and regional economics, labor economics, health economics, public finance, social economics, real estate economics, environmental and natural resource economics, and statistics/econometrics. He taught classes at Harvard University, Lewis and Clark College, the University of Oregon, and Portland State University. He has published dozens of scholarly articles and economic reports, and he has provided expert testimony in dozens of court cases and legislative proceedings. His research has been featured in places like the New York Times, the Associated Press, PBS NewsHour, NPR, and ProPublica.
Schedule
EOS 2023 will be held in nine cities across the state of Montana.
January 24, 2023
Great Falls
Hilton Garden Inn
2520 14th St. SW
Great Falls, MT 59404
January 25, 2023
Helena
Delta Hotels Helena Colonial
2301 Colonial Dr.
Helena, MT 59601
January 27, 2023
Missoula
Hilton Garden Inn
3720 N. Reserve St.
Missoula, MT 59808
January 31, 2023
Billings
Northern Hotel
19 North Broadway
Billings, MT 59101
February 1, 2023
Bozeman
The Commons
1794 E. Baxter Ln.
Bozeman, MT 59718
February 2, 2023
Butte
NorthWestern General Office
11 East Park Street
Butte, MT 59701
February 7, 2023
Kalispell
Hilton Garden Inn
1840 Highway 93 South
Kalispell, MT 59901
March 14, 2023
Sidney – Breakfast Program
7 am to 9 am
MSU Richland County Extension
1499 North Central
Sidney, MT 59270
March 14, 2023
Miles City – Lunch Program
Noon to 2 pm
Sleep Inn & Suites
1006 S. Haynes Ave.
Miles City, MT 59301
The Speakers
Our lineup of speakers include industry and economic experts focused on Montana.

Patrick Barkey
Director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research

Bryce Ward
Economist and Founder of ABMJ Consulting

Kate Fuller
Agricultural policy specialist at Montana State University

Christina Henderson
Director of the Montana High Tech Business Alliance
News
Get the latest information on EOS 2023, plus articles from our speakers.
Tackling Housing Affordability in Montana
With few affordable homes available for households earning a low income, many are being priced out of housing markets.
Montana’s Unaffordable Housing Crisis
The lack of affordable housing has been an increasingly difficult problem for many Montana communities. A shortage of homes and stagnant incomes have widened the divide.