Virtual Workforce Opportunity Fair Scheduled for April
Flathead Valley Community College is partnering with Job Service of Kalispell, Kalispell Chamber of Commerce and the Daily Inter Lake to offer the first-annual Workforce Flathead Opportunity Fair to help job seekers connect with local employers. Free and open to all job seekers, the fair will be held virtually over Zoom during the month of April.
Employers representing featured industries will share information about job and career opportunities with their organizations. Job seekers will be able to ask questions during the presentations and follow-up with employers afterward. All presentations will be recorded and available for viewing at workforceflathead.com.
Each week, the fair will feature a growth area in Northwest Montana’s
economy. The schedule includes these industries:
April 5-9: Manufacturing and the Trades
April 12-16: Tourism, Hospitality and Retail
April 19-23: Health Care and Bioscience
April 26-30: Business, Finance and Other Workforce Opportunities
Event sponsorship opportunities at various levels are available to employers. For more information about how to participate in the event as an employer or a job seeker, contact Job Service Kalispell at (406) 758-6200 or kalispelljsc@mt.gov or visit workforceflathead.com.
Public Comment Invited on
institutional control plan
for railroad corridors inside
Libby Asbestos Superfund site
Submitted by EPA Region 8
Lincoln County, Mont. — On Tuesday, March 9, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the proposed Institutional Control Implementation and Assurance Plan (ICIAP) for Operable Unit 6 (OU6) of the Libby Asbestos Superfund site in
Montana for public comment. Comments may be
submitted through April 9 of this year.
The ICIAP identifies specific institutional
controls to be implemented by the BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) at OU6, which includes BNSF-owned and operated railyards in the towns of Libby and Troy and approximately 41 miles of railroad right-of-way. BNSF agreed to develop and
implement these institutional controls and best
practices for the area to ensure the Superfund
cleanup remedy remains protective of public health and the environment.
In 2016, a Record of Decision identified 20 institutional controls for potential use at the operable units comprising the Libby Asbestos Superfund site. This ICIAP proposes the use of seven of these
institutional controls at OU6 based on site
conditions and the future anticipated use of BNSF properties. Site conditions and the effectiveness of any institutional controls finalized for OU6 will be regularly evaluated to ensure continued protection of public health and the environment.
Comments may be sent via mail or email to:
Beth Archer (archer.elizabeth@epa.gov)
U.S. EPA, Region 8 (ORA-PA-C)
1595 Wynkoop St
Denver, CO 80202-1129
For more information about the site, including the ICIAP, visit the EPA website at:
www.epa.gov/superfund/libby-asbestos
Or visit your local libraries at:
Lincoln County Library – Libby Branch,
220 W. Sixth St, Libby, MT 59923
Lincoln County Library – Troy Branch,
3rd and Kalispell, Troy, MT 59935
Coming Soon:
Montana Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Montana Housing
Coming Soon: Montana Emergency Rental Assistance Program
The Montana Emergency Rental Assistance program will provide rent and utility assistance to Montanans who have been financially impacted, directly or indirectly, by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Renters will be able to apply directly for rent and utility assistance, and landlords will be able to apply on behalf of renters with the renter’s co-signature and required documentation.
Renters will need to provide income documentation to verify program eligibility.
To streamline the application review process, we recommend renters file their 2020 tax return now and have that document available to submit when the program opens for applications.
The program is still being developed, but interested applicants can begin preparing for their applications using the information below.
For Renters:
Check eligibility. To be eligible for rental or utility assistance:
An applicant’s household income cannot exceed 80 percent of the area median income. Area median income information can be found here: https://housing.mt.gov/Portals/218/Shared/RentalHousing/docs/IncomeLimits.pdf
The applicant or someone in their household must have experienced income loss, financial hardship, qualified for unemployment benefits, or incurred significant costs due directly or indirectly to COVID-19.
Applicants must be able to show that they are at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability. For example, if they have received a past due rent notice or eviction notice or if they are experiencing unsafe or unhealthy living conditions.
Gather application materials, including:
Lease Agreement
Demonstration of need:
A late rent or eviction notice
Utility bill, late payment notice or shut off notice
Income documentation:
2020 IRS tax return OR
Documentation of all household member income sources for the most recent two months, which may include:
Paystubs for wages earned for the past two months
Most recent Social Security or pension award letter
TANF statement
Unemployment insurance benefit statement
Evidence of child support income for the past two months
Self-employment 2020- Schedule C or profit and loss statement
Documentation of other income for the past two months
For Landlords:
Gather the W9 for the appropriate rental property where they have notified a renter of a late payment or sent an eviction notice
Landlords will need their renter’s signature on the application once they are ready to submit
The program is not yet taking applications but applicants can begin getting their materials ready now. Watch for Montana Emergency Rental Assistance program updates at HOUSING.MT.GOV.
Where’s My Refund? Tracking your Montana tax status
Montanans who have filed their 2020 Montana income tax returns can now check the status of their refunds online.
Montanans can simply visit the department’s website at MTRevenue.gov/refund to learn whether their return is still being processed, if there’s been a delay, or if their refund is on its way.
Electronic filing is the safest and fastest way to file your return and get your refund as quickly as possible. For all taxpayers, it could take as long as 90 days to receive a refund due to security measures to combat identity theft and fraud.
The department also reminds those who worked remotely in Montana during any part of 2020 that income earned while working in the state is taxable in Montana.
Any taxpayers who move after filing their return should keep their mailing address current with the department to avoid any delays in receiving their refund or correspondence from the department.
For more information, visit MTRevenue.gov.