Strong Towns President, Chuck Marohn will be sharing the Strong Towns message at the speaker series: Managing Growth in the New West.

May 12, 2021

12:00PM CST - 1:30PM CST

Montana and much of the West has experienced a history of boom-and-bust development. In many cases this growth, or decline, was related to the rise and fall of natural resource industries. With the transition of this “old west” economy to a much more diverse “new west” economy, population growth and land development, while still subject to some fluctuations, has seen a much steadier rate of increase. In the past year alone, with the influx of people seeking escape from the Covid pandemic, growth rates have spiked with significant impacts on both private and public lands.

Many communities and counties are less than adequately prepared to plan for and effectively manage this growth. And the general public, while alarmed at the noticeable increase of newcomers, soaring home prices, and even increased pressure on public lands and waters, is often at a loss on what can be done. We believe it’s time to re-energize a robust growth management movement to effectively address these critical issues.

Future West, in collaboration with a number of other organizations, is hosting a series of webinars on the most salient growth management topics facing the Northern Rockies. The goal is to inspire and inform local actions by both governmental and non-governmental entities that will more effectively address these challenges. We are producing on-line presentations featuring individuals with in-depth knowledge of planning, sustainable development and growth management issues – leaders in their fields who can foster a more complete understanding of the challenges and opportunities that come with growth and change.