COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen was honored to receive the Mountain States Policy Center’s “Elevation Award” on Friday evening.

According to the Mountain States Policy Center (MSPC), the Elevation Award is the highest honor of the organization, “given to individual(s) who are committed to advancing and elevating free market principles and ideas. It is presented to a top innovator, business leader, or elected official in Idaho, Montana, and Washington.”

Secretary Jacobsen was recognized for leading the effort to reduce red tape and complications from opening a new business in Montana. The Secretary cut registration filing fees in half for Montana businesses, waived several other fees entirely, and looks to waive annual report filing fees for all Montana businesses in 2024.

As a result, Montana has experienced record growth in new business registrations. Roughly 53,000 new businesses were registered in Montana in 2022, and the state appears to be on pace to have another record in 2023.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be recognized by MSPC for the important work that the Secretary of State’s Office has done making it easier for Montanans to do business,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “Montana businesses deserve less government deterrents in their day-to-day operations and reducing/eliminating fees for businesses has been a top priority.”

“I applaud the work being done by MSPC, and I look forward to following its continued success,” continued Secretary Jacobsen.

Montana was also named the No. 1 state to start a small business in a report from The Blueprint.

Secretary Jacobsen joined Idaho state controller Brandon Woolf and Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers in receiving the Elevation Award honors.

“It was an honor to be recognized alongside Controller Woolf and Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “Thank you again to the Mountain States Policy Center for this acknowledgement, and thank you to our Montana businesses for doing business in Montana. We’re proud to support those local businesses and appreciate the vital role they hold in their communities and across the state.”