Governor Gianforte Convenes Veteran Business Owners in Bozeman

Recognizes Invest in Veterans Week

Governor's Office

BOZEMAN, Mont. - Governor Greg Gianforte today visited Anthem Snacks, a veteran-owned meat snack company in Bozeman, and joined veteran entrepreneurs and veteran service agencies to celebrate the contributions of veteran-owned businesses during Invest in Veterans Week.

"Invest in Veterans Week is a time to encourage Montanans to support veteran-owned businesses in their communities and to thank veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice," Gov. Gianforte said. "Veterans continue serving long after they take off the uniform by starting businesses, investing in their communities, and creating good paying jobs. We will continue to work together to tear down barriers so our veterans can thrive."

Gov. Gianforte (middle) meeting with veteran business owners at Anthem Snacks in Bozeman with owner Nate Kouhana (left) and Sen. Shelley Vance, R-Belgrade (right)

At Anthem Snacks, the governor convened a roundtable discussion with owner and Green Beret, Nate Kouhana, Sen. Shelley Vance, R-Belgrade, and veteran entrepreneurs from the Gallatin Valley to hear directly on how to support business owners, expand economic opportunity, strengthen veteran networks, and ensure those who served have access to the tools and resources needed to succeed in civilian life.

Participants in the roundtable included veterans Greg Putnam of Little Belt Cattle Company, Willie Blazer of Willie's Distillery, Leif Ibsen and Steve Rast of the Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Montana, Trent McMurtrey of Scoute Arms, Andrew Krawczel of Paul Davis Restoration of Southwest Montana, and Brett Cusker of La Cuisine.

The business owners shared with the governor about their priority to hire more veterans in the state and identified barriers to employment which included ensuring veterans know the available industries and are connected with veteran service organizations to help connect them to meaningful work.

Greg Putnam, special operations veteran and co-founder of Little Belt Cattle Company, opened the discussion with his personal experience of coming out of the military and not knowing work in agriculture was an option, when most pointed to a career in tech or finance.

Willie Blazer, U.S. Army veteran and founder of Willie's Distillery, spoke about the need for more affordable housing to recruit veterans to work in Montana communities.

"We're in a small, rural area. We love to hire veterans, but what we are running into is a lack of affordable housing in Ennis. The prices have skyrocketed and it's hard for families to find housing. We pay a good wage, higher than most in the area, but housing is an issue or they can't live there," Blazer said.

Trent McMurtrey, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and co-founder of Scoute Arms, was one of several veterans who highlighted the rising cost-of-living in the Gallatin Valley as a limiting factor to recruit veterans from other states to live and work in Montana.

"Although we are a veteran-owned company, we have yet to hire a veteran. It's not because we don't want to, it's because of cost of living in the Gallatin Valley. Especially if they come from other states where the cost of living is lower than in Bozeman," McMurtrey said.

In the discussion, Gov. Gianforte pointed to his work with the legislature to increase the supply of affordable housing, to cut income and property taxes for Montanans, and to provide direct relief for veterans. In 2023, the legislature passed and the governor signed into law a bill to exempt 50% of military pensions from income tax.

Highlighting the need for more reform, Leif Ibsen, U.S. Army veteran, managing director of the Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Montana, and founder of Montana Opportunities for Veterans Everywhere, said, "I challenge the legislature to raise the exemption on military pensions. I came back to Montana because it's where I am from, when you look at some of the benefits available for veterans, some people don't qualify. Look at other states who have great benefits for veterans and see what we can do to be more competitive. Montana is number one for veterans per capita but not number one for veteran benefits."

Joining the governor and veterans were representatives from multiple state and local agencies that support veterans through disability or employment services. The attendees represented organizations such as the Montana Departments of Labor (DLI) & Industry and of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), the Montana Veterans Affairs Division, the Small Business Administration Big Sky Veteran Business Outreach Center, and the Montana State University Veteran Support Center.

Through initiatives like 406 JOBS, DLI is working across public and private sectors to connect veterans with meaningful careers. 406 JOBS aligns with the work of Job Service Offices across the state to help veterans translate military experience into meaningful employment.

"Veterans come into the job service office, and we work with them to work through their barriers, find positions that are available in the community, and work with them to find opportunities with businesses they are interested in," said Shannon Ray of the Montana Department of Labor & Industry Veteran Services Division.

Ray continued, "We're connecting with business owners in the area, and we have businesses reaching out looking for employees who can work part-time, which is a good fit for our veterans with disabilities. Our veterans might want to work part-time or remote, and we have those options. We have 19 Job Service Offices available across the state."

At DPHHS, through a historic $300 million investment in the Rural Health Transformation Fund, the agency is expanding intensive and community-based behavioral health care and developmental disabilities services across Montana with specific programs focused on veteran services.

Anthem Snacks produces handcrafted, wood smoked beef sticks and jerky made from 100% American beef. Kouhana launched the company with a focus on quality, service, and giving back, building a Montana based business rooted in the values he carried from military service. The company supports veterans and first responders and directs a portion of its profits to nonprofit organizations that serve those who served.

Invest in Veterans Week is a national initiative to recognize the economic impact of veteran-owned businesses and raise awareness of the available resources. According to data released last year by the U.S. Small Business Administration, veterans represent 5.3% of business owners in the U.S.

View Gov. Gianforte's proclamation declaring Invest in Veterans Week in Montana here.

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