Flathead County Economic Development Agencies

Montana West Economic Development & The Flathead Port Authority
Liz Marchi, Executive Director
Address: 490 W. Reserve Dr. Suite B, Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: 406.257.7711
E-mail: liz@dobusinessinmontana.com
Montana West Economic Development and the Flathead Economic Development Port Authority’s objective is to grow job opportunities in Northwest Montana. These organizations work hand in hand to help local businesses expand and to attract appropriate new businesses to the valley. They work to build the reputation of the area as a desirable place to do business through strategic marketing and communications. All services are provided at no cost and include information on demographics, workforce and labor trends, sites and facilities, financing options, logistics and local service providers. In addition they support a local Technology Roundtable and various special events aimed at promoting positive economic development activities.

City of Kalispell Community Development Department
Susan Moyer, Community Development Director
Sandy Wheeler, Community Development Redevelopment Manager
Lynn Moon, Community Development Housing Manager
Address: 248 3rd Avenue East & P.O. Box 1997
Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: 406.758.7740
E-mail: swheeler@kalispell.com
Information: The City of Kalispell historically has promoted public/private partnerships in economic development and affordable housing projects within its city limits. As a municipality, the city has access to certain grant funding and program income funding that enables it to leverage funds with the private sector. The economic development activities range from large business recruitment and assistance to addressing the needs of existing small business retention, expansion and creation.

Kalispell Small Business Development Center
Contact Name: Lad Barney, Director
Address: 15 Depot Park, Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: 406.758.2802
E-mail: kalsbdc@centurytel.net
Web Site: www.kalispellsmallbusiness.com
Service Area: Flathead, Lake, Lincoln Counties and the Blackfeet Reservation in Glacier County
Information: The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is jointly sponsored by the Small Business Administration and the Montana Department of Commerce and hosted by the Kalispell Area Chamber of Commerce. The SBDC provides a variety of business assistance services to current and prospective small business owners. SBDC assistance is tailored to the local community and the needs of the clients. This business assistance is delivered through free, confidential one-on-one counseling, as well as through workshops and seminars. SBDC services include, but are not limited to: Assisting small businesses with business plan preparation, management, finance, marketing, production, organization, technical problems, and feasibility studies. A significant portion of SBDC hours are spent acting as a liaison between lenders and potential borrowers, and thorough preparation of pro forma financial projections. The SBDC also acts as an information filter, directing clients through the business maze by maintaining partnerships among regional business service organizations as well as local, state, and federal agencies. The Montana Small Business Development Centers focus on the creation and maintenance of viable small businesses and the jobs these businesses provide in their local communities. Each year, the Montana SBDC network counsels more than 1400 entrepreneurs and existing business owners.

Northwest Montana Business Expansion And Retention Program (BEAR)
Contact Name: Patti Gregerson, Project Manager
Address: 15 Depot Park, Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: 406.758.2812
E-mail: patti@kalispellchamber.com
Service Area: Flathead County
Information: NW Montana BEAR is a cooperative partnership of local economic, community and workforce development organizations. Our common purpose is to build local companies while enhancing our business climate. There are programs and resources available that we will be beneficial to you and the strength of your business. You may not need any assistance right now but you will have a better understanding of what help is available and who to call should your situation change. Through partnerships with business providers BEAR is your direct connection to:

Thank you for choosing the Flathead as a place to do business. Your investment is important to our local economy and we strive to help you grow and improve your profitability.

Kalispell Area Chamber of Commerce
Contact Name: Joe Unterreiner, President/CEO
Address: 15 Depot Park, Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: 406.758.2800
E-mail: info@kalispellchamber.com
Web Site: www.kalispellchamber.com
Service Area: Flathead County
Information: The Kalispell Area Chamber of Commerce is a business and professional association consisting of 700 members. These members employ over half of the private workforce in Flathead County. Founded in 1905, the mission of the Kalispell Area Chamber of Commerce is to enhance the community and business environment of the Flathead Valley. The Chamber provides numerous services to help meet those goals including: business start up and expansion assistance, public policy development and advocacy, business promotion and public relations, community leadership development, business networking and marketing, workforce training and development, and the creation and dissemination of business and economic data and research.

Montana Procurement Technical Assistance Center
Contact Name: Doug Bolender, Kalispell Procurement Technical Assistance Manager
Address: 15 Depot Park, Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: 406.755.4221
E-mail: ptac@kalispellchamber.com
Service Area: Flathead, Lake, Sanders, and Lincoln Counties
Available Loan Programs: N/A
Information: The Kalispell Procurement Technical Center (PTAC) offers free assistance to help Montana businesses obtain city, county, state, or federal government contracts. The United States government spends over $300 billion dollars a year on purchases of goods and services from small business. PTAC can help businesses with government contracting, finding bid opportunities, quote preparation, interpreting bid specifications, and help with contract specifications.

