Michael Peter certified as economic development finance professional

Press release

Michael Peter, director of Bear Paw Development Corp.’s Food and Agriculture Development Center, was recently certified as an economic development finance professional, or EDFP, by the National Development Council.

EDFP Certification is a professional credential given to individuals who successfully complete NDC’s intensive economic development finance training series. The training provides individuals working in the field of economic development with instruction in business credit analysis, real estate financing, loan packaging, deal structuring, and negotiating and the creation and implementation of development programs.

Each of the four EDFP Certification Program courses are five days in length and concludes with an exam. Upon successful completion of all four courses, the candidate is awarded EDFP Certification. 

In his role with Bear Paw Development, Peter assists agricultural entrepreneurs and others with business plan development, financing and market analysis to add value to Montana’s commodities, with the goal of diversifying the economy of rural Montana and creating jobs.  Peter also serves as a Cooperative Development Specialist that helps individuals utilize the cooperative business model to start businesses. 

“Becoming a certified Economic Development Finance Professional is a significant accomplishment that takes commitment and provides our organization with an additional resource in which to assist entrepreneurs in northern Montana achieve their vision of business ownership, profitability and helping our regional economy to diversify,” said Paul Tuss, executive director of Bear Paw Development. “Michael is a valuable member of our team and this designation demonstrates his commitment as an economic development practitioner to continue to make a difference for our rural area.” 

NDC’s work focuses on homes, jobs and community.  Founded as a national nonprofit in 1969, NDC has worked for 46 years at fulfilling its mission to increase the flow of capital for investment in low-income communities. NDC directs capital to support the preservation and creation of affordable housing, the creation of jobs through training and small business lending and the promotion of livable communities through investment in social infrastructure. NDC’s products and services are deployed for the benefit of our municipal and nonprofit partners in both urban and rural low-income communities. NDC is headquartered in New York City with offices in Washington, D.C., Seattle, Cleveland and Edgewood, Kentucky. For more information about NDC, visit http://www.ndconline.org .

Bear Paw Development Corp. is Montana’s longest-serving federally recognized economic development district and is also a state-certified, certified regional development corporation.  Bear Paw provides economic and community development services in Liberty, Hill, Blaine, Phillips and Chouteau Counties, as well as Rocky Boy’s and Fort Belknap Indian Reservations.  For more information about Bear Paw Development, visit http://www.bearpaw.org .