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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:
- Financing Programs
- Capital
- Facility location & expansion
- Regulatory Assistance
- Employment Services
- Business Assessment tools
- Technology resources
- Government contracting assistance
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- Export/Import Assistance
- Community demographics
- Education & training programs
- New and existing employees
can upgrade their skills
- Human Resource programs
- Tools to Manager, motivate and
strengthen your workforce.
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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.
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