UM expert to speak at Bear Paw luncheon

Patrick Barkey, the director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana, will be the keynote speaker at the annual luncheon meeting of Bear Paw Development Corp.

The luncheon is at noon, Thursday, Feb. 18, at the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line at 500 1st Ave.

Bear Paw is the non-profit organization that administers programs to help improve the Hi-Line’s economy.

Barkey will speak on the economic outlook for the Hi-Line, northern Montana and beyond, said Paul Tuss, Bear Paws’ executive director.

Tuss said Bear Paw will also present its annual report on the jobs that were created under its programs during the last year.

Tickets for the program are $15. People are asked to RSVP by Feb. 12 by calling 265-9226 or by emailing [email protected]

Barkey’s talk will be a “sneak peek” at what Barkey and his team may say at the annual economic outlook seminars, Tuss said. The seminars are held in nine communities throughout Montana. They are held in Havre every other year.

This year, the seminar will be held March 16 at Montana State University-Northern as part of the Invest in Success program. Experts on several economic topics will speak.