Bear Paw seeks input on draft five-year economic strategy document

Press release

The local economic development nonprofit is looking for comments on five-year planning document.

Bear Paw Development Corp. is seeking input from area residents on the draft 2020 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.

Bear Paw is a regional nonprofit corporation organized to assist with the economic and community development priorities in Liberty, Hill, Blaine, Phillips and Chouteau Counties and on the Rocky Boy’s and Fort Belknap Indian Reservations.

The five-year planning document outlines economic and community development priorities for northern Montana and identifies goals, strategies, and action items for implementing development activities. Residents in the five-county, two-reservation region of northern Montana are encouraged to submit comments and feedback on the draft CEDS.

The CEDS is an important planning tool for communities as they seek to implement economic and community development projects. In addition to being a planning resource, the CEDS is a requirement of Bear Paw Development funding received from the Economic Development Administration to provide planning and development assistance to members within the BPDC Economic Development District.

The CEDS includes data and background information for the region of northern Montana, explains the process for creating the CEDS, and outlines the action plan for development activities as identified by residents and Bear Paw’s Strategy Committee. The Strategy Committee is a 20-member committee with individuals from all sectors of industry, including education, local government, agriculture, arts and tourism, and private-sector business. Community input via an online survey earlier this year, along with Strategy Committee participation, formed the basis of the 2020 CEDS, and the public comment period will allow community members another opportunity to provide feedback on the region’s priorities and action plan.

Community members can view a copy of the draft CEDS on Bear Paw’s website at http://www.bearpaw.org and can submit comments via the comment link on the site. Print copies of the CEDS are available upon request. Residents can also contact Samantha Chagnon via email at [email protected] or via phone at 265-9226 to provide feedback.

The public comment period will close Friday, Dec. 4, and comments received will be considered and incorporated into the final draft of the CEDS.