America's rural states face unique challenges when it comes to workforce development - low population density, geographic isolation, and limited resources. Accelerate Montana* has emerged as a national leader in developing evidence-based workforce solutions that demonstrate measurable outcomes while respecting local values. By piloting innovative programs, Accelerate Montana builds trust with stakeholders through data-driven results that can inform broader policy changes.

Challenges that face rural states:

Residents in rural states like Montana face several barriers to accessing training:

• Geography – 2/3 of Montanans live more than an hour’s drive from an institute of higher education (the primary workforce training providers in the state).
• 2/3 of Montanans are employed by small businesses that often lack the capacity to have robust in-house training programs, yet often require workers to play multiple roles in an organization.
• Reaching scale (as traditionally defined by quantity) can be a challenge in a large rural state with a lot of small employers. Even though there are fewer people, rural communities still have the same diverse needs as denser population centers.

To address workforce challenges, Montana first had to build more connection, consensus, and collaboration across workforce partners, which include state agencies, institutions of higher ed, and training providers. Montana is working to bridge the gaps in education and workforce and bring together partners from across the state to effectively braid funding and reduce duplication of services. “We hope Montana is a model for collaboratively approaching workforce programs to better align education, industry, and workforce partners,” says Joe Thiel, Interim Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education. 

Accelerate Montana plays a key role in advancing the state’s workforce strategy. The organization operates at a scale that allows it to pilot multiple innovative projects across multiple systems. These pilots include initiatives such as: 

• SkillsFWD: Montana is pioneering novel approach to Learning and Employment Records which focuses on helping small businesses map and leverage existing workforce skills through AI-powered competency tracking, becoming the first national initiative to adapt skills-based technology specifically for rural and Tribal employers.

• Rapid Training Program: A $8 million Montana Department of Labor & Industry ARPA-funded initiative that delivered short-term, in-demand job training to nearly 3,400 Montanans across Montana’s two-year colleges, Tribal colleges, and other training providers with remarkable 90% completion and employment rates. This initiative, while no longer state funded, has created a distributed network that ensures programs remain responsive to local workforce needs.
• Job Site Ready Mobile Training Unit: This program brings fully equipped construction trades training directly to isolated rural and Indigenous communities, eliminating transportation barriers while generating local economic development.
• Montana Credential Registry: Accelerate Montana is piloting the state's first comprehensive credential and competency registry using interoperable data formats. In partnership with the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, the registry is focusing on non-credit programs that align with workforce opportunities while building robust systems to track outcomes.
• Blackfeet Nation Skills Initiative: This groundbreaking partnership is creating a culturally responsive employment system that translates traditional Blackfeet values into workplace competencies, embedding digital credentials to support hiring and advancement while establishing cultural alignment requirements for employers operating within Tribal boundaries. 

Montana has seen strong success in piloting workforce initiatives that scale into broader state action. Pilot programs are a low-risk way to test new approaches, generate valuable data, and provide lessons that can help inform legislators interested in strengthening workforce policy and investment. Many of the initiatives are funded by philanthropy which allows the state to learn from these initiatives and use them to inform policy. “What we've learned is that change doesn’t always come from big ideas or sweeping reforms, often, it’s the smaller, proven pilots that gain traction and may move policy forward,” says Paul Gladen, Executive Director of Accelerate Montana. 

Policy as it relates to Montana

Thanks to a coordinated statewide effort to prioritize collaboration, much of Montana’s workforce policy work is done in partnership with state agencies such as the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, Montana Department of Labor & Industry, and Montana Department of Commerce. In this context, Accelerate Montana shares insights and outcomes from its initiatives, especially as they relate to policy efforts other agencies are trying to advance.  

As this legislative session unfolds, Montana is building several workforce initiatives and laying the groundwork for new efforts focused on improving K–12 alignment with workforce goals. Right now, they’re focusing on dual enrollment that moves students into the workforce after high school and the importance of postsecondary education. As Montana looks ahead to the next two years, it will be important to help legislators connect the dots from K-12 to the workforce - and to continue supplying compelling pilot data that demonstrates the importance of adults also entering back into postsecondary education.

Why is it important to take note of rural workforce efforts?

Montana’s rural geography and high percentage of small business make its workforce strategies relatable to almost every state. While 42% of Montanans live in rural areas, nationally that number is 20%. And 67% of Montanans are employed by small businesses compared to 46% nationally.  These differences highlight, rather than diminish, the broader applicability of Montana’s approach. Workforce solutions that serve rural communities and small employers aren’t niche – they’re essential. “We believe any state could apply what we’ve done in Montana. Our strategies and approach are relevant to any state with a rural workforce,” adds Gladen.

Supporting a strong rural workforce provides the opportunity to recognize the opportunity to reframe the conversation about rural states by highlighting the significant assets they contribute to our country and the world particularly in food, water, and energy. While just 20% of the country’s population lives in rural communities, they produce 90% of the country’s food supply and generate 83% of its clean energy. Rural communities are essential to our economy and environment - which means having a strong rural workforce is imperative for our country.

Lessons learned

Through Accelerate Montana, several key lessons have emerged that can support and guide others as they look to build successful workforce programs:

• Clearly define the values that drive your work. For Accelerate Montana, that means being intrepid, agile, able to incubate new ideas, and committed to strong local partnerships.
• Engage community stakeholders. Bring forward innovative, responsive solutions that reflect their real-world needs.
• Strengthen both listening and advocacy skills. Elevating partner voices helps build trust and more effective programs.
• Look beyond state borders for ideas. Don’t assume all best practices are homegrown, adapting national models can enhance local efforts.
• Embrace responsive adaptation. Success often comes not from rigid plans, but from the ability to evolve based on what’s working on the ground.

*Accelerate Montana is a statewide initiative led by the University of Montana, whose mission is to support economic prosperity for Montana’s workers, companies, and communities through economic development, workforce training, and entrepreneurship.