Business Resourses 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) have 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.
“Providing opportunities to local communities to build their economy is critical,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “Nobody knows what a community needs better than the folks who raise their families and make their living there. I am thrilled to be able to offer this tool to help our communities prosper.”
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 Coordinator: Gloria O’Rourke, 406.563.5259
Western Montana
Lincoln County Area: Tracy McIntyre, tracy@eurekardp.net, Eureka, 406.297.7374
Debi Davidson, debimt@frontiernet.net, Libby, 406.293.8406
Flathead County Area: Bridgette Evans, bridgette@kalispellchamber.com,
Kalispell, 406.758.2800
Lake County Area: Tina Oliphant, busofficer@ronan.net, Ronan, 406.676.5901
Mineral County Area: Jim DeBree, jim@mincoex.com,
Superior, 406.822.3545
Missoula County Area: Tom Gorman, tgorman@mt.gov, Missoula, 406-542-5768
Ravalli County Area: Julie Foster, julie@rceda.org, Hamilton, 406.375.9416
Southwest Montana
Lewis and Clark County Area: Brian Obert, bobert@mbac.biz, Helena, 406.266.4370
Silver Bow County and Southwest Region: Dale Mahugh, Dale.Mahugh@northwestern.com, Butte, 406.497.3756
Anaconda/Deer Lodge County: Joe Strelnik, jstrelnik@mt.gov, Butte, 406.494.0329
North Central Montana
Hill County Area: Joe LaPlante, jlaplante@bearpaw.org,
Havre, 406.265.9226
Cascade County Area: Linda McNeill, lmcneill@msugf.edu, Great Falls, 406.454.3217
Central Montana
Fergus, Judith, Musselshell, Wheatland Counties Area: Kathie Bailey, smdcdist6@hotmail.com, Lewistown, 406.535.2591
South Central Montana
Park County Area: Susan Hanken, shanken@mt.gov,
Livingston, 406.222.8907
Stillwater County Area: Melissa Kramer, mkramer@co.stillwater.mt.us, Columbus, 406.322.8050
Yellowstone County Area: Kathy Moody, moody@bigskyeda.org, Billings, 406.256.6871
North Eastern Montana
Great Northern Development Corp., linda@gndc.org, 406.653.2590
