Business Briefcase: Mergers, tax advice, child care grants

Silverman Law Office has merged with Josephson Law Firm in Big Timber, saying the move enhances the resources and capabilities of both firms to better serve clients.

Silverman Law is licensed to practice in Montana, Washington, Idaho, North Dakota, Wyoming, New Mexico, Colorado and Texas.

Founded in 1962 by Richard W. “Dick” Josephson, Josephson Law Firm remained a family-owned practice under his son, Attorney R. Mark Josephson. The firm has received the highest rating from Martindale-Hubbell. The Best Lawyers in America named Mark as Lawyer of the Year in Real Estate for the Billings area in 2022. Mark will continue serving clients from the Big Timber office as part of the Silverman Law Office team.

“By joining forces with Silverman Law Office, I can continue delivering the personalized attention my clients value while accessing the resources and expertise of a larger firm,” Josephson said. “This merger provides for a vaster client service capacity and allows us to take on new clients.”

Founded in 2012 by attorney Joel Silverman, Silverman Law Office has served more than 7,000 clients from its offices in Helena and Bozeman. The firm specializes in estate planning, tax law, business law, real estate, liquor and gaming law, probate and litigation, among other practice areas. With the addition of Mark Josephson, Silverman Law Office now has a team of nine attorneys across Montana.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mark Josephson and his team to Silverman Law Office,” Silverman said. “Mark’s extensive experience, particularly in estate and real property law, combined with the long-standing reputation of Josephson Law Firm, makes this partnership a natural fit. This merger allows us to expand our footprint while maintaining the high standards of client service that both firms are known for.”

For more information, visit www.mttaxlaw.com or call Silverman Law Office at 406-449-4829.

Stockman joins with Jacoby

Stockman Insurance has merged with Jacoby Insurance Group, a health and benefits agency based in Helena.

Jacoby Insurance Group focuses on life and health insurance, offering Medicare insurance health plans, life and disability income insurance, long-term care insurance, small group employer insurance and property & casualty insurance. The merger was completed as of Jan. 1.

Vice President and General Manager KC Keith says the merger is transformational for Stockman Insurance, allowing the agency to expand its services and enter the insurance benefits arena.

“By offering health and benefits solutions, we enhance our ability to provide comprehensive insurance products to all Montanans,” Keith said in a news release.

All Jacoby Insurance Group employees have been offered employment with Stockman Insurance.

Meg Jacoby, owner and lead agent, will be joining Stockman Insurance to lead the new health and benefits department.

“My entire staff and I have worked very hard for many years to set a gold standard for providing help, guidance, and advice for our clients navigating the complicated world of health insurance,” said Jacoby.

Stockman Insurance is a Montana-owned and operated insurance agency.

Revenue offers business tax advice

The Montana Department of Revenue recently notified business owners with a business equipment reporting requirement, that it is time to report for Tax Year 2025.

Individuals and businesses owning business equipment (as of Jan. 1) with an aggregate market value of more than $1 million statewide must report the equipment owned by March 1 to avoid a 20% penalty.

Businesses whose statewide market value of equipment is $1 million or less are exempt from the business equipment tax. These businesses do not have a reporting requirement in 2025 unless: (1) they have acquired new personal property that would increase their equipment’s aggregate market value above the exemption amount; or (2) the department requests a personal property reporting form be completed.

Business owners can report online using the department’s TransAction Portal (TAP) at https://tap.dor.mt.gov. Online reporting forms are pre-populated with the business equipment reported in 2024. Owners will review the previously reported assets and make any needed additions and deletions.

An immediate confirmation receipt will be sent after the report is submitted.

For more information, visit MTRevenue.gov or contact us at 406-444-6900 or [email protected].

Ag program offers grants 

The Montana Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for over $3 million in federal funding available through the Specialty Crop Block Grant program.

The purpose of the SCBG program is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Montana. Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, peas, lentils, dried fruits, as well as horticulture, nursery crops and floriculture. State and/or local organizations, government entities, producer associations, academia, community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations and other specialty crop stakeholders are eligible to apply either as single entities or in combined efforts.

Eligible projects include improving efficiency and sustainability of specialty crop industries, research, education, developing new and improved varieties, improving the capacity of the distribution chain, and enhancing food safety, pest and disease control. For a complete list of guidelines and eligibility requirements, please visit: agr.mt.gov/SpecialtyCropBlockGrants.

Grant proposals are due to the Montana Department of Agriculture by 5 p.m. on Feb. 28. Technical assistance calls will be held on Jan. 22 at 1 p.m. and Feb. 21, at 10 a.m. For more information, please visit agr.mt.gov/SpecialtyCropBlockGrants or email [email protected].

For more information on department programs and services, visit agr.mt.gov.

State offers child care grants

Zero to Five Montana, in partnership with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Bright Futures Birth to Five program, is offering a one-time grant opportunity for Montana employers through the Family Forward Montana initiative to develop an employer-sponsored child care program.

The program is to implement a child care strategy reflective of the goals of the employer that is sustainable and creates cost sharing between the employee, employer and the state.

Grants will range from $10,000 to $100,000 depending on the size and scope of the employer’s project plan. Grant funding will total $2 million to be awarded in two cohorts over 2024 and 2025. Data collected from this pilot will help with future public private partnerships.

Child Care in Helena

This initiative aims to:

• Build awareness of Montana’s growing child care needs and the critical role employers play in helping to address it.
• Educate employers and community organizations on employer-supported child care models, including those that apply to individual employers, groups of employers and/or nonprofit community-based organizations acting on behalf of a group of employers.
• Create and advance locally driven solutions that increase child care access and support working Montana families.

Employers can apply at https://familyforwardmt.org/grant. The deadline for applications is Feb. 7 with final decisions and employer notification no later than Feb. 28.

There is a Lunch & Learn webinar scheduled for noon on Jan. 17 where employers can get more information. Register online at: https://go.helenair.com/3fiz9i.