Luke hired as Bear Paw Development community development specialist

Press release

Bear Paw Development Corp. announced Havre resident Emilee Luke has joined the organization as a Community Development Specialist, focused on assisting local and tribal governments with their infrastructure needs.

"Emilee is going to be an outstanding addition to our team as we continue to work with our local government partners to help finance the rehabilitation of our area's physical infrastructure, which is aging and has often outlived its useful life," Bear Paw Executive Director Paul Tuss said. "She has the skill set to effectively work with funding agencies, elected officials and others to find creative solutions to what are most often difficult problems."

A native of Colorado, Luke most recently served as social media and communications director for Montana State Univesrity-Northern, where she also serves as an adjunct professor. She earned a bachelor's degree in communication and information sciences from the University of Alabama and a master's degree in creative technologies and practice from the University of South Alabama. Luke is also a freelance photographer.

"Any well-functioning community that is a good place to live, raise a family and start a business has at its core a solid infrastructure," Luke said. "I look forward to carrying on the tradition at Bear Paw Development of finding the federal and state government resources that are needed to keep our communities operating, while also minimizing the financial burden to local residents."

Bear Paw's Community Development Department also includes Director of Community Development Julea Robbins.

Bear Paw Development Corporation is a state-recognized certified regional development corporation and a federally-recognized Economic Development District who has served the economic and community development needs of northern Montana since 1969. The Bear Paw District includes Liberty, Hill, Blaine, Phillips and Chouteau counties and the Rocky Boy's and Fort Belknap Indian reservations.