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Because Wolf Point is located right on the beautiful Missouri River near Fort Peck Lake, it offers many recreational opportunities. Fishing, swimming, and boating on the Missouri River, Yellowstone River, and Fort Peck Lake are available along with hunting and trapshooting. An annual PRCA rodeo, fun-run, and powwow featuring judged dancing ceremonies bring visitors and entertainment to Wolf Point as well.

For further information, see the City of Wolf Point Website or wolfpoint.com

Along with its prime location, Wolf Point offers many business attractions:

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

Wolf Point’s high school, which has a graduation rate of 71.3%, has an enrollment of 299 students, and kindergarten through eighth grade has a student enrollment of 592. Wolf Point offers several classes from Fort Peck Community College in Poplar, and is only 96 miles from Williston State College in Williston, both two-year schools. 

Fort Peck Community College has on average 307 full-time students and 134 part-time students, Williston State College has a full-time enrollment of 505 students and part-time enrollment of 406 students, and Dawson Community College in Glendive has on average 300 full time students and 166 part-time students, which is only 100 miles from Wolf Point. 

Along with these two schools Wolf Point and 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 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:	2,663	10,620	19,043
Employee Population:	1,155	3,816	7,744
Unemployed Population:	95	321	918
Unemployment Percent:	2000	9.6%
	2001	7.4%
	2002	7.4%
	2003	7.8%

The following information about age and race distribution, income, and educational attainment is just for the Town of Wolf Point. 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: 898	Caucasian: 55.7%	Asian: 1.0%
20-29 years: 273	American Indian: 40.5%	Other: 0.3%
30-39 years: 288	Two or more races: 2.4%
40-54 years: 611
55-64 years: 174
65 years and over: 419
Median Age: 36.1
Number of Grades Completed	Income
By Adult Population in 2000	Number of Households: 991
Less than 12 Years: 13.3%	Median Household Income: $27,962
12 Years: 31.0%	Number of Families: 704
Some College, No Degree: 24.5%	Median Family Income: $33,681
2 Year College: 9.8%	Number of Non-Families: 287
4 Year College: 16.9%	Median Non-Family Income: $17,841
Post Graduate: 4.6%	Per Capita Income: $13,605

 

	% of Total Employed	Average Annual Wage
Executive and Professional:	37.1%	$52,230
Sales and Office:	28.0%	$24,450
Service Personnel:	18.4%	$17,610
Trade and Labor:	16.4%	$29,337

In 2006, the average annual salary for Roosevelt County was $25,392. In Wolf Point, the major employers are Albertson’s with 50 employees, Northeast Montana Health Services with 190 employees, Farmer’s Union Oil with 37 employees, Roosevelt County with 100 employees, Montana Highway Department with 21 employees, the City of Wolf Point with 58 employees, and Wolf Point Public Schools with 175 employees. The nearest call center is 133 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 Wolf Point 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. 

Because Wolf Point is located on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, a federally designated enterprise zone, some extra incentives are available. As with most incentives, in order to qualify a business must apply for and acquire approval for aid. The available incentives for enterprise communities are grants and tax benefits that vary with each business. The federal government will also waive burdensome regulations if certain requirements 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 US Small Business Administration has designated all of Roosevelt County as a HUBZone, which is a "historically underutilized business zone." Certified HUBZone companies are eligible for a 10 percent advantage in bidding for federal contracts. HUBZone businesses are expected to fill federal contracts at an increasing rate each year. Also, small businesses located in HUBZone areas can qualify for higher government guaranties on surety bonds for construction and service contract bids. Companies can register as a HUBZone company electronically or manually by calling 1-800-776-9144 extension 2 or visiting http://www.sba.gov. The certification is then approved on the federal level in Washington D.C.

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. Most of Roosevelt County is located in an "Enterprise Community" which is one of the nine groups that qualify for WOTC 

The cost of living index for the State of Montana is 101.8. However, Wolf Point would be much lower than this average. For instance the average cost of a single-family house in Wolf Point ranges from about $20,000 to $70,000. 

There are several buildings on Highway 2 for sale in Wolf Point.  There are also several vacant buildings on Main Street, which provide many opportunities for prospective entrepreneurs.

Downtown on Main Street, Lorene’s, a clothing store is for sale. The building has 1,824 square feet in a prime location.  The building also has a large backroom area for display racks and storage.  Contact Lorene Hintz at (406) 653-2249, for more information on this property.

Imagination Station, Wolf Point Saddlery, both located on Main Street are vacant as well.  Contact Jeff Sansaver at (406) 653-3222 for further information on the Imagination Station.  Contact Loretta Martin at (406) 653-1994 for more information on the Wolf Point Saddlery.

