Two ways to stimulate Livingston's local economy

Reflecting back on this past year, we can’t help but feel a variety of emotions: 

Gratitude for our everyday comforts, our friends, family near and far, our good health, the countless ways our community has pulled together. 

Sadness for the separations, the countless changes, the sickness and the losses. 

Appreciation towards those who have stepped up, our essential workers, local healthcare professionals, our community mask-makers and mask-wearers. 

It takes a community to survive a pandemic.

With the longer days, emerging signs of spring and a light at the end of the COVID tunnel, we find ourselves breathing a little easier.

This week, we are focused on how we can help Livingston’s local economy and we’re sharing two ways to get involved:

Think local with your stimulus check: The third round of stimulus checks are hitting many of our bank accounts this week. If you can afford to do so, think about spreading that wealth around to others who may need it. Donate to the Livingston Food Resource Center, ASPEN, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, or other local non-profit or charity of your choice. Or spend it at one of Livingston’s awesome local businesses, buy art from a local artist, find a new bike, buy a book or two, hire a kid to clean up your yard, purchase local food … use your stimulus check to invigorate Park County’s local economy.

Participate in the Livingston Growth Policy update: The Wednesday, March 17 growth policy meeting focuses on housing and the economy. We support goals and strategies that provide a wide variety of housing types to suit a variety of local needs, and (no surprise) we support a growth policy that prioritizes our local economy.

You can Zoom into tonight's 5:30 pm meeting by clicking here (Passcode 99577).

Send your own comments to planning@livingstonmontana.org. 

If you aren't sure what to say, check out our comments:

Chapter 5 - Housing

Chapter 6 - Economy

We think there is great potential to bolster the local economy through careful protection and enhancement of Livingston’s best assets: our amazing natural environment, including the Yellowstone River and proximity to the world’s first national park; and Livingston itself, the historic community that has charmed so many for decades. Livingston has capitalized on these assets since the late 1800s, and it’s easy to envision these assets slipping away as growth and change dominate the region. 

We believe the time is ripe for good planning, and that comes with the support of the local community. To accomplish this, we need strong plans and excellent implementation strategies (as well as expertise). We need to acknowledge the threats that stand in the way of building a stronger Livingston. Growth should be seen as an opportunity that we as a community can take advantage of, instead of falling victim to patterns of suburbanization that favor the automobile and out-of-town interests.

If you can, please take a moment to weigh in on the growth policy. 

It takes a community to plan for the future.