BIG SKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 2009 REPORT CARD
From the Executive Director, Steve ArveschougDepartment reports
Built $10 Million GE Building; 225 jobs; closing the loans w/ State of MT and Stockman Bank
Implemented the Development Agreement for the Federal Courthouse Project, sold the MDU property
Completed the EBURD Master Plan for east Billings
Established the 2009-2011 Strategic Priorities for Big Sky EDA-EDC
Partnered with 101 Member Investor businesses
SBDC: 13 new businesses; 34 jobs; 652 clients trained or counseled; $2.1 million financing secured;
15 FastTrack graduates
Finance Program: Top 504 Loan Program in Montana--$5.4 Million; 177 jobs created; $100,000 Revolving Loan Fund 3 jobs created
BEAR Program—68 interviews and 80 referrals; services valued at $222,000
PTAC—secured Federal award for statewide program-$970,736 value; 3 sub-centers and 5 satellite
centers; 1280 active clients and 2956 client work sessions; 336 contracts awarded valued at $81,598,653
Community Development—HUD-EDI Grant for EBURD $308,750;Brownfield assessments in EBURD w/
EPA grant;$1.2 million in total grant dollars
Created an “Opportunity Fund”--$400K for future investment in job-creation projects
THE DEPARTMENTS
RECRUITMENT: This department provides leadership, establishes and implements strategies for the retention and expansion of existing businesses and the recruitment of new businesses to Yellowstone County and Billings.
BUSINESS EXPANSION AND RETENTION [BEAR]: Collaborative community based team can connect your business with marketing, management skills, finance, technology, and workforce training. Confidential and at no charge.
FINANCING & TAX INCENTIVES: works with lending institutions to offer an array of low cost financing and tax incentives: SBA 504; Revolving Loan Fund; Tax Incentive programs; MT Board of Investment loans and more.
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER: Offers confidential one-on-one consulting at no cost, and affordable management training to startups and established businesses. Statewide network of 10 centers, and 1200 nationally.
The ONE HUNDRED MEMBER INVESTOR COMPANIES: Big Sky Economic Development Member Investor Companies are engaged in setting economic development policy as well as providing leadership to our work.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: Seeks funding on behalf of county agencies and other nonprofit organizations,
administers grants and facilitates projects. The department offers fee for service grant writing for nonprofits and free monthly grant training workshops.
MT PROCUREMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER: Provides the bridge between government agencies and the Montana businesses that want to sell goods and services to the government. Confidential and at no charge.
MONTANA MANUFACTURING EXTENSION CENTER: Engineering staff with extensive experience in manufacturing . Long-term projects may require participant funding.
MONTANA SBA ALTERNATE WORKSITE: Responsible for marketing SBA programs to southeast Montana. Services include SBA-backed loans, government contracting opportunities, disaster assistance and training programs.