Economic Development Advisory Council

The Economic Development Advisory Council is administratively attached to the Department of Commerce. The role of the Council is as follows:

  1. advise the department concerning the distribution of funds to certified regional development corporations for business development purposes in accordance with 90-1-116;
  2. advise the department regarding the creation, operation, and maintenance of the microbusiness finance program and the policies and operations affecting the certified microbusiness development corporations;
  3. advise the governor and the department on significant matters concerning economic development in Montana;
  4. prescribe allowable administrative expenses for which economic development funds may be used by certified regional development corporations; and
  5. encourage certified regional development corporations to promote economic development on Indian reservations in their regions.

The council is statutorily composed of 19 members appointed as follows:

  1. 15 members appointed by the Governor to include:
    1. the director of the department of commerce;
    2. the chief business development officer who will serve as presiding officer of the council;
    3. one member from a Montana tribal government who represents a tribal economic development organization; and
    4. up to 12 members representing each geographic region covered by each of the regional development corporations certified by the department; and
  2. two representatives, including one from each party, appointed by the speaker of the house; and two senators, including one from each party, appointed by the committee on committees.

Current Members