Infrastructure

Livingston and Park County’s strategic location ensure that it has high-quality infrastructure to support business development activities.

The City of Livingston and Park County are proactive in infrastructure planning and maintenance. Livingston has a fully-funded five-year Capital Improvement Plan. In 2015, Park County accepted its first comprehensive Capital Improvement Plan.

Energy

Park County’s providers offer some of the cheapest energy in the country. Montana’s energy prices are well below the national average and offer readily-available, reliable, redundant energy supplies. You will find sufficient energy infrastructure county-wide to meet your business needs.

Roads

Park County is well connected with Interstate 90 traversing the county at Livingston and Highway 89 running from Gardiner through Wilsall. Comprehensive capital improvement planning by the City of Livingston and Park County ensures high-quality local road systems are maintained.

Telecommunications

Despite the rural nature of Park County, quality telecommunications infrastructure exists. In May 2015, the Livingston City Commission approved the construction of a fiber extension to the West End Economic Development District using tax increment financing funds. This extension ensures the District’s current tenant, Printing For Less, will remain competitive in the marketplace and provides an opportunity for high-speed, redundant connectivity infrastructure for future tenants.

Transportation

Throughout history, Park County has always been an important crossroads. When the Northern Pacific Railroad opened its central repair facility in 1882, it established Livingston as a major transportation hub in the region. Livingston is located at the intersection of Interstate 90 and Highway 89, is home to Montana Rail Link, and is in close proximity to the two busiest international airports in the state.

Air Transportation

It’s a quick 30 minute drive on Interstate 90 to the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, the busiest airport in the state of Montana. It has 15 direct flights, making getting to and from Montana easy. There are excellent facilities for corporate jets and private planes in addition to charter services.

One hundred and fifteen miles to the east is Billings Logan International Airport, Montana’s second busiest airport. Billings is the largest town in the state and is bustling due to the oil and gas economy in eastern Montana.

Five miles east of Livingston is Mission Field, the 2012 Montana Airport of the Year. Mission Field hosts numerous corporate jets throughout the season as well as the Air National Guard, Forest Service firefighting activities, and Life Flight. Home to small- and intermediate-sized aircraft whose owners rent hangars from the Airport Board, there is also a ground lease rental program upon which individuals may construct their own hangars to fit their needs.

Rentals and ground leases are also available at the Gardiner Airport. The Wilsall Airport is used primarily for farm/ranch industries.

Highway Access & Trucking

Interstate 90 traverses the middle of Park County at Livingston. The major east/west transportation corridor across the northern U.S., Interstate 90 is easily accessible to Park County’s businesses. Highway 89 runs through the county on its way from Canada to Wyoming. Interstate 15 is 90 minutes to the west.

There are more than a dozen motor freight hauling companies offering services in the area. Each offers pickup, delivery, and warehousing and several also have computerized freight tracing and specialty services.

Rail Services

Montana Rail Link, the eighth largest railroad in the U.S., is a regional Class II railroad that connects Montana to the world with more than 900 miles of track. In addition to critical rail service provided to local industry, it is an important link in transcontinental trade. MRL is an important presence in Livingston and a majority of the locomotive maintenance is done at the large repair facility just on the edge of the Central Business District. MRL provides essential access from Livingston to points anywhere in the U.S. and beyond.

Utilities

Comprehensive capital improvement planning by the City of Livingston addresses water, sewer, and storm water systems. The city is in the process of replacing aging infrastructure and looking to the future with plans for a new sewer treatment plant.

Most communities have water and sewer systems that support business development. Where community systems do not exist, plentiful water resources and land provide the ability for development in rural areas.

Permits & Licensing

• The City of Livingston provides you with a list of necessary permits and licenses to get your business up and running. For specific questions, contact the Building/Planning Department at (406) 222-0083.
• Park County provides you with information on necessary permits and licenses in the county. For specific questions you can contact the Environmental Health Department at (406) 222-4145 or the Planning Department at (406) 222-4102.
• The Montana Secretary of State Business Services provides a variety of resources to help you easily complete business actions with the Secretary of State’s Office. The step-by-step tools aim to answer your questions and reduce the time spent on each filing, so you can focus your energy on achieving your business goals.
• Comprehensive small business licensing information is available at the Montana Small Business Development Center Licensing Guide.
• Simple, convenient, and secure online business licensing services for retail food establishments, beer and wine retail sales, nurseries, etc. are available at the Montana Department of Revenue E-Stop.

Taxes

Montana is known for its business-friendly tax climate. In 2014, Montana was ranked as the sixth best tax climate in the U.S. by the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan tax research group. Their State Business Tax Climate Index compares the states in five areas of taxation that impact business: corporate taxes, individual income taxes, sales taxes, unemployment insurance taxes, and taxes on property, including residential and commercial property.

“This is yet another sign of all of the benefits of doing business in Montana. This report shows that in addition to the highly-trained workforce, and unmatched quality of life, Montana also offers new and existing businesses a climate that will allow them to thrive.” -Montana Governor Steve Bullock

State of Montana tax incentives include Corporate Income Taxes, Natural Resource Taxes, Motor Fuel Taxes, Property Taxes, and Natural Disaster Taxes.

General tax information can be found at the Montana Department of Revenue.