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Westby is a clean, peaceful, family oriented place, free from the metropolitan crime atmosphere. Nature, along with its wildlife is abundant. Many Northeastern Montana residents and visitors favorite pastimes are fishing, boating, hunting, and bird watching. Westby is known nationally for its upland bird hunting with hunters coming from all over the U.S. and Canada in the fall. The area is also well known by bird watching enthusiasts as one of the premier birding hot spots in the state. Deer hunting is excellent, and hunting dogs are raised near Westby. The prairie lands in their natural setting have native forbes and grasses, such as Echinacea, Psoralea and Anemone. Here the air is fresh as fresh can be. 

Agriculture plays a major role in Westby’s economy. The area surrounding Westby produces 7% of the nations total durum wheat on 200,000 acres. Spring wheat is produced on 100,000 acres. Many specialty crops are produced on dry land and irrigated land, including canola, mustard, flax, peas, lentils, chick peas, alfalfa, sugar beets, and pinto beans. Livestock production includes beef cattle along with some hogs and sheep producers. 

For further information, see the Town of Westby Website

Westby offers business attractions:

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

Westby’s high school, which has a perfect graduation rate of 100%, has an enrollment of 9 students, and kindergarten through eighth grade has a student enrollment of 36. 

Westby is located between Williston State College with 911 students enrolled and the University of Regina in Canada with 10,589. Minot State University is a few hours East in North Dakota with 3,432 students enrolled. Several nearby towns have Interactive Video Studios, which 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 any 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:	172	4,105	5,676
Employee Population:	71	1,860	2,296
Unemployed Population:	3	68	92
Unemployment Percent:	2000	4.5%
	2001	3.2%
	2002	3.2%
	2003	3.5%

The following information about age and race distribution, income, and educational attainment is just for the Town of Westby. 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: 28	Caucasian: 98.3%	American Indian: 1.2%
20-29 years: 6	Two or more races: 0.6%
30-39 years: 21
40-54 years: 45
55-64 years: 29	Income
65 years and over: 43	Number of Households: 81
Median Age: 50.0	Median Household Income: $32,875
Number of Grades Completed	Number of Families: 43
By Adult Population in 2000	Median Family Income: $44,583
Less than 12 Years: 14.8%	Number of Non-Families: 38
12 Years: 36.7%	Median Non-Family Income: $18,750
Some College, No Degree: 20.3%	Per Capita Income: $19,438
2 Year College: 8.6%
4 Year College: 14.8%
Post Graduate: 4.7%

	% of Total Employed	Average Annual Wage
Executive and Professional:	36.6%	$52,230
Sales and Office:	14.1%	$24,540
Service Personnel:	21.1%	$17,610
Trade and Labor:	28.2%	$29,337

The average annual salary for Sheridan County is $23,123. In Westby, the major employer is Westby Public Schools with 23. The nearest call center is 86 miles away in Ray, North Dakota. The call center has approximately 100 employees, and the starting wage is $7.50 per hour with a generous fringe benefit plan.

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 under 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 Westby as well as the State of Montana collect 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, Westby would be much lower than this average. For instance the average cost of a single-family house in Westby ranges from about $15,000 to $20,000. 

Warehouse, office, and land space is definitely available, negotiable and inexpensive. 

1. A 4500 sq.ft. diesel repair building (1981) along with 18 acres and a brick 4 bedroom house (1984) is for sale at $250,000 (contact Ron Moericke at (701) 985-2468).

2. A 384 sq. ft. insurance office building is for sale or rent at a negotiable price (contact Gene Herman at (701) 985-2471).

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

Westby uses Plentywood’s airport, which is chiefly for private use and ambulance service. The airport, at an elevation of 2250 feet above sea level is located at N48-47.4; W104-32.0 with radio contact at 122.8. The airport has a lighted, 4000ft long, asphalt runway and available fuel.

Seventy miles to the South, the Sloulin Field International Airport of Williston offers flights to Denver via Great Lakes Aviation. Rental cars are available in Plentywood and Williston. 140 miles north, Regina also has connecting flights.

Amtrak services Williston daily from the East and West. Highway 5 runs through Westby. The major North Dakota and Montana highway, US highway 2, is 71 miles south. The closest interstate highways are 140 miles North in Regina and 163 miles South in Glendive. 

Canadian markets are very accessible from Westby. Port of Oungre is 18 miles away. The 24-hour Port of Raymond, 40 miles from Westby, is only an hour and a half from Regina, which offers commercial air service, major shopping, museums, concerts, and an impressive science center. 

Westby’s average annual temperature is 39° F. It can get quite cold in the winter with January’s average temperature being 5.21° F, with an annual average snowfall of 30 inches. However, the schools don’t usually close down due weather. July’s average temperature is 68.42° F. The average precipitation is 14 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 Westby’s extreme weather one can enjoy a hot summer as well as a white Christmas. 

Westby has a Quick Response Unit for emergency situations and use Sheridan Memorial Hospital, 20 minutes away in Plentywood, for their healthcare needs. Sheridan Memorial Hospital employs 200 people, including 4 doctor, 2 physicians assistants, 22 registered nurses, 15 LPN’s, and 65 certified nurse practitioners. The hospital has 20 beds available, while the nursing home has 78 available beds.

The Town of Plentywood has its own ambulance service, and emergency medical services are available at the airport. The hospital also has tele-med available which can hook to hospitals inside and outside the state. This allows doctors and technicians in other cities to review x-rays. The tele-med equipment is also used for college classes and mental health consulting. Other health care services in Plentywood are a dental clinic, chiropractic clinic, vision clinic, and retirement center. 

Local suppliers provide Westby with many of its basic utilities. Sheridan Electric has a base cost of $15.00 plus 6.08 cents per kilowatt-hour.

The City of Westby obtains water from wells with 25,000 gallon capacity. Westby sewage treatment lagoons are less than one third full.

Westby has a volunteer fire department, a Resident Deputy, and a development group. The town businesses include a bi-weekly newspaper, restaurant, grocery and meat market, hardware store, service station, bar, churches, grain elevator, and a bed and breakfast with three rooms. The Hilltop Bed and Breakfast is decorated with antiques and offers dainty desserts. 

There is a senior citizen center and a baseball field. Free camping is available in Westby’s public park with a miniature golf course, a tennis court and a basketball court. Also, recreational area Scarma Lake is only 10 minutes away from town.