Bear Paw Development celebrates birthday with free anniversary concert

Staff and wire report

Montana's oldest economic development agency is giving the community a present for its own birthday.

Bear Paw Development Corp. is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and, as part of the celebration, is sponsoring a free concert for area residents.

The band The Mighty Flick will perform Thursday, June 13, in the outdoor amphitheater behind Pershing Hall on the Montana State University-Northern campus. The band will perform at 6 p.m. and will play three 70-minute sets with 15 minute breaks in between. The Mighty Flick is comprised of band members Stacy Olson of Belgrade and Brij Coleman and Luke Duran, both of Helena.

"To celebrate five decades of successfully engaging in economic and community development activities in northern Montana, we knew we had to do something big and special as a way to thank everyone who has been so supportive of our mission and our day-to-day work of enhancing the economy of our region," said Bear Paw Development Executive Director Paul Tuss said in a press release about the concert.

The concert is open to the public, family-friendly and will include area food trucks and a cash bar, the release said. Attendees are reminded to bring lawn blankets, sun screen, and a form of identification and cash for alcohol and other purchases.

"The Mighty Flick and their incredible sound will assure that everyone - regardless of age - will have an outstanding evening listening to eighties dance tunes, classic rock hits and a little bit of country," Tuss said. "This will be a great kick-off to the summer and will be the type of event everyone is talking about for days and weeks after the concert has ended. This outdoor concert will be both big and special - and free!"

He said admission is free due to the generosity of corporate sponsors who made the concert possible, including BlueCross BlueShield of Montana, NewFields, Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co., Triangle Communications and Triangle Mobile.

Bear Paw was established in 1969 as a federally recognized and funded economic development district by the US Economic Development Administration.

It administers programs in Hill, Blaine, Liberty, Chouteau and Phillips Counties and Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy's Indian reservations to help improve regional economic conditions.

Bear Paw coordinates economic development planning and project implementation, assists local governments in planning public works and coordinates public and private investments and does research and planning and serves in an advisory role to promote economic development.

Visit its website at http://www.bearpaw.org/.