Commerce director keynoting Bear Paw annual meeting

A top-level state official with roots in this part of Montana is keynoting the annual meeting of a top-level economic development organization next week.

Montana Department of Commerce Director Tara Rice is the speaker at the 2020 annual meeting of Bear Paw Development Corp. Thursday, Feb. 20.

"We are excited and honored to have Director Rice serve as our keynote speaker this year," Bear Paw Executive Director Paul Tuss said in a press release about the meeting.  "As a native of rural Montana, and as someone who has worked at both the national and state levels to promote the vibrancy of our smaller communities and rural regions, Tara is a natural fit to discuss the importance of public investments to grow our economy, assist the private sector create jobs and rebuild our aging infrastructure." 

Gov. Steve Bullock appointed Rice, who was raised on a ranch north of Choteau, director of the state Department of Commerce in March 2019.

She was active in Teton County 4-H and Choteau FFA as a youth, graduating from Choteau High School before earning degrees from Seattle University and Yale Law School.

She had experience in both private and public economic development before her appointment to Commerce, She served in USDA's Rural Development working with rural infrastructure, housing and business development. She went on to lead the work of the White House Rural Council, driving efforts for rural investment across federal agencies and with state and local partners. 

Before taking the Department of Commerce position, Rice was in private legal practice as a transactional attorney, working with teams of bankers, developers and engineers to build infrastructure and energy projects around the world. 

"Bear Paw Development has partnered with the Montana Department of Commerce for over 35 years, or since the creation of the department," Tuss said in the release. "I don't think there exists a closer, more productive relationship anywhere in our state between an economic development organization and the department than the one we have," Tuss noted. "This partnership has literally resulted in millions upon millions of dollars being invested in northern Montana to build our infrastructure, help businesses start up or expand and provide entrepreneurs with the business planning services they need to succeed."

People who want to attend the meeting must RSVP by Friday by contacting Bear Paw Development at 265-9226 or through email at [email protected]. The cost to attend is $15 per person. 

The Annual Meeting Luncheon will begin at noon at the Best Western Plus Havre Inn & Suites at 1425 U.S. Highway 2 NW.

The public is invited to attend.