The Whitehall Ledger - Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana

Montana businesses are applauding Governor Gianforte’s recent “Return-to-Work Bonus” initiative. The plan is bold, innovative and a welcome bump to our economic recovery.

Early last winter, the Montana Chamber Board, led by Chairman Paul Hopfauf of Montana-Dakota Utilities, a subsidiary of MDU Resources Group, Inc., met with Montana’s congressional delegation to express concerns about new labor challenges beginning to develop as businesses were navigating through the COVID-19 shutdowns.

Recently, moderate concern has grown to a near crisis as more “help wanted” signs are showin...