Governor Gianforte Cuts Ribbon on 360 Electric Expansion in Missoula

Celebrates Montana’s pro-business climate

• March 12 2024

MISSOULA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today cut the ribbon on the expansion of 360 Electric in Missoula and celebrated the company’s growing investment in Montana’s economy.

“Montana’s economy is growing and companies like 360 Electric are not only creating good-paying jobs, but also equipping the next generation with in-demand skills through apprenticeships,” Gov. Gianforte said. “With our pro-jobs policies and the unparalleled work ethic of Montanans, we’re making Montana the best state in the country to live, work, start a business, and raise a family.”

Gov. Gianforte cutting the ribbon to celebrate the expansion of 360 Electric in Missoula

Recently relocating to Montana, 360 Electric is an electrical contracting business founded in California by owner Jeff Goldalian. Establishing its headquarters in Missoula in 2021, Goldalian says Montana’s business climate attracted him and his business to the state.

“When we came and visited Montana, I looked at the business climate and asked if this would be a place where my business would grow and whether or not it would be inhibited. And it was 100% pro-business and pro-trades. Picking Montana wasn’t even a second thought,” Goldalian said.

360 Electric employs six Montanans and has helped to guide and educate more than 500 electricians through their online training across social media platforms.

Montana’s Registered Apprenticeship Program, administered by the Department of Labor and Industry, enables workers to receive paid, supervised, on-the-job training in more than 100 different fields across Montana.

In 2022, Montana added more apprenticeships to the Registered Apprenticeship Program than ever before, many of which were added following a rule change championed by the governor that went into effect that year.

While preserving workplace safety and training standards, the rule change revised the previous journeyman to apprentice ratio of 2:1 to 1:2, allowing one journeyman to supervise two apprentices.

“Being able to have two apprentices is a game changer,” Goldalian added. “Having two allows more people to come into the trade and we’re blessed to have our first female electrician. The only way that was possible was because I needed that second apprentice and was able to do it with one journeyman.”

To boost the skills of hardworking Montanans and meet the needs of employers, the governor also proposed and established the Montana Trades Education Credit (MTEC) in 2021, providing employers a tax credit for employee education and training. The governor nearly doubled MTEC in 2023.

The governor concluded, “Apprenticeships help our young people learn in-demand skills and help employers fill workforce needs. In Montana, we’re creating more opportunities for our kids and grandkids while supporting the small businesses that grow our economy.”

Learn more about Montana’s Registered Apprenticeship Program at apprenticeship.mt.gov.