By Tim Leeds
A variety of topics ranging from local to international and covering economic history, current activity and forecasts were presented at Wednesday's economic summit.
Mike Rao, chancellor of Montana State University-Northern, discussed the new world economy and how it relates to the Hi-Line and to students and graduates of the University.
Debbie Vandeberg, the general manager of the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce, showed ways the chamber is acting as a support mechanism for economic development in the area.
Dick King, executive director of Bear Paw Development Corporation, North Montana, presented information on the census and possible new businesses coming to the Hi-Line
Paul Polzin, director of the BBER, and Steve Seninger, director of economic analysis at the bureau, presented an overview of the aging of the baby boom population, those born between 1946 and 1964.
Polzin then presented national, state and local economic outlooks and projections. His presentation included information on population growth, employment and gross state and gross county product.
Norma Nickerson, director of the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research, presented history and projections of the tourism industry in the state. She related the effect of the aging of baby boomers to resident and non-resident travel and recreation in the state.
Seninger presented an analysis of the impact of an aging population on the health care and banking industries. Charles Keegan, director of forest industry research at the bureau, presented an analysis of manufacturing in Montana.
Myles Watts of the Montana State University-Bozeman agricultural economics/economics program, presented economic agricultural forecasts, and Vince Smith from the same department presented information on the World Trade Organization and its current negotiations, and how they could impact agriculture.
