Bear Paw Development annual report: Agency secures $2.8 million for northern Montana

From Bear Paw Development Corp.

Bear Paw Development Corporation recently released its Annual Report for 2018 and announced that the organization, Montana’s longest-serving federally-recognized Economic Development District, secured more than $2.8 million in funding for economic and community development projects in the five-county, two-reservation area they serve. 

“As we enter our 50th year of serving the economic and community development needs of northern Montana, we know any success we have in fulfilling our mission equates to success in the communities in which we work,” said Paul Tuss, executive director.  “During 2018, our staff of economic development practitioners worked hard to secure much-needed funding for local government infrastructure projects, which is the foundation of community stability and economic growth. We also helped area entrepreneurs to start or grow their business through counseling, business plan development and financing.” 

In addition to coordinating more than $2.8 million in funding last year, Bear Paw Development also assisted businesses to create or retain 56 jobs through the activities of their Loan Department, Small Business Development Center and Food and Agriculture Development Center. Bear Paw’s Small Business Development Center alone counseled 111 existing business owners or aspiring entrepreneurs during 2018. 

Tuss noted that for every $1 of local government funding the organization receives, it leveraged $27.08 from outside sources for projects in the region. 

“The rate of return for the communities in our Economic Development District who are members of our organization is significant, and we are always looking for new and innovative ways to continue to meet their needs and be as relevant to northern Montana for the next 50 years as we have been over the past five decades,” Tuss said.  

“We are very fortunate to be able to work every day to help solve problems, grow our regional economy and have a positive impact on northern Montana, which continues to be a great place to live, build a business and raise a family,” he added.

Bear Paw Development Corporation is a nonprofit Economic Development District formed in 1969 and serves the economic and community development needs of Liberty, Hill, Blaine, Phillips and Chouteau Counties and the Rocky Boy’s and Fort Belknap Indian Reservations.