Certified Regional Development Corporations Program

BACKGROUND

The 2003 Montana Legislature created the Certified Regional Development Corporations (CRDC) program. The legislative intent of the CRDC program is to encourage a regional approach to economic development that facilitates the efficient delivery of economic development programs by supporting regional capacity building.

CRDC ACTIVITIES

CRDCs are responsible for helping local officials, communities and businesses "assess, plan, and facilitate action" within their regions. CRDCs are required to have the support of all counties and a majority of the incorporated cities and towns in their region to obtain and maintain certification. CRDCs receive regional capacity building grants from the Department of Commerce on an annual basis.

CRDCs leverage scarce resources for economic development. Most local governments and communities lack the financial resources to hire and maintain professional economic development staff and find themselves in need of assistance in providing development services to local businesses and citizens. CRDC program funding supports local governments and communities in developing professional economic development capacity.

CRDCs provide professional economic development services. CRDCs have the resources: staff, knowledge and funds (albeit limited) and are better equipped than many local governments to provide economic development services. CRDC staffs are made up of professionals with a wide range of backgrounds in such areas as economic development, human services, management, and planning.

CRDCs facilitate the identification of priority needs of local communities. There is a clear recognition that local strategic planning is critical in developing local economies. CRDCs foster collaboration and bring elected officials, business leaders and stakeholders together to prepare and implement regional development strategies.

CRDCs provide business technical assistance and financing. CRDCs leverage financial resources from a variety of sectors that include government (federal, state, county and local), the private sector, philanthropic community and academia to aide in the expansion of their regions economy. For example, CRDCs manage Revolving Loan Funds (RLF) that are designed to assist new and/or expanding businesses. Business financing through an RLF assists in making a project a reality and thereby creating new local employment opportunities.

Click to view the current Certified Regional Development Corporations Map.

Contact: Fran Viereck, Program Manager (406) 841-2736.