Welcome to MEDA Online News. The purpose of this webpage is to serve as a communication link within the MEDA membership. It is to be a member-to-member site to inform MEDA Members as to news within our organization.
Let’s keep it simple: MEDA will send you an email to let you know when articles have been updated. If you would like to submit an article, an idea, a comment—please do. Let’s keep in touch and keep our network strong. Previous editions: January 2006; February 2006;
March 2006;
April 2006;
May 2006;
June 2006;
July 2006;
August 2006;
September 2006;
October 2006;
November 2006;
December 2006;
January 2007;
February 2007;
March 2007;
April 2007;
May 2007;
JUNE 2007
CRDC Update: Several CRDC's are planning Resource Team Assessments...either with direct involvement or with involvement from their partners. Laurel is on board for mid July, Eureka/Tobacco Valley, the Libby Area and the Troy/Yaak area are planned for this fall. The community of Big Sky is scheduled for a modified Resource Team on June 26th. If a community in your CRDC region is interested, just call the MEDA office for assistance.
MEDA Membership Update: If you missed the summary of the 2007 MEDA Annual Membership Meeting they are available here. MEDA gained two new members in May including Carol Cunningham, Project Coordinator for S & K Holding, in Ronan and Shannon Harrison, Executive Director, of Sweetgrass Development Corp. Welcome!
Print the MEDA Membership Directory.
Grant and Funding Opportunities:
PPL Montana Community Fund -
Application Deadline July 31, 2007
Further strengthening the partnership between PPL Montana and its communities, the company has created a philanthropic community fund – administered with input from residents throughout the state – to award grants to Montana organizations. PPL Montana will award $200,000 in 2007 in three major "quality of life" areas: education, environment and economic development. We envision that the grants – ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 – will improve the quality of education, enhance the environment and bring jobs and new tax revenues to Montana through improved economic development .Application & Additional Information:
http://www.pplmontana.com/community/our+community/community+fund/
The 2007 Tourism Infrastructure Investment Program (TIIP) Grant Application materials:
Working Groups...Are Working!:
Based on the discussion during the MEDA Annual Meeting (See report under Success Story) the MEDA office has contacted every working group to learn if they wish to continue, change their focus, appoint a chair person, recruit new members, etc. A terrific response was received with most groups remaining in tact and expanding. View a list and website for each working group at http://www.medamembers.org/workinggroups.php
The MEDA Transportation Working Group held its annual meeting with leadership within Montana Department of Transportation (MDT). This meeting is proving to be invaluable as to the great information that is exchanged between the two entities. It is hoped that in the near future MEDA can feature MDT on a conference agenda.
Opportunities For You: Interested in sharpening your professional skills as an economic and community development practitioner? Looking for new tools to place in your economic development tool box? Check these out.
Consider this your personal Invitation to the 2007 Energy Open Conference and Golf Tournament. The 4th annual event "showcasing the economic benefits of responsible energy development" will be held in Colstrip, MT on Thursday June 28th and Friday June 29th. Please contact Southeastern Montana Development on any questions you may have by email reply or calling (406) 748 - 2990. Corporate sponsorship packets and conference / golf tournament registration forms are available upon request.
Join your colleagues around the region for the dynamic annual PNEDC conference in Helena, MT on July 15-18, 2007. The agenda, registration, and accommodation materials are now available online at
www.pnedc.org
Enjoy presentations and discussion with pre-eminent practitioners of Economic Gardening, Economic Development Marketing, Workforce Recruitment, American Indian Business Leadership, Real estate and facilities development and marketing, and Technology led economic development. In addition, you will have many opportunities to network with economic development practitioners from 9 states and provinces spanning to 2 countries. You will learn about and take home economic development tools and information you can use in your community.
See you in Helena, July 15-18, 2007 at the PNEDC annual conference.
You are invited to attend the 17th annual EPAC conference "Fuels, From Farm Fields to Fuel Tanks" to be held June 10-12, 2007 in Big Sky, Montana. Conference activities include speaker sessions all day Monday and on Tuesday morning, a Trade Show exhibit, and an Opening Reception on Sunday evening.
Those who arrive early will be able to take part in many Sunday pre-conference activities. An optional dinner on Monday evening will include entertainment by cowboy entertainer Ken Overcast. Rooms are being held in the Summit and Huntley Lodges and in the Shoshone condominiums. There are a wide variety of room types available with rates starting at $73.00 for a single and $83.00 for two people.
Contact Shirley Ball for more information.
SAVE THE DATE: Montana Indian Business Conference and Showcase, September 18 - 19, 2007. Location: Red Lion Colonial Hotel, Helena.
Montana BEAR Report: Learn what is new in your region with the statewide Montana BEAR Program. Review the May 2007 Report and learn of progress in initiating this program across the state. Minutes of the MEDA BEAR Working Group conference call on May 14th are available on the webpage as well.
According to data entered into the ExecutivePulse software, active Outreach Specialists for May were: Lad Barney, Linda McNeill, Kathy Moody, Jodie Rasmaussen, Johnette Watkins, Gary Winship, Chris Brink, Julie Foster, Kate Hamlin, Anne Iverson and Scott Kobold.
What the Numbers Say: 
Montana Department of Commerce
If you haven't taken some time to visit the Montana Department of Commerce, Census and Economic Information Center (CEIC) web site at http://ceic.mt.gov you simply must.
If you have any problems finding or understanding the information you need, please contact CEIC staff, Pam Harris, 841-2739, Lorie Palm, 841-2743, or email ceic@mt.gov.
My Turn: This-n-That from the MEDA Office
I was listening to a speaker at the Economic Summit in Butte and heard a word I hadn't heard of before. The speaker used it several times. A few days later, I heard the same word tossed about on a conference call. It dawned on me that in my tenure in the economic development realm, this has happened before. Thinking back, I believe the first catch phrase I became aware of was "common ground." Everyone wanted to find this common ground, and show you how to get there. Soon the common ground was left alone and we were all busy with "collaboration." Shortly after collaboration came "consensus". Remember the "win-win" we all sought? And...the description of something being "sexy" - such as business recruitment. Seems like the word "segue" was in there as well.
If you are like me and had to look up the spelling and definition for some of these words..let me spare you the time with our latest word: NEXUS. That's right. Nexus is the new cool word. It is being enunciated behind podiums and across board rooms everywhere. It means: "a means of connection; link or tie; a connected series or group." At least it is easy to spell.
A Success Story....
The MEDA office encouraged those attending the EDDA/MEDA/EDDA conference to be sure to send in a success story. There are many of them out there - it is just hard to find the time to document them. While patiently waiting for the stories to roll in, you can view photos from the WEDA/MEDA/EDA conference. According the evaluation reports, the conference was a huge success.
Do you have a story to share? Download the report template and send to MEDA.
