Most local economic development schemes focus on creating jobs. Many offer incentives to startup companies, or try to lure existing companies to relocate.

But a campaign in Montana is turning that on its head. It's not trying to recruit companies but rather employees to come to the sparsely populated state and telecommute.

David Blackburn works for a financial services firm in Jersey City, N.J. He and his wife both have six-figure incomes, but real estate in the New York City area is so expensive that they have to live kind of far from their jobs.

"Every day I get up and put on a suit and get on a train, and it takes about an hour door to door, in the crush of people, in the hot, in the cold," he says. "It wears on you a little bit."

And, once he gets to the office, it's not like he really even has to be there at all.

"Every day I'm working with people in multiple time zones, in multiple countries," Blackburn says. "So, even though I'm physically in the office, I'm essentially telecommuting to where they are."

Blackburn has considered asking if he could do his job from someplace less urban — someplace like Montana.

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Police Report from The Flathead

9:06 a.m. A woman on La Brant Road called in to talk about the overabundance of cats on her property.

9:15 a.m. A heated argument over a $43 figurine took place between the owner of a Bigfork business and the cleaning crew.

9:29 a.m. A Town Pump employee has video footage of the thief who recently stole a pair of sunglasses.

9:41 a.m. Someone on Harmony Court reported that their vehicles were ransacked last night, but nothing was stolen.

1:52 p.m. A resident on Conrad Drive found an adult’s tricycle in her yard.

4:10 p.m. A Kalispell woman has bats in her chimney.

5:53 p.m. A husky turned himself in after a highly destructive chicken killing spree on Alpine Lane.

6:24 p.m. Someone called in to report a “grievous traffic violation” in which another driver turned left from the right hand turn lane.

7:49 p.m. A woman called from Foys Lake to report that a large, drunken man stumbled and fell on top of her daughter.

10:40 p.m. Fireworks were heard in the Hungry Horse area.

Angela Jamison is a native Montanan and she grew up in beautiful Bozeman. I'm the mother of two girls and write a blog about our life here and taking in the simple pleasures of family and food.

She smelled of sun and daisies with a hint of a mountain trail…

When life gets crazy, when things get hectic, when thoughts swirl in my head, when I feel exhausted. I step outside. I close my eyes and gently lift my face to the sun. I inhale. Slowly, deeply. I let it out. The fresh air settles my brain, slows things down and brings me back to the present. Nature, outdoors, fresh air…the simplest cure.

When my children are fighting over every little thing and I have exhausted every empty threat to get them to stop. When I have pleaded with them to treat each other with kindness. Reminded them they are each others best friends to no avail. A simple walk around the block changes everything. Suddenly rather than arguing they are conversing. No one trying to be right, no one talking over the other. Instead there is listening, encouraging. The only change that shifted was the walk out the door. Nature, outdoors, fresh air…sisters become friends.

When I feel the need to move, yet have no desire to be stuck on a treadmill indoors. When I have no motivation, yet know a good run will improve everything. I throw on running shoes, headphones and simply walk out the door. It only takes the one step and you’ve made the decision to do it. Commitment. As the air fills my lungs and I take in the surroundings all around me, my pace picks up, I find my groove. A groove that is harder to find while running stationary on a piece of equipment. As my breath deepens I inhale the sweet smells of air around me rather than others working out. I end my run feeling grateful for the beauty around me…getting more out of it than calories burned and muscles strengthened. Outside, working out becomes a place to clear your mind. You don’t need a membership, you simply need to walk out the front door.

When I need to get away from it all. A break, a breather, a moment. When a step in the backyard isn’t quite enough to get my head straight. Making my way to the nearest mountain trail. This is when the simple beauty of the outdoors comes full circle. The giant sky above me, the valley below and the trail ahead. Nature completely surrounding you. No distraction. Focusing only on the trees, streams and wildlife around you. Clearing thoughts out of your mind and sorting out the ones that won’t leave. Relishing in the calm the outdoors bring to your soul.

Life will always have chaos. Complication. Noise. We deal with these and try to focus on the moments of calm. Peace. Happiness. The simplest path to these moments are just a step out the door. Whatever the weather. Close your eyes, face up to the sky. Inhale. Exhale. Simplify.