Bozeman city commission to weigh partnership with Ukrainian city

Bozeman, Mont. — Bozeman city leaders are set to consider a new partnership with the Ukrainian city of Kopychyntsi at the Tuesday night city commission meeting. 

Since the war between Russia and Ukraine began more than four years ago, organizers in Bozeman have sent money, medical supplies and other aid. The new proposal would aim to build a longer-term connection through a program called Cities4Cities. 

Brit Fontenot, Bozeman’s economic development director, has worked with Kopychyntsi Mayor Bogdan Kelichavyi for several years to help establish the partnership. 

“It’s about the people who do the work. Connecting with others who do the work so that we can meaningfully engage one another in building back resilient communities,” Fontenot said. 

The plan focuses on four areas where Bozeman could offer guidance as Kopychyntsi continued to re-establish itself. Those areas are economic development, governing, education and veterans’ services. 

The city said the partnership would use a mentorship model. That would connect people in Kopychyntsi with people in Bozeman so they could turn to each other for help during challenges. 

There are veterans' service programs at MSU that could be replicated or learned from in Kopychyntsi. Interest has also been expressed in public school curriculum, so educational leaders in Bozeman could connect with those in Kopychyntsi and share how their learning curriculums are implemented and what they cover. 

“A mentor to stay connected to those individuals who are doing the implementation so that they have a resource to connect back to whenever they might experience a challenge with that implementation," Fontenot said. "And really that's the secret sauce of that, it's the the human connection, it's about people." 

Cities4Cities will help facilitate much of this work. 

It is not just Kopychyntsi learning from Bozeman; there will also be opportunities for Bozeman to learn, Fontenot said. 

"We also feel like we can learn some things, from what is what is it mean to be a resilient community? And I think that there's no better teacher than than, some cities in Ukraine right now," he said. 

Fontenot has put extensive work into developing plans for how the cities can cooperate, and his relationship with Kelichavyi goes back to 2018. 

“I really believe that Bozeman as well, stands to learn just as much about who we are. And how we support other communities as Kopychyntsi has the opportunity to learn from us. This is a two way, mutually beneficial relationship and partnership,” Fontenot said. 

This potential partnership also comes as Bozeman continues growing in size and industry. The rapidly growing technology sector, especially with photonics and optics, helped earn Bozeman its designation in the Economic Development Administration's Headwaters Tech Hub in 2023. This has helped the city to create an international name for itself and really compete on the global stage, Fontenot said. 

"We see ourselves as contenders and competitors. And so, we are trying to play at the highest level that we possibly can. And and so that's why you see more global interaction," he said. 

There are parts of this partnership that are left to be determined, but having previously visited Ukraine and worked with Mayor Kelichavyi, Fontenot said he is optimistic about the work the two cities can get done." 

"I'm surprised at the resilience, at the attitude, positive attitude, at the determination that many of these individuals have to come out of this, out of this conflict stronger and ready to rebuild their own future," Fontenot said. 

The City Commission is scheduled to vote on this resolution at their 6p.m. meeting, April 21.