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In Scobey you will get a smile, a warm greeting and an attitude that says, "welcome". Scobey is a clean, peaceful, and family oriented place free from the metropolitan crime atmosphere. The crime wave in Daniels County might consist of two reported thefts a month. Some small business places will ask a customer to "look after things" for a few minutes while the owner runs an errand. Youngsters can walk to and from a movie or evening function at any of the schools with out fear. Everyone knows everyone here.

Agriculture plays a major role in Scobey’s economy. The main products harvested in the area are durum wheat; spring wheat, chickpeas, Black Angus, Herford, Limousine, and Charlais beef cattle. Scobey was once the largest primary wheat shipping point in North America. Agriculture related business in the area are Air Design and Grain Growers.

Annual summer entertainment brings visitors to Scobey. Pioneer Town has 50 old, restored buildings and some 50 restored cars. The general store is packed full of merchandise our forefathers expected to find when they "went to town". Pioneer Days entertainment centers on the Dirty Shame Saloon, hosting the internationally famous Dirty Shame Show. A huge collection of old-time machinery such as restored steam engines and tractors show how the work used to get done. Actual old cook-cars host the pancake and sausage "thresherman’s breakfast" during the celebration. The annual wagon train usually manages to end a weeklong trek in some community having a celebration.

For further information, see the Daniels County Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture Website

Scobey offers many business attractions:

• Available Workforce
• Telecommunications
• Tax Advantages
• Organized Economic Development Efforts
• Real Estate
• Accessibility
• Municipal Services and Facilities

Scobey’s high school, which has a graduation rate of almost 100% and a dropout rate of less than 0.5% over the last 10 years, has an enrollment of 76 students, and kindergarten through eighth grade has a student enrollment of 161. The small schools’ great student/teacher ratio of 8:1 allows special attention for each student.

Scobey is near Fort Peck Community College with 441 students, Williston State College with 911 enrolled, University of Regina with 10,589 students, Minot State University with 3,432, and Montana State University-Northern in Havre with 1,256. Several Interactive Video Studios in the area offer degrees and classes from surrounding universities and colleges, including: University of Great Falls, Rocky Mountain College, Montana State University-Northern, and Dawson Community College.

Most of these colleges will offer training and classes suited to meet an employer’s needs. The job service and local high school also offer public programs such as welfare to work, school to work, on the job training, and pre-employment skills training.

2000 Census	City/Town	County	50 Mile Radius
General Population:	1,082	2,017	15,483
Employee Population:	431	1,100	5,977
Unemployed Population:	21	25	851
Unemployment Percent:	2000	3.0%
	2001	2.8%
	2002	2.7%
	2003	2.2%

The following information about age and race distribution, income, and educational attainment is just for the Town of Scobey. However, most of the area’s workforce commutes an average of 50 miles to work, which is only about a 45-minute drive. Therefore, to get an accurate measure of the available workforce the statistics for the 50-mile radius should be used. 
 

Age Distribution	Race Distribution
Under 20 years: 247	Caucasian: 95.7%	Asian: 0.4%
20-29 years: 65	American Indian: 0.4%	Two or more races: 2.2%
30-39 years: 82	Other: 0.9%
40-54 years: 241
55-64 years: 147
65 years and over: 300	Income
Median Age: 49.6	Number of Households: 495
Number of Grades Completed	Median Household Income: $26,806
By Adult Population in 2000	Number of Families: 275
Less than 12 Years: 15.6%	Median Family Income: $35,521
12 Years: 37.9%	Number of Non-Families: 220
Some College, No Degree: 24.5%	Median Non-Family Income: $15,588
2 Year College: 7.8%	Per Capita Income: $17,150
4 Year College: 12.7%
Post Graduate: 1.5%

	% of Total Employed	Average Annual Wage
Executive and Professional:	30.9%	$52,230
Sales and Office:	28.8%	$24,540
Service Personnel:	19.3%	$17,610
Trade and Labor:	21.1%	$29,337

The average annual salary for Daniels County is $26,231. In Scobey, the major employers are Nemont Telephone Cooperative with 90 in Scobey and 185 organization-wide; Scobey Public Schools with 50 employees; Daniels Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home 95; and Daniels County with 45, which breaks down to 15 full-time, 14 part-time, 9 paid elected officials, 3 fill-in positions, and 4 seasonal positions.

Labor Legislation:

Montana labor laws follow the federal laws with some exceptions where they have enacted guidelines to protect the employer or employee more than the federal laws do. Although employment at will is presumed by statute, Montana has enacted a comprehensive Wrongful Discharge from Employment Act making Montana not really a true employment at will state. 

