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Senator Baucus Announces Boeing CEO Jim McNerney to Headline 6th Montana Economic Development Summit September 16th & 17th in Butte

Senator Continues ‘Montana Solutions Jobs Tour’ with Stops in Great Falls, Helena

Montana U.S. Senator Max Baucus continued his ‘Montana Solutions Jobs Tour’ with stop in Great Falls and Helena today, where he announced Boeing CEO Jim McNerney will join the list of headliners for his 6th Montana Economic Development Summit.

Today marks the third day of Baucus’ ‘Montana Solutions Jobs Tour’ intended to spark a statewide conversation and action plan for bringing more good-paying jobs to Montana ahead of Summit September 16th & 17th in Butte. Baucus was joined by local business leaders and officials in both Great Falls and Helena for roundtable discussions on job creation following as part of today’s stops.

"Time and time again we have proven that handshakes turn into deals and deals turn into jobs – that is what our Summits are all about. It’s my job to get the right investors in the door, and from there Montana businesses blow them away with all the exciting things they are doing across the state," Baucus said. "Boeing is perfect example of how connecting the country’s top companies with Montana businesses creates jobs right here in our state, and having Boeing’s top brass on hand at our Summit lets the world know Montana is a great place to do business. Jim’s wealth of knowledge and experience at Boeing and across the business world will go a long way toward helping us find Montana Solutions for Montana Jobs."

Baucus helped connect Boeing with a Helena company called Summit Aeronautics more than 10 years ago. At the time, Summit had just a handful of employees. Since partnering with Boeing to become ‘Boeing-Helena’ the site now employs more than 200 workers. McNerney is also Chairman of the Business Roundtable and serves on the board of directors at Proctor and Gamble and IBM.

Baucus is being joined along the ‘Montana Solutions Jobs Tour’ this week by President and CEO of the Montana Chamber of Commerce Webb Brown and local Chamber members. The Montana Chamber is partnering with Baucus and businesses across the state to host this year’s Summit.

"Montana businesses are on the cutting edge of technologies in everything ranging from cloud computing to our natural resources. With Max’s help, we’re going to get some of the biggest names in business right here in Montana to help connect our folks with the resources and investments they need to take their companies to the next level and boost jobs across the state,"Brown said.

‘Montana Solutions Jobs Tour’ Stops

· Monday: Harlowton & Billings: Baucus Announces ConocoPhillips CEO to Headline 6th Montana Economic Development Summit http://www.baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1280

· Tuesday: Bozeman: Baucus Announces Software Giant Oracle’s Top Brass to Headline 6th Montana Economic Development Summit http://www.baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1283

· Wednesday: Great Falls & Helena: Baucus Announces Boeing CEO to Headline 6th Montana Economic Development Summit

Baucus will continue to unveil headliners at stops along the ‘Montana Solutions Jobs Tour’ planned in Missoula and Butte Thursday.

Montana businesses are encouraged to register for the Summit and check for updates online:

· Online:http://www.MontanaJobsSummit.com

· On Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/MontanaJobsSummit

· Follow on Twitter: @MTJobsSummit

Additional Background on Economic Development Summits:

Montana Economic Development Summits are considered the most highly regarded jobs-focused events in Montana. The most recent Summit in 2010 attracted more than 150 businesses and 2,500 participants and featured nearly 40 panels and breakout sessions with entrepreneurs from around the state, business leaders from around the country and ambassadors from around the world.

The Summits feature a top-tier list of keynote speakers along with dozens of panels and breakout sessions designed to bring Montana businesses together with the biggest names in their industries:

· Past headliners have included: Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, along with panelists ranging from Cabinet officials like the U.S. Energy Secretary to Ambassadors from some of Montana’s largest trading partners.

The Summits have a long track record of providing Montana businesses with the connections and resources necessary to create new good-paying jobs:

· Following Baucus’ invitation to top GE officials to visit Montana and participate in his 2007 Economic Development Summit, GE built its Center of Excellence processing center in Billings which currently employs more than 200 workers.

· At the 2010 Summit, GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt met the owners of SeaCast manufacturing in Butte. The resulting partnerships have helped SeaCast grow from 21 to more than 70 employees. And the latest partnership they announced in January is expected to add even more. (Read More)

· After attending the 2007 Summit, international grain exporter Bunge build two state-of-the-art, high-speed shuttle loading facilities for Montana-grown grains along the Hi-Line in in Chester and Kyntire Flats. (Read More)

· LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals of Bozeman has secured more than $28m in venture capital investments since meeting with investors at Baucus 2007 Summit. (Read More)

Baucus has issued three ground rules for the Summits:

1. Nothing is off the table. Think outside the box and do not worry if an idea seems too big, or impractical. Only by thinking big, can we succeed big.

2. No politics. Nothing of consequence ever comes without working together. If folks cannot work together, they will not achieve the goals they have set out. Politics should not get in the way of good ideas.

3. The private sector should drive solutions. Businesses across Big Sky Country are on the cutting edge of innovation – from alternative energy, to the medical industry, to groundbreaking technologies. While the public sector has a role in creating incentives and supporting education and infrastructure, the best ideas come from the American entrepreneur. It is those ideas that will help us create good-paying jobs here in Montana.

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