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Don Wetzel Jr. has joined the Montana Department of Labor & Industry as its tribal liaison, serving as a senior leader and reporting directly to Commissioner Sarah Swanson.
Don Wetzel Jr.
With over two decades of experience directing efforts between national, state and tribal entities, Wetzel will lead the department’s outreach with tribal communities. He will be the first senior-level leader given this task.
“Bringing Donnie aboard the DLI team is a recognition of his talents and relationships across Montana’s tribal communities,” Swanson said. “It’s also a recognition that the department has more to do when it comes to engaging our tribal nations and ensuring tribal voices are heard and served effectively.”
Wetzel is Swanson’s first outside hire for her office team since her appointment by Gov. Greg Gianforte nearly 70 days ago.
Among Wetzel’s priorities will be expanding opportunity for tribal youth aged 14-24. The department has programs focused on this, such as Jobs for Montana’s Graduates, and Wetzel will focus on expanding offerings for the demographic.
A member of the Blackfeet Nation, Wetzel graduated from Harlem High School and received both an undergraduate and a master’s degree from Montana State University – Billings, where he played basketball. Wetzel has spent the last decade in various tribal relations positions within the Montana Office of Public Instruction, serving most recently as the tribal liaison and director of tribal student achievement, relations and resiliency.
Wetzel has dedicated years to the cause of suicide prevention, particularly among tribal youth. He also brings to DLI a background in tribal internet connectivity issues, through his work at the Montana-Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council.
He said he was honored and excited to take the job.
“This position presents an opportunity to improve relationships between the Department and our tribal nations, to learn from each other and create a powerful future together for our great state,” he said.
Gov. Greg Gianforte will lead a trade mission to Taipei, Taiwan, with representatives from Montana’s agricultural, manufacturing, photonics and bioscience industries, it was announced Friday.
Gov. Greg Gianforte speaks at a bill signing ceremony on the steps of the state Capitol on May 3.
The visit, which will be Oct. 28 to Nov. 3, comes two years after the governor reopened the Montana Asia Trade Office in the heart of Taipei to grow and expand trade in the region. The visit includes meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and Executive Yuan Premier Chen Chien-jen, as well as trading and education partners in the region.
In October 2021, the governor reopened the Montana Asia Trade Office to generate new business opportunities across the wheat, pulse crops, machinery, education, optics, coal, and pharmaceutical sectors. Mei Mei Wang, who led the state’s office in Taiwan prior to its abrupt closure in 2012, serves as the official representative to the office.
Taiwan is consistently one of Montana’s top 10 trading partners. In 2022, Taiwan purchased over $107 million in goods from Montana, including high-quality wheat, industrial machinery and beef.
Taiwan has also partnered with the state through the university system, developing programs at the University of Montana and Montana Technological University for short-term exchanges.
Aaron Peters has joined the Robert Peccia & Associates Helena office as an engineering designer in the site development group.
Aaron Peters
Peters has over five years of civil engineering experience with a primary focus in municipal and transportation engineering. At RPA, he will utilize his experience and education to complete various aspects of site design, including data collection, alternatives analysis, and preparation of construction documents.
He has a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering technology from Montana State University – Northern. His attention to detail, strong work ethic, and dedication to his profession make him an excellent addition to the RPA team.
Small nonfarm businesses in 11 Montana counties are now eligible to apply for low interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, officials said.
Director Jeffrey Lusk of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West said these loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought in the following primary counties that began Aug. 15.
Primary Montana counties: Lewis and Clark and Powell.
Neighboring Montana counties: Broadwater, Cascade, Deer Lodge, Flathead, Granite, Jefferson, Meagher, Missoula and Teton.
“SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster and businesses directly impacted by the disaster,” Lusk said.
Small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.
“Eligibility for these loans is based on the financial impact of the disaster only and not on any actual property damage. These loans have an interest rate of 4% for businesses and 2.375% for private nonprofit organizations, a maximum term of 30 years, and are available to small businesses and most private nonprofits without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship,” Lusk said.
Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the initial disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.
By law, SBA makes Economic Injury Disaster Loans available when the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture designates an agricultural disaster. The Secretary declared this disaster on Oct. 10.
Businesses primarily engaged in farming or ranching are not eligible for SBA disaster assistance. Agricultural enterprises should contact the Farm Services Agency about the U.S. Department of Agriculture assistance made available by the Secretary’s declaration. However, nurseries are eligible for SBA disaster assistance in drought disasters.
Applicants may apply online, receive more disaster assistance information and download applications at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 65-2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance.
The deadline to apply is June 10.
For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. Applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
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Gov. Greg Gianforte speaks at a bill signing ceremony on the steps of the state Capitol on May 3.
Don Wetzel Jr.
Aaron Peters
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