In most cases, state law prohibits public and private sector employers from conducting random blood and urine tests on employees and applicants, except when: the business involves a hazardous occupation, the primary responsibility is security, safety, or one of confidence and trust, the job involves intrastate commercial transportation, or an employee is subject to driver qualification requirements. Montana has no restrictions on applicant testing, but the employer must be able to show a given selection test is appropriately and adequately related to the requirements of the job. 

Montana law adheres to federal law, which under the Electronic Communication Privacy Act bars electronic monitoring, unless one participant in a conversation consents to intercepting or taping it. A disclaimer statement that the call may be monitored for quality control must be stated clearly and before the conversation is begun. The Montana Wrongful Discharge from Employment Act sets guidelines an employer must follow to discharge an employee. The Montana Wage and Hour Laws states that an employer should immediately notify the employees, affected employee organizations, affected local governments, and newspaper of general circulation in the county that a plant is closing. 

Montana also has enacted the Montana Safety Culture Act, which provides guidelines for safety in the workplace. A training wage is permitted for employees less than 20 years of age. They may be paid $4.25 per hour during their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment; certain restrictions do apply. In Montana, striking workers are not entitled to unemployment insurance, and mental stress is not permitted in worker’s compensation claims. As with all laws and legislation, there are exceptions where the laws may or may not apply, so each case must be considered individually. 

Nemont Telephone Cooperative, which is locally owned and operated in Scobey, is the principal supplier of telephone, internet, and cellular service for Northeast Montana. Nemont is a major local and long distance telephone carrier and provides unlimited local dial-up internet access and ADSL. Nemont's wireless network is a reliable and extensive cellular and PCS network in Montana and northwest North Dakota. Wireless phones can be used throughout the US and Canada. Nemont Telephone Cooperative is fully equipped for every business’s needs. Please call Nemont Telephone Cooperative, Inc. at 1-800-636-6680 for further information or special requirements.

The State of Montana does not use sales tax to generate revenue. Montana also does not tax water use, electric power, sewer, natural gas, heating oil fuel, local telephone calls, long distance telephone calls, toll-free telephone calls, membership sales, or direct mail lists. However, Montana does have a state wage tax based upon one’s income at a graduated rate of 2-11 percent. 

Montana does not have a commercial rent tax, but the Town of Scobey as well as the State of Montana collects a property tax. The property tax amount is based on the market value of the property times the taxable value set by legislation times the mill-levy amount set by school officials and city council. 

The average weekly unemployment insurance rate for the State of Montana for May of 2000 was $187.20. The average worker’s compensation premium rate for Montana is a minimum of $245 per year. The rate is based on salary, type of business, type and number of employees, and gross earnings of the company. Premiums are figured by taking a varying rate from 50 cents per 100 employees to $81.55 per 100 employees times the gross earnings of the company. 

The primary insurance carriers for Northeast Montana are Blue Cross Blue Shield, Montana Medical Benefits, John Alden, Intermountain Administrators, EBMS, and independent insurance carriers. Because insurance rates and premiums vary so much with different types of businesses, number of employees, and kinds of coverage, each carrier must be called for quotes. Managed care is not yet available in this area, but it should be offered soon. 

Many incentives are available in the State of Montana for new businesses. State funded pre-employment training is available for new and expanding industries. This service is either free or partially free to companies depending on the business. Through the Department of Commerce up to $5,000 per employee with a total of $400,000 per company in aid is available for training in a new business. The company must go through a competitive process in order to receive this aid. Montana offers no state income tax credits for new capital investment or new jobs created. However, industrial revenue bond financing is available. 

Another incentive available for businesses in Montana is property tax abatement for land, buildings, non-production machinery and equipment, standard computer software, specialized computer software, and office furniture and equipment. The company may be taxed at a lower rate that is increased incrementally each year until the full rate is paid. In order to receive these incentives, the business must fulfill the requirements laid out by the State of Montana. 

Special incentives are also available for designated industries as well as larger companies. Larger companies can obtain special financing assistance if qualifications are met. 

Grants are also available for new and expanding industries. However, certain requirements must be met in order to receive grant money. The employer must pay a starting wage of $7.15 per hour plus benefits. The maximum amount available per project is $5,000 per job up to $400,000 per business.

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit program offers employers a credit against their tax liability for hiring individuals from nine target groups who have traditionally had difficulty obtaining and holding jobs. Employers must apply for and receive certification from their state employment security agency that their new hire is a long-term welfare recipient or a member of one of the WOTC target groups. 

The cost of living index for the State of Montana is 101.8. However, Scobey would be much lower than this average. For instance the average cost of a single-family house in Scobey ranges from about $45,000 to $80,000. 

