The Montana Infrastructure Coalition will host its inaugural Infrastructure Summit on May 20–21 in Billings. This event will bring together leaders, professionals, and stakeholders from across Montana to exchange knowledge, discuss key infrastructure issues, and explore the state’s priorities.
Room blocks are available HERE at the Northern Hotel.
Interested in sponsoring this important event? Learn more HERE!
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Wednesday, May 20th
2:00 p.m. – Tours
2:00 p.m. – West End Water Treatment Plant (part of the broader West End Water Project) with Dick Anderson Construction President, Kyle Kastelitz
3:15 p.m. – Duck Creek Bridge, Brandon Duffey, Great West Engineering
5:00 p.m. – Networking Reception, Cider Mill
Thursday, May 21st
8:00 am – Welcome – Mayor Nelson
8:15 – Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Advocacy for Montana Infrastructure– Bennett Resnik, Senior Vice President, Venn Strategies
As Congress shapes the next federal surface transportation authorization, Montana stakeholders have an important opportunity to assess what the current law means for the state, what policy and funding debates are emerging in Washington, and how to effectively advance Montana’s infrastructure priorities. This session will provide an overview of the current federal framework, examine the key issues likely to shape the next surface bill, and discuss related federal developments affecting infrastructure investment and long-term economic growth. The session will also offer practical guidance on how MIC members can advocate effectively for their priorities with Congress, federal agencies, and other decision-makers.
9:00 am – Building Montana’s Future: Federal Infrastructure Investment & the Road Ahead – Amanda Mays, Director of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Supply Chain Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Join us for a fireside chat on the future of federal surface transportation investment and what it means for Montana. This session features remarks on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Keep America Moving initiative, followed by a moderated conversation covering federal funding outlook, the cost of inaction, workforce challenges, safety, and what Montana can do to invest in itself. Business leaders in attendance will have the opportunity to share local priorities and concerns.
9:45 am – Networking Break
10:00 am – Fireside Chat: From Funding to Fieldwork – Delivering Infrastructure in Montana
Join David Smith of the Montana Contractors Association and Lucia Olivera, Montana Division Administrator for FHWA, for a fireside chat on how federal transportation funding is deployed across Montana. The conversation will focus on how funds move through state and federal partners, how projects are prioritized and delivered, and what that means for contractors and infrastructure development on the ground. Expect practical insights into coordination, timelines, and the challenges shaping project delivery in the state.
10:30 am – Fresh Off the Road: New Montana TRIP Report Revealed, David Kearby, Executive Director, TRIP
Be among the first to hear insights from TRIP, a national non-profit organization, newly released “Keeping Montana Moving Forward” report – a comprehensive look at the mobility, efficiency, condition and safety of Montana’s surface transportation system and the challenges Montana faces to accommodate future transportation growth and sustain adequate state funding. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of emerging challenges, opportunities, and how these insights can inform local decision-making and policy moving forward.
11:15 pm – Behind the Grades: How the ASCE Infrastructure Report Card Is Built – Lexi Leffler Jensen, Project Engineer, Water & Environmental Technologies & Christina Eggensperger, Licensed Professional Engineer, Water & Environmental Technologies
This session will explore how the ASCE Infrastructure Report Card is developed, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the data, methodologies, and expert evaluations that inform its grades. Gain insight into how metrics such as condition, capacity, funding, and resilience are assessed, and why this standardized framework is critical for understanding infrastructure performance. By connecting the national methodology to Montana-specific challenges, the discussion will highlight how the Report Card can serve as a valuable tool for identifying investment priorities, communicating needs to policymakers, and guiding long-term infrastructure planning across the state.
12:00 pm – Lunch
12:15 pm – Panel: From Source to System: Why Water Infrastructure Matters
Reliable water and wastewater systems are foundational to community growth, public health, and economic development. This session highlights the critical role of funding tools such as the State Revolving Fund (SRF) and MSEP. This panel will also explore water availability challenges and the growing costs tied to drinking water and wastewater systems, including regulatory pressures, and significant infrastructure needs. In Montana alone, billions of dollars are required to upgrade and maintain these systems, illustrating the scale of the challenge.
1:00 pm – Breakouts
Navigating FAA Funding & Project Deployment
Join Jeff Roach, Director of Aviation and Transit for Billings Logan International Airport, for a practical overview of how airport projects are funded and delivered through FAA programs. This session will cover key funding sources such as AIP and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grants, along with the processes that shape project planning, design, and construction. Jeff will share how airport capital projects move from concept to execution, what drives funding decisions, and how firms can better align with FAA requirements and timelines.
The Role of Tax Increment Financing in Infrastructure Development
Jennifer Olson of the Montana League of Cities and Towns will provide an overview of how Tax Increment Financing (TIF) can be used as a strategic tool to support infrastructure development. This session will highlight how communities can leverage future property tax revenue growth to fund critical improvements such as streets, utilities, and downtown revitalization, while also discussing practical considerations, limitations, and real-world applications in Montana.
1:45 pm – Networking Break
2:00 pm – Montana Infrastructure Investment Panel
Facilitated by: Tim Erickson, HDR.
Panelists include Jason Rittal, MACO, Rep. Jerry Schillinger, Bill Lloyd, Great West Engineering, Chris Dorrington, Director, MDT and Rep. Denley Loge
Montana is entering a pivotal phase in infrastructure investment, moving from one-time appropriations to more sustainable, long-term funding strategies. This panel will examine the impact of recent legislation, including SB 536, which directed roughly $100 million toward local roads, bridges, and transportation needs, and HB 924, which established the Montana Growth and Opportunity Trust to create an ongoing funding mechanism for infrastructure. Panelists will discuss how these investments are addressing current gaps, leveraging federal and local resources, and shaping future funding forecasts, while exploring what level and structure of investment will be required to meet Montana’s long-term infrastructure demands and support continued economic growth.
3:00 pm – Perspective from the Montana Department of Transportation, Director Chris Dorrington
Director Dorrington will provide a forward-looking update on the Montana Department of Transportation, highlighting key priorities, emerging challenges, and strategic investments shaping the state’s transportation system. As Montana faces growing infrastructure demands, including aging roads, bridges, and increasing funding gaps—this session will explore how MDT is positioning itself to respond.
3:45 pm – Montana Infrastructure Coalition – What’s Next?
This facilitated session challenges participants to prioritize what matters most when it comes to infrastructure investment, moving beyond conversation to real-world tradeoffs. Attendees will engage in a guided discussion on where limited resources should be directed across Montana’s most pressing needs, from transportation to water and local systems.
The Montana Infrastructure Coalition (MIC) will use this input to help shape a clear, actionable legislative path forward. This is an opportunity to directly influence policy direction by identifying shared priorities and aligning investment strategies with the realities facing communities across the state.
4:30 pm – Conference Concludes
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