Judging by the articles in the Star today 02-08-01, it looks to me like the powers that be are actually trying to do something with that freshly plumbed T-1 trunk line in the old VA hospital.

I really hope they're not thinking about emulating metro Kalispell/Libby and trying to get Stream or ClientLogic or the like to come in and set up a tech support shop.

For one thing, I'm not sure Miles City has a big enough labor pool for an outfit like that. For another, I'm not sure that the pace and quality of life in Miles would benefit by a multinational conglomerate becoming the city's largest employer. Larry could tell you better than I that the world of 'puters moves at a pace that Miles hasn't seen since the 6th Cav moved in to Ft Keogh.

I'd give my right arm to move back to Miles, but I'm not sure you could pay me enough to do it in tech support.

I endured almost 4 years doing tech support at Microsoft and can vouch for the fact that you burn out quickly in that job. Always nice to help people out when it's possible, but I got an earful of people who were just chronically mad and didn't really want to solve problems -- they just wanted to rant.

I've always thought that the VA site could leverage its proximity to MCC and its fiber optic net connection. I don't think you could do tech support from that site because, like you said, the labor pool isn't there and I don't think the tech set is chomping at the bit to move to Miles City, Montana. But with the inexpensive rent and labor pool, you'd think it would be a bargain for some company. Miles City truly needs to add jobs that pay better than minimum wage.

I also think that Montana as a whole should wake up and start charging a sales tax. One of the biggest industries in that state is tourism and Montana is missing out on a grand opportunity to collect a little out of state tax money. Likewise for a statewide rental car tax. But this is a whole different topic...

Four years?! My hat's off to you! I nearly went on a rampage after only ~9 months at Client Logic supporting Dells an 'Doze.

There's bound to be something/someone that could use a place that big (well, MT wise big, Client Logic's place in 'Vegas was bigger than Miles' WalMart) & with that much bandwidth. I also think you're right, there's a viable labor pool for things that are more technical than your average minimum wage spot. Montanans, and Miles Cityans as a whole aren't dumb folks, and are reknowned for their work ethics.

I hate to think of it sitting there empty with the kind of bandwidth I can only drool over. There are enough empty buildings in Miles anyhow.

<thread drift, sorry Larry, but we're the only one's posting lately ~>
As far as a sales tax goes, I'm gonna get flamed for saying it, but as long as Montana has as large a percentage of retirees living here, we'll keep paying through the nose via property and income taxes.

I think Miles City could be a good place for a nice medium sized high-tech company. As you mentioned, there are a lot of smart folks from the area who are loyal and hard working and the cost of living is relatively low.

[This message has been edited by Larry Antram (edited 2/10/2001).]