There are available buildings and an abundant amount of available land space. These buildings are also for sale. Many other buildings and a vast amount of land are negotiable and inexpensive.  For more information, or to find out if there if a building available for your specific need, contact Perry Wolfe of the Wolfe-Daniels Agency at (406) 487-2252.

1. The Rexall Drug with 7,500 square feet can be rented for $700 per month.

2. Just Like Home, an assisted living facility, a block off of Main is for sale.

3. The Ponderosa Bar is also for sale.

4. AG Grain, Inc., a fertilizer plant, is for sale.  The main plant is in Plentywood, but there are also branches in Homestead, Scobey, Flaxville, Opheim, and Glentana.  For more information, contact Randy or Wanda Swenson at Bekk's Realty at (701) 570-0642.

5. Sheridan Ready Mix is for sale.  This company has two sites, in Plentywood and Scobey, Montana.  The business comes with everything one would need for a successful Ready-Mix, Sand, and Gravel operation.  For more information, call (406) 765-1570 or email Mickey McCall, Director of Sheridan Development Corporation at director@plentywood.com.

Since listings are constantly changing, please contact a local real estate agent for up-to-date information:

Scobey’s airport is used chiefly for private use and ambulance service. The airport, at an elevation of 2432 feet above sea level, is located within a mile of town at N48-48.4; W105-26.5 with radio contact at 122.8. The airport has a lighted a 4000 feet long asphalt runway and available fuel.

Fifty-five miles to the South, Wolf Point’s airport will be serviced by Great Lakes Aviation with connecting flights to Billings in late June or early July 2008. One hundred thirty-three miles to the East, the Sloulin Field International Airport of Williston offers flights to Denver from Great Lakes Aviation. Rental cars are available in Scobey, Wolf Point, and Williston. 

Amtrak also services Wolf Point daily from the East and West. Even though the closest interstates are 160 miles North-East in Regina, Canada, and 155 miles South-East in Glendive, Scobey has Highways 13, 248, and 5. Also, the major North Dakota and Montana highway, US highway 2, is less than an hour south on Hwy 13. Canadian markets are very accessible from Scobey. The Port of Scobey, 14 miles North of Scobey, is a little over two hours from Regina, which offers commercial air service, major shopping, museums, concerts, and an impressive science center. 

Scobey’s average temperature is 41° F. It can get quite cold in the winter with January’s average temperature being 9° F, with an annual average snowfall of 28.9 inches. However, the school doesn’t usually close due weather. July’s average temperature is 70° F. The average precipitation is 13 inches per year, and the average annual wind speed is about 7 miles per hour. The growing season in the area is about 120 days, from May to September. With Scobey’s extreme weather one can enjoy a hot summer as well as a white Christmas. 

Daniels Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home has on average 95 employees. We are a rural health clinic with 24 Critical Access beds and 30 nursing home beds. Scobey has its own ambulance service and an airport available for medical flights. 

Daniels Memorial Hospital is part of the Eastern Montana Telemedicine Network. With this interactive videoconferencing technology, hospital personnel are able to conduct meetings, hold classroom training, consult between doctors, or consult between doctors and patients while remaining in Scobey.  In addition, the hospital has a new CR Reader available. With this machine, hospital staff is able to slide the x-ray into a machine, transmit the images to Billings, and have results returned within an hour.

Local suppliers provide Scobey with many of its basic utilities. Montana-Dakota Utilities supplies the Town of Scobey with its electrical power. Montana-Dakota Utilities has a base cost for a medium commercial user of $9.57 plus 4.618 cents per kilowatt-hour for the first 2000 kilowatts and 4.093 cents per kilowatt thereafter. MDU has an average of .274 outages per year, with an average time without power of 27.49 minutes. 

The City of Scobey obtains its water for the town from two wells that draw water from the Poplar River alluvium. The tank capacity is 600,000 gallons. Scobey uses aerobic lagoons for its sewage treatment.

Scobey also has a volunteer fire department and a volunteer EMT unit, a sheriff, public library, museum, chamber of commerce, and highway department. A dentist, optometrist, chiropractor, and pharmacist provide health care services in town. Scobey businesses include a weekly newspaper, a radio station, and two motels with a total of 33 rooms, RV Park, five restaurants, two gas stations, two car dealerships, a hardware store, three insurance agents, and two banks.

As well as several businesses, Scobey offers many recreational facilities including: a senior citizen center, public pool, public parks, a nine-hole golf course, three fitness centers, two tennis courts, and a baseball diamond. Camping facilities are available, free, on the lower end of the Scobey Golf Course. During winter there are bowling leagues, ice-skating and curling rinks, dance and music recreation. There is no shortage of enthusiasm for sports. Considerable amounts of energies are used to promote youth programs, sports, musical events, museum, fairs, and rodeos.