BEAR - Business Expansion & Retention
The Bear Facts
During the 2011 Fiscal Year, the Billings BEAR Team interviewed a total of 85 businesses.
There were a total of 80 referrals made available to these businesses for a variety of different needs.
The Resources Referrals made were for the following needs:
- workforce training
- domestic/global marketing
- entrepreneurship/management
- financing/capital
- operations/production
- utility/local government services
- social media marketing
The BEAR team was also responsible for facilitating 85 Incumbent Worker Training applications for small businesses. These applications totaled more than $150,000 in training dollars that were made available to businesses in Yellowstone, Carbon, and Stillwater counties.
The Billings BEAR Program is a very integral part of the Department of Labor and Industry’s Incumbent Worker Training Grant. This grant allows for eligible businesses to apply for a grant to assist with worker training costs. Since the inception of the Incumbent Worker Training Grant in Billings, there has been more than $400,000 granted to businesses in this region. This grant can be used for many types of training including, but not limited to, customer service training, skills training, or even soft skills training.
BEAR Resource Referral areas of expertise include but are not limited to business planning, business organization, business expansion, marketing, financing, accounting, public services, website design, social media training, and workforce training.
The BEAR Interview Survey takes about one hour of your time and is usually done at your place of business or if you prefer, we can provide an alternate location. The survey covers company information, workforce, sales, e-commerce, facility & equipment, municipal services, and business climate.
If you would like to schedule an interview for your business, call Brian Edwards at 406-869-8404.