Great Places for Tech in Montana: Helena
Rich with the historic charm of a gold camp turned capital city, Helena's stable economy and fantastic outdoor amenities make it an attractive hub for tech professionals.
Updated April 16, 2025
By Samuel Boudreau, Martina Pansze, Melissa Paulsen, and Peter Zimmerman
Launched in 2019, the Alliance’s Great Cities for Tech series aims to help people find the right community when they’re looking at taking a job, starting a company, or locating a home or office in Montana. Our communications team is updating these articles regularly. Send questions or feedback to communications[at]mthightech.org. Check out our features on Billings, Bozeman, Butte, and Great Falls.
Helena’s appeal to workers looking for a strong community and great fly fishing has made it an emerging center for many technology and professional services companies. Photo courtesy of Carroll College.
Home to the state government, Helena offers businesses a stable economy, a dedicated workforce, and a high quality of living fortified by easy access to outdoor recreation. In 2023, real estate experts for Travel + Leisure highlighted Helena as a great place to live for its low unemployment rate, lively downtown, and stunning scenery.
Helena’s appeal to workers looking for a strong community and great fly fishing has made it an emerging center for many technology and professional services companies. Key industries include:
Government Affairs and Services
Legal Services
Aerospace Manufacturing
Financial Technology
Steeped in history, but offering plenty of convenient modern-day amenities, Helena’s assets include supportive economic development groups for launching or growing a business, reliable broadband and internet access, and an assortment of festivals that bring Helenians together year-round.
Doing Business in Helena
The Montana Capitol Building in Helena. Making up more than half of the local economy, the state government provides steady employment and fiscal stability. Photo via Visit Montana.
Government Presence & Legal Services
The state government is Helena’s largest employer, making up approximately 53% of the local economy. Because government jobs are often protected from layoffs and furloughs during economic disruptions, the state government acts as a stabilizing influence.
As the seat of Lewis & Clark County, Helena is also home to several federal agency offices and prominent legal firms like Crowley and Fleck PLLP and Parsons Behle & Latimer.
Canon Luerkens, industry development officer at the Montana Department of Commerce, said that stability insulates Helena from large economic swings. In 2024, Helena’s unemployment rate dropped to 2.7% compared to the state average of 3.2% and 4.1% nationally.
Helena also houses several state government and business organizations that drive economic growth locally, nationally, and globally.
ExportMontana assists businesses with market diversification and expansion into the international market.
The Montana Chamber of Commerce focuses its legislative and programmatic efforts to improve the state’s business climate and invest in infrastructure.
Legal consulting firms like Benchmark Public Affairs and Treasure State Strategies specialize in government affairs and advocacy.
Aerospace Manufacturing
Helena has a robust aerospace sector, the backbone of which is Boeing’s manufacturing facility. Boeing employs nearly 150 people at its Helena location. After acquiring Helena’s Summit Aeronautics in 2011, Boeing invested in a 90,000-square-foot site expansion in 2017.
In partnership with Helena College - University of Montana, Boeing trains workers in aerospace manufacturing. Helena College offers an associate’s degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology to help students obtain entry-level careers as maintenance technicians.
Financial Technology
Home equity FinTech company Figure launched out of Helena in 2018 and now has over 100 Montana employees. Photo via Figure.
The financial technology (FinTech) sector has planted roots and grown rapidly in Helena.
San Francisco-based personal finance company Social Finance (SoFi) opened its doors in Helena in 2014, three years after the company’s launch. The firm began as a platform for affordable financial services with high-quality customer service and an emphasis on student loan refinancing.
“Helena really portrays what Montana has to offer, and its central location is perfect for exploring the state,” said Megan Smith, former human resources manager for SoFi.
Founded in 2018, Figure specializes in home equity finance. Figure leverages blockchain, AI, and analytics to deliver home equity release solutions and other financial products.
Figure established its Helena headquarters in February 2018 and expanded to open a Bozeman office just four months later. In its first year, Figure raised $50 million in a Series A round and opened two more offices in Reno and San Francisco.
“When people think of tech in Montana, you think Bozeman, you think Missoula, you don’t really think of Helena, but Helena has some of the same great attributes, if not more,” said Nate Lampert, former HR business partner for Figure.
