Governor promotes veteran-owned businesses in Victor

Mar. 7—Governor Greg Gianforte was in the Bitterroot Valley on Tuesday as part of an effort to highlight veteran-owned businesses in Montana.

Gianforte met with the owners and staff of Double J Fencing in Victor, and learned about a defensive fencing system developed by Double J and used at Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, a campus of the National Institutes of Health.

"It is absolutely thrilling to have a governor that has worked so hard for our state, and to promote the veteran cause and veteran-owned businesses," Double J Fencing owner and U.S Army veteran Jim Vargovich said. "I invited some other veterans here today. And we're just really happy that he's taken the time to highlight veterans. We're very privileged and honored."

Double J Fencing is owned and operated by Vargovich and his wife, Loni. The company does fencing and iron work across the state of Montana. Originally from Idaho, Vargovich was medically discharged from the Army and attended Idaho State University before moving to Montana.

"It's great to be here to honor a veteran business," Gianforte said. "Jim and Loni, what they've done with Double J Fencing in Victor. It's really great. They're innovativeness and hard work has paid off in this prosperous business, and now a patent pending on their new fencing system. It's so important that we're here during this Invest in Veterans Week. We really want to make it easy for our veterans to prosper in Montana."

Vargovich gave a presentation on the company's defensive fencing system and told the governor their new system will "revolutionize the way we all look at defensive fencing."

The fencing is blast- and bullet-resistant with DIY components and is suitable for schoolrooms, shelter-in-place modules and home security. The components are made from aircraft-grade aluminum and mild steel. The panels are also noise-deflecting and fire-resistant.

"No longer is there a need to hire cranes or heavy machinery," Vargovich said.

Montana is home to one of the highest populations of veterans per capita in the U.S. and transitioning into civilian life comes with its own set of challenges for many who have served, from navigating the VA system to making community connections.

"When these men and women come home from battle, they're not always healthy," Gianforte said. "Sometimes they have physical ailments. Sometimes they have PTSD and other things. This is why we need to need to get them connected."

The governor recently met with nonprofits that work to help veterans at a roundtable in Helena and promoted the "phenomenal groups" like Impact Montana and the Mighty Oaks Foundation for the work they do to help support veterans. He also encouraged veterans to reach out to the Montana National Guard for help getting connected to medical services at the VA.

"The VA provides good services, but it's not always clear which door you have to walk through or which form you have to fill out. We can help with that," he said.

Gianforte also touted his administration's policies and accomplishments benefitting Montana veterans.

"We want veterans when they retire from military service to come to Montana and prosper," he said. "That's why we've exempted 50% of military pensions from Montana state tax. We've been cutting back red tape, it helps all businesses, but in particular, it helps veterans businesses, as well as the license reciprocity for veteran spouses."

The governor thanked veterans for their service, and emphasized the importance of community in the reintegration process.

"I would just say to veterans, thank you for your service," Gianforte said. "And if you find yourself by yourself, find a friend. And if your neighbor is a veteran, be a good neighbor to them — greet them in the grocery store, say something at church, invite them out, make them part of the community, so they can be all they can be."

For more information on Double J Fencing and their defensive fencing system please go to their website at https://fencemontana.com/.

For more information on veterans' services in Montana please go to https://dma.mt.gov/mvad/ or va.gov/montana-health-care/.

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