On Highway 2, The Wash and Wax, a carwash is for sale.  The car wash has 2 wash bays and an outside wash area.  The east bay is heated and equipped with an automated Laser Wash 4000 that is only 3 years old.  For further information on this property, contact Jarrell Schock at Missouri River Realty at (406) 228-2273.

A vacant building at 123 Cascade Street is also for sale.  This property would work well as an automotive shop.  It has 1755 square feet and is in good shape.  The building has three overhead doors, a large shop area, an office, and a bathroom.  For further information on this property, contact Shane Gibson at Dyck's Real Estate at (406) 653-1128.

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

Wolf Point currently offers no airline service.  Big Sky Airlines, which had daily flights to Billings, went bankrupt and ceased operations on March 8, 2008.  Great Lakes Aviation is working on leasing 10 planes and is expected to start flying in late June or early July.  The airline is dependent upon funding from Essential Air Services, a federal program enacted to guarantee that small communities in the U.S. were served by certified air carriers before deregulation maintain a minimal level of scheduled air service.

The airport, at an elevation of 1986 feet above sea level, is located three miles from town. Wolf Point’s lighted asphalt runway is 5089 feet long. Private aircraft maintenance is also available.

Ninety-six miles to the East, the Sloulin Field International Airport of Williston offers flights to Denver from Great Lakes Aviation. Rental cars are available in both Wolf Point and Williston. 

Amtrak also services Wolf Point daily from the East and West. The closest interstate, I-94, is 100 miles south in Glendive. US highway 2, one of the major highways of Montana and North Dakota, runs right through town.

Canadian markets are very accessible from Wolf Point. A port of entry into Saskatchewan, Canada, is located only 65 miles North of Wolf Point. The Port of Scobey is open from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm May 15 through September 30 and from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm October 1 through May 14. The Scobey/Coronach port features a voice activated gate and remote video inspection allowing people to cross from one country to the other 24- hours a day. This port is monitored at the nearest 24-hour manned port, a few miles East, North of Raymond, Montana. The Port of Scobey is only 135 miles from Regina, which offers commercial air service, major shopping, museums, concerts, and an impressive science center. 

Wolf Point’s average annual high temperature is 57.5° F, and the average annual low temperature is 30.2° F. It can get quite cold in the winter with January’s average temperature being 11.34° F, and an annual average snowfall of 18.1 inches. However, the school never has to close it doors due weather. July’s average temperature is 72.54° F. The average rainfall is 12.51 inches per year, and the average annual wind speed is about seven miles per hour. The growing season in the area is about 120 days, from May to September. With Wolf Point’s extreme weather one can enjoy a hot summer as well as a white Christmas. 

Wolf Point has two main health care facilities. Northeast Montana Health Services and Faith Lutheran Home employs 190 people, including four doctors, two midwives, 37 registered nurses and LPN’s, and 64 certified nurses assistants. The hospital has twenty beds available, while the nursing home has sixty available beds. The second health care provider for Wolf Point is the Chief Redstone Indian Health Clinic, which employs 25 people including one doctor, two registered nurses, and one certified nurse’s assistant. The Indian Health Clinic is just an outpatient facility. The Town of Wolf Point also has its own volunteer ambulance service. 

Local suppliers provide Wolf Point with many of its basic utilities. Montana-Dakota Utilities supplies the Town of Wolf Point with its electrical power. MDU has a base cost for a medium commercial user of $9.57 plus energy charges of 4.618 cents per kilowatt-hour for the first 2000 kilowatt-hours and 4.093 cents per kilowatt-hour thereafter. The demand charge for the first ten kilowatts is free, and over ten kilowatts is $6.85 per kilowatt. MDU has an average of .274 outages per year, with an average time without power of 27.49 minutes. The natural gas for heating in Wolf Point is also supplied by MDU. 

The City of Wolf Point obtains its water for the town from three wells. The water plant has a capacity of 1,400 gallons per minute, and the City has a storage capacity of 1.7 million. The average consumption is 685,000 gallons per day, while the peak consumption is 2 million gallons per day. Wolf Point has an aerated lagoon for its sewage treatment. The lagoon has a capacity of 115 million gallons per day and the present load is 450,000 gallons per day. 

Wolf Point also has a volunteer fire department, sheriff, public library, museum, chamber of commerce, and highway department. The town businesses include a weekly newspaper, one AM and FM radio station, three motels with a total of 113 rooms, RV park, ten restaurants, five gas stations, a Ford dealership, Chevy dealership, Dodge dealership, hardware store, lumberyard, pharmacy, a credit union, and two banks. As well as several businesses and seventeen churches, Wolf Point also offers many recreational facilities including: a senior citizen center, public pool, five public parks, two tennis courts, golf course, fitness center, and five baseball diamonds.