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Real Estate and Development in the Northern Rockies

We're very pleased to announce that author and New York Times columnist Tim Egan will be joining us for a keynote session at New West's 3rd annual Real Estate and Development in the Northern Rockies conference, Oct. 23-24 in Missoula. Egan, a long-time correspondent for the Times and one of the nation's most astute commentators on Western issues, will lead off an Oct. 23 session on political transformation in the region - a topic that will undoubtedly be on many peoples' minds just in advance of the presidential election.

Egan joins economist Chris Thornberg, Plum Creek CEO Rick Holley and a host of other luminaries for the two-day event, which is expected to draw more than 400 people. For more information check out the conference Website at www.newwest.net/realestate08, or click here to go straight to the registration page.

Real Estate and Development in the Northern Rockies

We're very pleased to announce that author and New York Times columnist Tim Egan will be joining us for a keynote session at New West's 3rd annual Real Estate and Development in the Northern Rockies conference, Oct. 23-24 in Missoula. Egan, a long-time correspondent for the Times and one of the nation's most astute commentators on Western issues, will lead off an Oct. 23 session on political transformation in the region - a topic that will undoubtedly be on many peoples' minds just in advance of the presidential election.

Egan joins economist Chris Thornberg, Plum Creek CEO Rick Holley and a host of other luminaries for the two-day event, which is expected to draw more than 400 people. For more information check out the conference Website at www.newwest.net/realestate08, or click here to go straight to the registration page.

Innovations in Philanthropy

Start-up companies aren't usually in a position to spend money on philanthropy, and New West is no exception. Happily, though, one of our investors, Boulder-based venture capitalist Brad Feld, has helped develop an innovative new way for companies like ours to get involved in community philanthropy even at an early stage. I'm delighted to announce today our membership in the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado, which is affiliated with the national Entrepreneurs Foundation.

The concept is simple: entrepreneurial companies donate shares equal to about one percent of their equity to the Foundation. If the company is successful, those shares will have significant value and the Foundation will thus share in the success. Companies can designate preferred beneficiaries of the shares, and we've chosen the Missoula Community Foundation and the Idaho Community Foundation. We can't of course make any guarantees, but we hope our involvement with the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado will eventually translate into meaningful support for these organizations.

Our thanks to Brad and everyone involved with the Entrepreneurs Foundation for their creativity and commitment in developing this concept. And please be in touch if you're interested in getting involved.

The Denver Post today has a piece by Mark Jaffe on what's become perhaps the most important story in the New West: the fundamental conflict between the booming resource economy and the New Western amenity economy. With Colorado poised to implement new rules on energy development - and the BLM about to auction leases on the Roan Plateau over the objections of almost all state leaders - the angst over oil and gas drilling especially is about to get worse. Jaffe quotes a Rifle-based outfitter whose hunting business has been decimated by drilling, and says the number of wells in Colorado will increase more than six-fold over the next few decades. Given all the belated global concerns about energy security and gas prices, you definitely get the sense that hunters and wilderness advocates are facing a long uphill battle. (Photo by Zach Ornitz, special to the Denver Post.)

Job Opening

NewWest.Net is in the market for a Webmaster, full-time or part-time. The job involves maintaining and developing the NewWest.Net site as well as our event calendar sites. We're looking for an ambitious self-starter who enjoys working with a small but highly dedicated team in an entrepreneurial environment. The ideal candidate would have solid HTML and PhP skills, experience with server administration, and familiarity with online publishing in general and Web 2.0 applications in particular. Knowledge of the Expression Engine publishing platform would be a huge plus, but is not required. The position is based in Missoula, though we might consider a telecommuting arrangement for a well-qualified candidate in the same time zone. Interested candidates should drop me an email at . Thanks!

Expensive Air Shows

With fires raging in many parts of California, the Los Angeles Times is running a big series on the growth in wildfires and the cost of containing them. Part one provides lots of interesting detail on just how much those fire camps - a familiar site in Rockies these days - cost to operate. (We're pretty sure that most firefighters aren't sleeping in air-conditioned trailers with chamber-maid service, but some are, apparently.)

Part two is even more interesting, alleging that choppers and air tankers ore often deployed for political reasons, against the better judgement of fire commanders. Last year's Sun Valley blaze is cited as a prime example of a fire where political pressure trumped firefighter judgement.

What's a reasonable amount to spend fighting wildfires? That, ultimately, is the policy question at hand, and kudos to the LA Times (my one-time employer) for providing a lot of solid reporting that helps inform the issue. We look forward to the rest of the series. [more]

Real Estate and Development in the Northern Rockies

NewWest.Net's third annual Real Estate and Development in the Northern Rockies conference is coming up on Oct. 23-24, and it promises to host an invaluable conversation for anyone involved in development and land use in the region.

We're delighted to announce that Rick Holley, CEO of Plum Creek Timber, will join us as a keynote speaker, offering insight into the long-term plans of the nation's (and Montana's) largest private landowner. We're also very pleased to announce that Christopher Thornberg of Beacon Economics will once again offer his highly engaging and, based on past performance, eerily accurate analysis of the regional real estate market. His talk will be followed by a discussion featuring three top regional economists: Larry Swanson of the Center for the Rocky Mountain West, David Eacret of North Idaho Real Estate Economics, and Toby Madden of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

We'll also have sessions focused on transportation, agriculture and open space, and the issues confronting developers in a slowing market, among other topics. This year we're also offering an expanded program of pre-conference seminars, with continuing education credit available for real estate agents, attorneys, planners and architects. And we'll soon be announcing some additional top-notch speakers.

For all the details on the event, visit the conference Web site at www.newwest.net/realestate08, or click here to go straight to the registration site. [more]

Stand and Defend?

As a raging wildfire bore down on their carefully tended family compound in Big Sur last week, a determined family did what fire managers always tell people never, ever to do: they stayed and fought, and even lit a backfire, which ended up saving their property. One of the brothers, Ross Curtis, was arrested for his trouble. But as this terrific story in the Los Angeles Times recounts, this was not some luxury compound easily replaced with insurance money, and raises the very pertinent question of whether "evacuate at the first sign of trouble" is the only reasonable approach to fires in the wildland/urban interface. [more]

Why the Rich Can be Annoying

In the "did she really say that?" department today, we have this from Jennifer Siebel, daughter of long-time Bitterroot Valley landowner Ken Siebel and bride-to-be of dashing San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. They'll be tying the knot at the ranch near Victor later this summer, and, as quoted in the Missoulian, the 33-year-old actress had this to say about Dad's place: “It was pure heaven - an old cattle ranch that since then we have nurtured back to health and which serves as a home for not only teems of wild flora and fauna but several farm animals,” she said. “It's probably my favorite place on this planet aside from eastern Africa's open plains and Botswana's Okavango Delta.”

Oddly, the Missoulian attributes this quote to an interview in the fashion magazine Lucire; I found the interview, but didn't seem to find that quote. But she's definitely cute, and the interview is, um, interesting. [more]

Montana in Play

Sen. Barack Obama celebrated July 4 in Butte, MT, honoring a spirited working-class town rich in history and signaling his seriousness about contesting the state in the general election. Jonathan Weisman of the Washington Post has a thorough analysis of the political dynamics of the Butte visit and the Democrat's New West strategy. Gov. Brian Schweitzer had nice things to say, which has not always been the case in the past. It was also a family occasion for the presumptive Democratic nominee. The Montana Standard has full local coverage and New West's Alexia Beckerling photographed the event. [more]

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