Speaking at a University of Montana economics seminar in Billings, Montana, economists noted Billings has the most robust growth of any urban area in Montana, and has nearly equaled its growth rate of 2007. As MHProNews has reported on several occasions, most recently Dec. 7, 2012, Billings is home to several new modular home builders supplying housing for the Bakken oil fields of western North Dakota. According to the Billings Gazette, Bay Ltd. of Billings is building 29 modular units headed for the Canadian tar sands oil fields in northern Alberta, Canada. Additionally, new home starts spiked 80 percent in Nov. 2012 over the previous Nov. in Yellowstone County.

(Image credit: globalregina–Canadian mancamp)