Montana Department of Commerce Regional Development Office
Contact Name: Charlie Wright, Regional Development Officer
Address: 1121 East Broadway, Suite 100, Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: 406.532.3222
E-mail: cwright@mt.gov
Service Area: Lincoln, Lake, Flathead, Sanders, Mineral, Missoula, and Ravalli Counties
Information: The RDO's are a resource to businesses, local development corporations, and communities in the area. The program serves as an access point to relevant Commerce Department resources, and all other relevant business and community development resources. The mission of the Regional Development Officer is to: insure that all areas of Montana have reasonably equal access to funding and resources; develop close and effective working relationships with businesses, city and county governments, and local economic development agencies (EDCs); work closely with the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity with its economic development activities; assist the Commerce programs with efforts to maximize leverage of other funds; help businesses create higher paying and sustainable jobs; and provide access to information and programs about other state and federal programs. The RDO is the key conduit between expanding Montana businesses seeking financing through business loan programs such as Community Development. Block Grant (CDBG), Montana Board of Investments (MTBOI) and others. The primary purpose is to provide assistance to businesses for the purpose of obtaining financing for expansion projects, business locations from out of state, and retention projects.

Montana Manufacturing Extension Center
Contact Name: Bill Nicholson, Field Engineer
Address: 15 Depot Park, Kalispell, MT 59901
P.O. Box 8300, Kalispell, MT 59904
Phone: 406.756.8329
E-mail: bnicholson@coe.montana.edu
Service Area: Northwest Montana
Information: The Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) is a statewide manufacturing outreach and assistance center staffed by full-time professionals. The MMEC’s home office is in the college of Engineering at Montana State University, Bozeman, with field offices at the MSU TechLink Center and in Missoula, Kalispell, Billings and Helena. MMEC is part of a nationwide network, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and aspires to assist small and mid-size manufacturers in becoming more competitive and profitable. Typically short-term projects are of no cost. Projects exceeding eight hours require a negotiated fee.

MilTech
Contact Name: Paddy Fleming, Field Engineer
Address: 15 Depot Park, Kalispell, MT 59901
P.O. Box 8300, Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: 406.756.0207
Email: pfleming@coe.montana.edu
Service Area: Western United States
Information: MilTech is a pilot program funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. MilTech’s goal is to accelerate the transition of innovative technology to the U.S. warfighter. MilTech has offices in Bozeman, MT and Kalispell, MT. For MilTech to work with clients they must have an innovative technology that will help in the war effort and they must be able to prove that the Department of Defense in interested in buying the product. Typically, MilTech provides business and engineering assistance to companies that will improve the manufacturing process, reduce manufacturing costs, or make the company more sustainable.

Workforce Centers (Job Service)
Business Advocates
Service Area: Flathead County
Contact Name: Virginia Sloan, Mora McCarthy & Bill Nelson
Address: 15 Depot Park, Kalispell, MT 59901
& 427 1st Ave East - P.O. Box 1879, Kalispell, MT 59903
Phone: 406.758.6200 (Main office)
E-mail: vsloan@mt.gov 406.758.6228
mmccarthy@mt.gov 406.758.6241
wnelson@mt.gov 406.758.6248

Service Area: Lake County
Contact Name: Todd Erickson
Address: 417-B Main, P.O. Box 970, Polson, MT 59860
Phone: 406.883.7880
E-mail: toerickson@mt.gov

Service Area: Lincoln County
Contact Name: Johnette Watkins
Address: 417 Mineral Ave, Suite 4, Libby, MT 59923
Phone: 406.293.6282
E-mail: jwatkins@mt.gov

Service Area: Sanders County
Contact Name: Billie Schmalz
Address: 2 Tradewinds Way, Box 669, Thompson Falls, MT 59873
Phone: 406.827.8112
E-mail: bschmalz@mt.gov

We have compiled personnel information to assist you with your employment-related needs. We have information on hiring, applications, interviewing, reference checking, employee handbooks, employee evaluations, employee retention, personnel records, progressive discipline, sexual harassment, wage and hour laws, employment laws and other personnel-related information as well as forms and checklists. We have a resource library of books and videos to promote a healthy and successful employer/employee relationship.

We also provide assistance to economic and workforce development efforts. We have ongoing learning opportunities for businesses and their employees. Information we provide is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for specific legal advice, since legal opinions may only be given in response to inquiries regarding specific factual situations.

Flathead Valley Community College Workforce Training
Contact Name: Jodi Smith, Workforce Training Director
Address: 777 Grandview Drive, Kalispell, MT 59901 & 15 Depot Park, Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: 406.756.3833
E-mail: jsmith@fvcc.edu
Service Area: Flathead and Lincoln Counties
Information: Flathead Valley Community College’s Workforce Training Program offers regularly scheduled business and professional development workshops including management,customer service, business practices, communication skills and computers. In addition, FVCC provides organizations with quality, customized training, meeting facilitation, and human resource development needs assessments. Trainers have a unique blend of skills including front-line business experience and academic credentials. Workforce Training helps businesses identify their organization’s human resource development needs and works with them to determine solutions through training. Programs can be offered on campus or at the business site.

Flathead Valley Community College excels in workforce training providing quality instructors to assure the highest professional level of practical, industrial and technical knowledge, communication skills and teaching abilities, as well as comprehensive instructional materials to reinforce the objectives and skills learned. Significant cost savings can be realized for the business’s training since it pays only for what is requested, ie: training and materials, not travel expenses and overhead. Professionalism is a hallmark of FVCC and satisfaction is guaranteed.