Business Resources Division
PROVIDES SERVICES FOR BUSINESS EXPANSION AND RETENTION
The Governor's Office of Economic Development, Montana Department of Commerce, Montana Department of Labor and Montana Economic Developers Association (MEDA) formed a partnership that allows Montana to be one of several states to make the BEAR (Business Expansion and Retention) program available statewide. The Montana BEAR program is supported by local community entities that provide staff and financial support so that local business owners and operators are able to access much needed resources allowing them to improve and/or expand their businesses.
The BEAR program pulls together local business and community leaders to form a volunteer assessment team to address local needs. Assessment team members are trained in both the assessment process and in interviewing. Local area businesses who request the free service are visited by interviewers from the Assessment Team to conduct on-site surveys of the issues and needs of their local business. After reviewing the confidential survey the Assessment Team connects the client business to state, area, and local resources that that will assist with the identified needs and issues.
Montana BEAR Teams Contact Points
Statewide Coordinators: Mike and Gloria O'Rourke, gloria@medamembers.org, 406-563-5259
Northwest Montana
Tracy McIntyre, Eureka, 406-297-7374, Lincoln County, tracy@eurekardp.net, Tobacco Valley Community Development Council
Mike Jackson, Kalispell, 406-758-6230 Flathead County, MJackson2@mt.gov
DeAnn Thomas, Kalispell, 406-250-8077, sbdc@kalispellchamber.com
Western Montana
Gib Turner, Ronan, 406-676-5901, busofficer@ronan.net, Lake County Community Development Corporation
Todd Erickson, 406-833-7885, toerickson@mt.gov, Lake County Job Service
Brigitta Miranda-Freer, Missoula, 406-541-6461, Missoula Economic Parternership, bfreer@missoulaworks.org
Cassie Strauss, 406-542-5748, cstrauss@mt.gov; and George Palmer, 406-542-5746, Gepalmer@mt.gov; Saundra Long, Missoula, 406-542-5768, slong@mt.gov; Missoula County, Missoula Job Service
DeLynn M. Gardner, Hamilton, Bitterroot Job Service, 406-375-6049, dgardner@mt.gov
Southwest Montana
Dale Mahugh, Butte, 406-497-3756, Silver Bow County and Southwest Region, Dale.Mahugh@northwestern.com
Zack Medina, Dillon, 406-683-4259, zmedina@mt.gov, Dillon Job Service, Beaverhead County
Deb Chouinard, Helena, 406-447-3202,Helena Job Service, dchouinard@mt.gov
Warren Vaughan, Bozeman/Gallatin County, 406-582-3130, Gallatin County Planning and Community Development, warren.vaughan@gallatin.mt.gov
Brenda Barringer, Gallatin County, 406-599-9048, BEAR Client Management, bznbear@gmail.com
Amy Eisenman, 406-582-9228, Incumbent Worker Training Center, aeisenman@mt.gov
North Central Montana
Carol Lamey, Havre, 406-265-5847, clamey@mt.gov, Havre Workforce Job Service Center
South Central Montana
Marissa Hauge, Columbus, 406-322-8050, Stillwater County, mhauge@co.stillwater.mt. Brian Edwards, Billings, 406-256-6871, Yellowstone County, edwards@bigskyeda.org.
Chad Moore, Billings, Yellowstone County,k 406-869-8404, moore@bigskyeda.org, Big Sky Economic Development
Central Montana
Linda McNeill, Great Falls, 406-454-3217,lmcneill@msugf.edu, MSU Great Falls
Carrie Mantooth, Lewistown (Fergus County, Golden Valley, County, Judith Basin County, Musselshell County, Wheatland County), 406-535-2591, Snowy Mountain Development Corporation
Joyce Heiser, Livingston, 406-222-0520, joheiser@mt.gov, Zanya Betley, Livingston, 406-222-0520, zbetley@mt.gov, Livingston Job Service
Eastern Montana
Martin DeWitt, Wolf Point (Valley County, Garfield County, McCone County, Daniels County, Roosevelt County, Sheridan County), martin@gndc.org, Great Northern Development Corporation
Jason Rittal, Prairie County, Dawson County, Wibaux County, Falon County, Carter County, 406- 698-3255, jrittal@midrivers.com