Lampert added that the presence of larger tech companies such as Figure and SoFi has helped Helena build a thriving tech ecosystem.
Broadband & Connectivity
For connectivity, businesses and remote workers have options for internet access:
Many major ISPs, including CenturyLink, Bresnan, and Spectrum, serve the area.
Locally-owned Treasure State Internet and Telegraph offers wireless and fiber internet within city limits and has expanded its network for suburban and rural residents.
Industry groups like BroadbandMT provide public policy advocacy and consultation, communications, training and education, industry events, and related services to Montana’s local broadband providers.
Additionally, cutting-edge IT firms like Pinion Technology Core, Fisher’s Technology, and Morrison Maierle Systems can help local small to mid-sized companies accelerate their business and defend their organization from cyber threats.
Professional Services
Several Helena-based professional services companies leverage technology to support both local and national clients:
Marsh McLennan Agency Northwest, (which acquired PayneWest Insurance in April 2021), operates in 26 locations across the Pacific Northwest, employing more than 750 professionals. The company has received many workplace accolades over the years, the most recent in 2023, when they earned a Top Workplaces USA award issued by Energage.
Deloitte Consulting is a global provider of audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax, and related services. Wil Carroll, principal with Deloitte’s Government & Public Services (GPS) practice in Helena, works closely with state government health and human services executives to develop and execute technology-enabled transformation programs.
Tempest Technologies, a website design and development company, has worked on several state-wide projects, including assignments for Montana Unified School Trust, Central Montana Tourism, and Kampgrounds of America (KOA).
Economic Development
Bolstered by several economic support organizations, Helena is rich with opportunities for companies looking to relocate, grow, or start their business in Montana’s capital city.
A2Z Staffing Solutions and its Bozeman-based sister firm Adroit Employment Resources support businesses across Montana with comprehensive staffing solutions. As 100% woman-owned firms, A2Z and Adroit are dedicated to building a sustainable workforce pipeline to strengthen Montana's overall business community.
The Montana Business Assistance Connection (MBAC) provides mentorship to businesses to help them launch, improve, expand, relocate, or transition to new ownership.
Helena WINS (Workforce Innovation Networks) has been a key initiative for the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce since 2018. The program is designed to offset the significant about-to-retire population by implementing work-based learning and promoting career readiness to secure a sustainable workforce.
The Sidecar is a co-working space downtown for entrepreneurs and creators, with additional locations in both Bozeman and Missoula.
Education and Workforce
Helena’s workforce is highly educated with around 71.9% of residents having some college or a doctorate degree, compared to 57.8% of the general U.S. population.
Carroll College, one of two places of higher education in Helena and a liberal arts college, sits on a hill overlooking the famous Cathedral of St. Helena.
Founded in 1909, Carroll has received numerous accolades, including:
Ranked #1 for Regional Colleges West, Best Colleges for Veterans, and Best Undergraduate Teaching by US News.
Best school in Montana by Forbes Magazine in 2016
Boasts the highest retention and four-year graduation rates in Montana
Founded in 1909, Carroll College is one of two universities in Helena. Carroll has received a variety of accolades over the years and offers immersive learning experiences across high-paying sectors like business administration, computer science & information systems, data science, and more. Photo via Carroll College.
Carroll also has strong Computer Science & Information Systems and Data Science departments that offer students integrated learning experiences. In fall 2025, Carroll College will launch a bachelor’s in cybersecurity to meet the growing demand for this fast-paced industry.
Helena College - University of Montana is a public 2-year college offering certificates and associate’s degrees in technical education programs. Check out our Education & Training Resource Guide for specific training programs at Helena College and throughout Montana.
Headquartered in Helena, Reach Higher Montana works throughout the state to help students achieve personal success in education, career, and life through its scholarship and outreach programs.
Reach Higher Montana also provides backbone support for the Montana Work-based Learning Collaborative to help Montana’s students gain skills, develop meaning from their classroom learning, and discover career opportunities.
Transportation
Capital Transit is the fixed-route public bus system that operates within city limits and East Valley/East Helena. A Greyhound bus station also connects Helena with other Montana cities.
