Annual Report details business and infrastructure investments

Press release

Bear Paw Development Corp. recently released its annual report for 2020, which details the nonprofit organization’s impact on the five-county, two-reservation economic development district — EDD — in which it operates in northern Montana.

Founded in 1969, Bear Paw Development is Montana’s longest-serving EDD 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.

In 2020, Bear Paw Development coordinated more than $12.2 million in funding through grant writing, revolving loan fund investments and other sources for business start-ups and expansions and community enhancements, including local government infrastructure. The organization leveraged $116 in outside funding for every $1 of local government funding they received and helped the private sector create or retain a total of 59 jobs during the year. Since 2006, Bear Paw Development has coordinated more than $168 million in funding for locally-derived, regionally-managed economic and community development projects.

“While there’s little question that 2020 was one of the most difficult years in memory for the communities and businesses of northern Montana, Bear Paw Development was fortunate to be able to continue our role in assisting our partners in local government and the private sector,” Executive Director Paul Tuss said. “Weathering last year’s economic downturn caused by the global pandemic was not easy and not pleasant, but folks in our area are resilient, tough and help each other out when the chips are down. The success Bear Paw Development had in 2020 in helping our area through the economic storm that impacted everyone is directly attributable to people watching out for one another, a regional economy that is foundationally solid and knowing how to access the resources necessary to mitigate the negative economic impacts of COVID-19.”

Tuss noted the annual report includes multiple success stories from community and economic development projects throughout the economic development district. The annual report can be found on Bear Paw’s website at http://www.bearpaw.org .

Bear Paw Development is a federally certified economic development district and a certified regional development corporation, as designated by the state of Montana. It can be reached at 406-265-9226.