by Travis Mateer
Do I have an answer to the question posed by the title of this post? Sure. I think MEP exists to provide a veneer of PR cover for our local influencers while receiving grants that enables its main cog, Grant Kier, to talk about what they do with the most annoyingly empty language imaginable.
Here’s the latest use of that empty language to justify receiving $75,000 from a health insurance company (emphasis mine):
The Missoula Economic Partnership received a $75,000 grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield Montana through the Big Blue Sky Initiative.
The grant will fund efforts to create economic opportunities and bolster the overall well-being of the Missoula community.
How exactly does this organization BOLSTER the overall wellbeing of the Missoula community? Great question, but don’t expect an answer this less-than-great “news” article.
The funding will significantly bolster MEP’s ongoing efforts to create economic opportunities, foster stability, and, crucially, enhance the overall well-being of the Missoula community. “This partnership reflects the deep connection between the health of our economy and the health of our community members,” explained MEP CEO and President, Grant Kier. “MEP’s focus on building a more resilient economy, including housing affordability and a well-trained workforce with access to good jobs, directly impacts people’s mental and physical wellbeing. Conversely, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana’s commitment to mental and physical well-being is foundational for our economic success. Our efforts are two sides of the same coin, and we are proud to be working more closely together.”
If you can’t parse this vacuous PR-speak, maybe this new University class on health misinformation will help. From the link (emphasis mine):
“Health is everything, and you have to protect it,” she said. “I want our students to hear or read about something and go, ‘I bet there is more to that story.’ If they gain those tools, they are going to be a happier, healthier person. They are going to become a smarter consumer as they move through the world.”
Voorhees arrived at UM in fall 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when all her classes were taught remotely and competing health information flooded the internet. She also kept noticing grocery store products blaring claims like “Lightly Sweetened” or “Heart Healthy.”
What does any of it even mean? And as a specialist in interpersonal health communication, she wondered about other areas where people hear or read something but don’t fully understand the truth behind it.
“It all kind of got me thinking, why do people fall for this stuff?” she said. “Why do we trust certain people but turn our back on other people or sources of information?”
This college class sounds absolutely hilarious. Will Professor Voorhees succeed in creating critical thinking students capable of wading through our modern sewer of corporate public/private propaganda? That’s quite the up-hill battle, but who am I to discourage people tilting at windmills?
Let’s get back to the article on MEP and one more attempt by the reporter to explain what this grant actually accomplishes:
The grant will enable the Missoula Economic Partnership to continue its vital work in supporting local businesses, fostering entrepreneurship, promoting job growth, and contributing to an environment of economic stability that, in the long term, underpins the health and wellness of the entire community. Specifically, the organization is a key partner in the Clean Energy Workforce Coalition which has launched a pilot program focused on building clean-energy career pathway awareness and non-traditional internships for low-income women and women of color, increasing access to family-supporting opportunities.
If you can glean any real substance from this pile of words, congratulations. On the other hand, if you’d like to read more of MY perspective on MEP, here are some links to check out:
I Knew TOZ Was Hot Before It Was Cool (May 13th, 2019)
Grant Kier From The Missoula Economic Partnership Claims “That ‘Zoom Town’ thing hit Missoula really hard” (February 3rd, 2021)
Can Missoula Build Back Better Without An EDA Strategy? (October 15th, 2021)
Defund The Ruse Of Missoula Economic Development Spending! (July 28th, 2023)
Throwing Municipal Money At Bullshit While A Gang Of Urban Campers Intimidate Parks And Rec (August 7th, 2023)
What The Hell Are We Paying For? (August 10th, 2023)
If you appreciate the perspective I add to the local economic development charade, Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF) is one way to support my work, or you can make a donation at my about page.
Thanks for reading!