Located only a few miles from downtown is the Helena Regional Airport. National airlines like Alaska, Delta, and United fly to connection hubs in Seattle, Salt Lake City, and Denver.
Amenities and Fun
From “Last Chance Gulch” to Montana’s Capital
Helena established its roots during the 1864 gold rush. A group of four former Confederate soldiers from Georgia struck gold in “Last Chance Gulch,” which is now Helena’s main street. Founded on October 30, 1864, Helena quickly grew to a population of nearly 3,000 people within just a few short years. Prior to the gold rush, the valley was inhabited for thousands of years by various indigenous peoples, including the Blackfeet, Gros Ventre, and Salish tribes.
Helena’s mining boom and central location made it a trade center and capital of the Montana Territory in 1875. The mining town’s economy expanded further after the Northern Pacific Railroad arrived in 1883, and a robust agricultural industry settled in the valley.
Historians believe approximately $3.6 billion in today's money was extracted from Helena during this time. By 1888, an estimated 50 Helenians became millionaires, the largest concentration of millionaires per capita in the nation. These captains of industry made their fortunes off of gold and built huge Victorian-style houses on the city’s west side in a neighborhood deemed “The Mansion District.”
In the election of 1884, Helena won a close race with Anaconda to become Montana’s state capital. The new Capitol building with its cupola of Butte copper opened in 1902 and was enlarged in 1912.
Construction of the Cathedral of St. Helena began in 1908. Photo courtesy of Chuck Jezick, via Helena History.
Helena’s history as a gold rush town is richly reflected throughout the city with many historical landmarks. Last Chance Tour Trains and Trolley offers tours of the opulent Mansion District, the towering Cathedral of St. Helena, the old Governor’s Mansion, a restored miners’ village, and the iconic Business District along Last Chance Gulch.
Four miles northwest of Helena is Fort William Henry Harrison where the Montana National Guard has trained and operated since 1911.
For more information, visit The Montana Historical Society. Established in 1865, it’s one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the West. The society is also in charge of Montana’s Museum.
Outdoor Opportunities
Like much of Montana, Helena is a great place for outdoors enthusiasts with its abundance of recreational opportunities.
“Helena is probably the best in the state for access to the outdoors and recreation,” said Sarah Walsh, COO of Marsh McLennan Agency Northwest.
Montana’s capital city offers over 70 miles of bike trails, including single-track trails, gravel rides, and smooth pavement cruising. Helena’s unofficial motto is “There’s a singletrack at the end of every street and a brewery at the end of every trail.”
The Helena Parks, Recreation, and Open Lands Department includes more than 2,140 acres of developed and undeveloped parkland to explore.
Helena is also home to one of the largest city parks in the continental United States: Mount Helena City Park. The park offers miles of trails that weave past wildflower fields, lush meadows, and breathtaking landscapes along Mount Helena.
Broadwater Hot Springs is located only ten minutes from downtown and offers fitness classes, swimming lessons, an event space, and a taproom and grille.
The Sleeping Giant Wilderness Study Area is located 30 miles north of Helena, but the unique rock formation is a well-known landmark that’s easily visible from the city. Photo via Visit Montana.
Known for the unique rock formations visible from Helena, the Sleeping Giant Wilderness Study Area provides seven miles of ridge-line hiking routes offering spectacular panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains. Hikers can take in scenic evergreen forests, sedimentary rock ledges, and 12 miles of shoreline. The area also has 40 campsites for those looking for a quick weekend getaway or a longer stay just outside of the city.
The Missouri, Blackfoot, and Clark Fork Rivers give Helenians great access to fishing and boating in the summer months, and the surrounding mountain ranges offer up great skiing in winter. Local lakes include Lake Helena, Hauser Lake, and Holter Lake.
With an average of 6,000 fish per square mile swimming through the Missouri River, Helena truly is one of the best places in the world to fly fish. Fishing guides are suggested for visitors, but book quickly because good guides can be booked up to 150 days a year.
