Editing Billings, Montana (section)

===21st century===
[[File:4th Av Downtown Billings, Montana.JPG|thumb|Intersection of 4th Ave. N., and N. 28th St. downtown]]

In the 21st century, Billings saw the development of operations centers in the city's business parks and downtown core by such national companies as GE, Wells Fargo, and First Interstate Bank. The Downtown Billings Alliance led efforts to transform downtown in order to increase economic and civic opportunities.<ref name="dba">{{cite web |title=the mission |url=https://downtownbillings.com/about/about-the-dba/ |publisher=Downtown Billings Alliance |access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref> In 2002, [[Skypoint]] was completed. This artistic structure provides a defining area to host events. Downtown saw a renaissance of the historic area as building after building was restored.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gazette opinion: Another wave of downtown renaissance |url=https://billingsgazette.com/opinion/gazette-opinion-another-wave-of-downtown-renaissance/article_d47612c3-ff51-5ce2-82ab-449eb08096b8.html |publisher=Billings Gazette |access-date=20 May 2023 |date=Jul 17, 2018}}</ref> In 2007, Billings was designated a [[Preserve America|Preserve America Community]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.preserveamerica.gov/12-26-07PAcommunity-billingsMT.html |title=Preserve America Community |publisher=Preserveamerica.gov |date=March 13, 2009 |access-date=August 7, 2012 |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716075427/http://www.preserveamerica.gov/12-26-07PAcommunity-billingsMT.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Various changes were made to make the city more environmentally friendly. The [[Billings Metropolitan Transit|MET Transit Center]] for city buses received [[LEED]] Platinum status in 2010. This was the first transportation facility in the US to do so.<ref name="bpw">{{cite web |title=City of Billings receives U.S. Green Building Council LEED Cities Grant |url=https://www.billingsmtpublicworks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/867/LEED-Cities-Press-Release-on-Scholarship-Grant-04192021-final |publisher=Billings Public Works |access-date=20 May 2023 |date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> In 2022, Billings received LEED Gold certification, the first city to do so in Montana and the 21st globally.<ref name="gold LEED">{{cite web |title=LEED for Cities Gold |url=https://www.billingsmt.gov/3097/LEED-for-Cities-Gold |publisher=City of Billings |access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref> Projects to achieve this status included increased efficiency at the water and waste water treatment plant, adding electric city buses and EV charging stations, and adding a conservation area to the west-end.<ref name="gold LEED" />

Significant road developments began, providing infrastructure for city growth. In 2000, a new exit on [[Interstate 90]] was completed. Zoo Drive exit provides ease of access to the quickly growing west-end area.<ref name="shiloh">{{cite web |title=Gazette opinion: Public investment paves way for Shiloh businesses |date=September 3, 2014 |url=https://billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/editorial/gazette-opinion/gazette-opinion-public-investment-paves-way-for-shiloh-businesses/article_0501b889-4e5a-5f58-8092-4da509f86175.html |publisher=Billings Gazette |access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref> The [[Yellowstone River]] bridge is being rebuilt as part of the Billings Bypass project, which will create a new arterial roadway from Lockwood to the Heights.<ref name="river bridge">{{cite web |last1=Riesinger |first1=Russ |title=Bridge construction underway for new Billings Bypass project |url=https://www.ktvq.com/news/local-news/bridge-construction-underway-for-new-billings-bypass-project |publisher=KTVQ |access-date=20 May 2023 |date=May 19, 2021}}</ref><ref name="MT DOT">{{cite web |title=Project Overview |url=https://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/billingsbypass/ |publisher=Montana Department of Transportation |access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref>

The city saw a significant growth in businesses. With the completion of the Shiloh interchange exit, the TransTech Center was developed<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.transtechcenter.com/ |title=Transtech Center |publisher=Transtech Center |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref> and more hotels were built. In 2010 the Shiloh corridor was open for business with the completion of the Shiloh parkway, a {{convert|4.8|mi|km|adj=on}} multi-lane street with eight [[roundabout]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/government-and-politics/article_146041ab-beff-52c0-97a1-791734c50f36.html|title=Shiloh Road open end to end | publisher = BillingsGazette.com |date=November 13, 2010 |access-date=August 7, 2012}}</ref>  Other new centers include Billings Town Square and West Park Promenade, Montana's first open-air shopping mall. In 2009, ''Fortune Small Business'' magazine named Billings the best small city in which to start a business.<ref name="autogenerated1" /><ref name="billingsgazette.com" />

On June 20, 2010 (Father's Day), [[2010 Billings tornado|a tornado]] touched down in the downtown core and Heights sections of Billings. The [[MetraPark Arena]] and area businesses suffered major damage.

In the 2010s, Eastern Montana and North Dakota experienced an energy boom due to the [[Bakken formation]], the largest oil discovery in U.S. history.<ref name="marketwire.com" /><ref name="wallstreet-online.de" />