First Hi-Line Economic Summit opens

With a list of heavy hitters set to talk about economics on the agenda, the inaugural Hi-Line Economic Summit got underway in Havre this morning.

Summit organizer Ty Hedalen of Independence Bank said he was inspired to create the event, with key sponsors Independence Bank and BNSF Railway, when he attended one of the Montana Jobs Summits held by former U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.

In opening today's session in the Montana State University-Northern Student Union Building Ballroom, Hedalen said that as he attended that summit, one thing became clear.

"As united as Montanans generally are, what may work for one part of the state may not work for another," he said.

He said he approached Gov. Steve Bullock to say "we" were going to create a summit for the Hi-Line - although he didn't know yet who the "we" were.

In the last eight months, the organizing committee created the event, organizing the summit and inviting speakers moderators and panelists, including the governor himself.

The program includes Bullock's lunchtime keynote address and and Lt. Gov. Angela McLean set to moderate a panel discussion on education.

Others participating in today's all-day session include Public Service Commissioner Travis Kavulla, BNSF Assistant Vice President Andrew Johnson and Toby Madden of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis,

A host of elected and appointed officials and other representatives of business, agriculture, education and economics in general are participating in the event, which includes several keynote speeches and roundtables on business and agriculture as well as the education discussion.