Dubbed the “Gates of the Mountains” by Lewis and Clark during their 1805 expedition, these colossal limestone cliffs flank the Missouri River near Helena. Photo via Gates of the Mountains Boat Tours.
The Gates of the Mountains Boat Tours brings passengers on a two-hour cruise down the Missouri River flanked by colossal limestone cliffs dubbed “Gates of the Mountains” by Lewis and Clark on their expedition in 1805. Visitors can see Mann Gulch, the site of the deadly forest fire that killed 13 smokejumpers in 1949 and the subject of Norman Maclean’s book Young Men and Fire. The area is surrounded by over 28,000 acres of undeveloped wilderness teeming with wildlife.
Family-friendly Activities
Montana’s capital city provides fun for the entire family all year long. Kids ages 1-100 can feed their curiosity at the ExplorationWorks Children’s Museum located in the heart of Helena.
Located next to the children’s museum is the Great Northern Indoor Carousel and ice cream parlor. The carousel includes 37 hand-carved animals by renowned Walt Disney artist Ed Roth and is accompanied by 14 Helena-specific rounding boards and stained-glass artwork.
Carved by renowned Disney artist Ed Roth, this Cutthroat Trout is one of 37 hand-carved animals available to ride at the Great Northern Carousel. The Cutthroat Trout is Montana’s state fish and a popular catch in and around Helena. Photo via National Carousel Association.
Arts, Culture, and Festivals
The Annual Lewis & Clark Block Party is a free celebration attracting over a thousand attendees to thank the community for their continued support of the Lewis & Clark Brewing Co. and Tap Room. Photo via Lewis & Clark Brewing Co.
Helena boasts one of the state’s most active arts scenes, anchored by the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts. Located three miles from downtown, the foundation is an internationally recognized gathering place for practitioners of the ceramic arts of all levels, attracting resident artists from all over the world and holding numerous exhibitions each year.
The Holter Museum of Contemporary Art has five exhibition galleries, an education center, and a collections and research center. They offer over twenty rotating exhibitions each year.
A little over an hour east of Helena is the quaint town of White Sulfur Springs, where entrepreneur Sarah Calhoon, who owns women’s workwear company Red Ants Pants, founded the Red Ants Pants Festival in 2011. The multi-day music festival materialized as a non-profit dedicated to women’s leadership, working family farms and ranches, and rural communities.
For even more summer fun, the Great Northern Town Center in Helena hosts a lunch with food vendors and outdoor music every Thursday, making it a perfect spot for splitting up the work week.
On Saturdays, the Helena Farmer’s Market features Montana-made products from local farmers, crafters, food vendors, and other artisans. While they browse, shoppers can enjoy music by local musicians and the fragrant aroma of fresh floral arrangements and kettle corn.
To send off summer with a bang, the Lewis & Clark Taproom hosts a free annual block party. The event features craft beer and live music as a way to give back to the community.
Ready to start planning your trip to Montana’s capital? Visit Helena has all the resources you need to start exploring all the great amenities Helena offers its locals and visitors alike.
About the Publisher:
Launched in 2014, the Montana High Tech Business Alliance is a nonpartisan nonprofit association of highly-engaged high-tech and manufacturing companies and affiliates creating high-paying jobs in Montana. For more information, visit MTHighTech.org or subscribe to our biweekly newsletter.
About the Authors:
Samuel Boudreau is the former writer and digital content coordinator intern. He graduated from Middlebury College with a degree in gender, sexuality and feminist studies and psychology. He earned his MFA from the University of Montana.
Martina Pansze is the former communications director for the Montana High Tech Business Alliance. She graduated from Whitman College with a degree in film and media studies, and has worked as a freelance journalist and grant writer.
Melissa Paulsen is the communications coordinator for the Montana High Tech Business Alliance. She graduated from the University of Montana in 2022 with a BFA in creative writing and a minor in history.
Pete Zimmerman is the former digital content coordinator for the Montana High Tech Business Alliance. He has previously written for newspapers, advocacy groups and magazines, and continues to work as a freelance journalist. Before moving to Montana, he spent a handful of years working as a mountain guide in Southeast Alaska. Pete holds an English degree from the University of Massachusetts and a Master of Journalism from the University of Montana.
