Light Manufacturing
The county's strategic location along major transportation corridors, including Interstates 15 and 90, offers manufacturers efficient access to regional and national markets.
Jefferson Local Development Corp.
We’re Here to Help You Succeed!
The county's strategic location along major transportation corridors, including Interstates 15 and 90, offers manufacturers efficient access to regional and national markets.
Build your outdoor hospitality business where adventure begins. Jefferson County connects travelers to Montana’s wild beauty, with small-town character and space for your next great idea.
Accessibility makes Jefferson county an attractive hub for logistics companies and service providers aiming to serve the broader Southwest Montana region.
Jefferson County's fertile lands yield a variety of crops and livestock, providing a solid foundation for value-added food production.
This is where opportunity, community, and Montana’s natural beauty come together.
At the crossroads of Interstates 15 and 90, Jefferson County offers direct access to Helena, Butte, Bozeman, and Montana’s fastest-growing regions. More than 550,000 acres of public land make rivers, mountains, trails, and hot springs part of daily life, not just a getaway. Here, small-town values create a community that’s welcoming, resilient, and ready to grow. With competitive industrial sites, lower costs, and a skilled workforce, Jefferson County is where business and lifestyle thrive together.
5,817
Jefferson County, MT Workforce
38,553
Southwest Montana labor force
2.8%
Unemployment Rate - 1.4% lower than the national average
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Jefferson County delivers the essentials businesses need to grow: strategic interstate access, affordable industrial sites, and a supportive environment. Add in low costs, available land, and a skilled workforce, and Jefferson County stands out as one of Montana’s most business-ready counties.
Strategic Advantages:

Interstates 15 and 90 meet in Jefferson County, offering direct access to Helena, Butte, Bozeman, and major cities across six states—including Boise, Salt Lake City, Sheridan, Spokane, and Williston—as well as key destinations in Canada. This prime location makes it a natural hub for business, shipping, and travelers who pass through daily.
At the Jefferson Local Development Corporation (JLDC), our mission is to foster a resilient economy by championing the enterprises that believe in Jefferson County’s potential. Today, the JLDC is thrilled to introduce 406 Bridge Fitness...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE12/04/2025Designed in collaboration with Golden Shovel Agency, the new site is a hub for existing businesses and residents as well as a tool to attract new developmentWhitehall, MT – Jefferson Local Development Corporation...
Recognized by Travel Pulse Magazine as Montana's top haunted house destination in 2022, Whitehall's Screams Come True Haunted House is preparing for its seventh season of scares and community spirit. Once again, the haunt will...
HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that it will open the Opportunities in Rural Economies Loan Participation Program preliminary application portal from Oct. 1-28, 2025, giving partners four weeks to bring...
Since the program launched in February 2024, the 39 graduates of Southwest Montana Youth Partner’s (SWMYP) leadership initiative have logged more than 1,000 hours of change-focused instruction and designed and completed 17 community service projects.Click...
Bolstered by its largest 9th grade class since the 20th century, Jefferson High School has extended its run of enrollment growth with a student population 50% higher than a decade ago.The school’s Class of 2029...
The Prickly Pear Land Trust last week secured a new conservation easement on a 271-acre Montana City parcel on the south side of Mt. Ascension frequented by elk. One third of the nonprofit’s 30 easements...
Sunlight Business Park
The Sunlight Business Park is a planned 200 acre light industrial and high-tech business park five miles east of Whitehall along Interstate 90. With 13 parcels in Phase 1 ranging from one to eight acres, the park offers commercial and industrial space to suit a range of business uses from large industrial applications to independently owned businesses.
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