MARCH 2006
CRDC Spotlight is on Headwaters RC&D.
Headwaters RC&D serves seven counties including: Anaconda/Deer Lodge, Beaverhead, Butte/Silverbow, Granite, Jefferson, Madison and Powell. Judie Tilman is the RC&D Coordinator and Connie Ternes-Daniels is the Economic Development Regional Planner.
Headwaters is a model of regional development as it contains multiple services under one organization: SBDC, loan programs, planning, RC&D programs including many natural resource projects as well as water and sewer projects. Headwaters RC&D/CRDC is a one stop shop.
The most recent big project in the works at Headwaters is an application for a Brownfields Assessment Grant. The project is regional and is designed to identify all existing and potential Brownfield sites. The next step will be to form a task force that will establish ranking criteria to determine which sites are most feasible to redevelop. Then, selected areas will go through a two phase assessment process. The ultimate goal is to build a comprehensive Brownfield's program to systematically develop the sites.
A second piece to the project is to build an RLF Brownfields grant so that private businesses with property in the Brownfield area can afford to redevelop the sites.
As all CRDC's know, a major component of the program is capacity building. CRDC funding has been a great tool for capacity building within Headwaters. Perhaps the greatest event for this purpose is the Annual Headwaters Retreat. A day and a half is spent with partners from each county, various board members, local leadership and state and federal program representatives. The event is an excellent way to conduct board training, listen to partner's needs, network with various agencies and learn of programs that build economies.
In addition to the annual retreat, CRDC funds have been used to build upon existing programs. Jon Donovan, SBDC Director, now has an assistant, Mark Dahl. Mark serves as the Business Outreach Coordinator and conducts a screening process before sending individuals to Jon. Jon focuses on people who are indeed ready to start a business while Mark prepares the clients to reach that point.
For more information, visit the Headwaters RC&D website.
Meet MEDA's New Members: The State Tribal Economic Development Commission including Caroline Brown, Jace Killsback, Darrel Koke, Reno Charette, Lloyd Irvine, Marilyn Parsons, Shawn RealBird, Noel Sansaver and Johnathan WindyBoy. Also joining MEDA are Steve Golnar of Golnar Management Services, Tara (Crowley) Mastel of Jefferson Local Development; Susie Burch of Flathead Valley Community College.
Does the name Tara Crowley Mastel sound familiar? Tara was able to "come home" to Montana and is now filling the shoes vacated by Scott Mendenhall in the extension position in Jefferson County. Here is more about Tara: A graduate of Wolf Point High School in Wolf Point, MT, Tara has lived in Minneapolis MN for the past several years. She earned a bachelor of Arts in Communications and Psychology from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN. Tara also has a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Her graduate work concentrated on regional, economic and workforce development. In addition, Tara served as a fellow of the Burton K. Wheeler Center for Public Policy at MSU-Bozeman and she completed the Basics of Management Training for the State of Montana Personnel Division in Helena.
Tara's employment history includes working as a research associate for the Minnesota Rural Partners where she wrote a guidebook to help rural communities become more supportive of entrepreneurship. Tara has also worked on economic development projects for the Cass Lake Tourism Partnership in northern Minnesota, the Missouri Valley Development Corporation in Wolf Point and for the Ft. Peck Tribal Government in Poplar. Tara worked for the Montana Department of Commerce where she developed a distance training program on the basics of business.
Welcome home, Tara.
<
Grant and Funding Opportunities: The Economic Development Administration has announced it is soliciting
proposals for the following programs authorized by the Public Works and Economic
Development Act of 1965 (PWEDA): Public Works and Economic Development Investments Program, Planning Program, Local Technical Assistance Program and Economic Adjustment Assistance Program. For all the details visit the Federal Register section at this link.
Getting the Word Out About Montana Businesses:
The Montana Ambassadors have come up with a unique concept: establishing Montana Ambassador Chapters within other states. Thus far, the response has been overwhelming. Thanks to the sponsorship of CTA Architects and Engineers, Ken Richardson (Montana Ambassador of the Year) working in cooperation with the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, a chapter has been established in Seattle with a new chapter ready to launch in Denver on March 6th.
Working Groups...Are Working!: There has been too much activity in too many Working Groups to focus on only one. Value Added, Transportation and Native American Working Groups have found their footing and are accomplishing much. The Value Added Ag group has a draft of legislative priorities they are working on. The Transportation group is forming a great partnership with those on the state level, already improving communication between our two worlds. The Native American Economic Development Partners Working Group has played a key role in shaping the MEDA 2006 Spring Conference Agenda....Sometime, over a cup of coffee, scroll through the MEDA Working Group web pages and treat yourself to very practical and applicable information.
Training Opportunities: Interested in sharpening your professional skills as an economic and community development practitioner? Here are some outstanding training opportunities.
For Your Tool Box: Check out these practical and interesting resources.
Could your community and the businesses therein use a refresher in the importance of customer service? A bit of an enthusiasm boost before the tourist season arrives? Find out about Montana Superhost Training. Email Montana SuperHost for the full details.
Many of us are new to blogs - web logs. A recent Montana Area Technology Roundtable newsletter contained a very interesting link to a blog that is all about "Building Communities for Tomorrow's Economy." The articles are very interesting and cutting edge. Visit EDPro and plan to stay awhile.
MEDA 2006 Spring Conference Update: MEDA Members are in for a dynamic and educational spring conference, coming up May 1st and 2nd in Polson, Montana, at the Kwa Taq Nuk Resort. Actually, weather permitting, you will be able to get in a little golf and networking Sunday afternoon, April 31st. During the conference, you will learn of economic development activities in Indian Country, meet the State Tribal Economic Development Commission, develop partnerships and relationships with Indian organizations, tour the Salish Kootenai College, the People's Center, Mission Valley Power and S & K Electronics. You will also be treated to a performance by Two Eagle Plume Cultural Club Dance Group and the Chief Cliff Drummers. And that is just the first day! The full agenda should be available mid-March.
MEDA Words of Wisdom from....Connie Ternes-Daniels. Connie Ternes-Daniels serves as the Regional Planner for Headwaters RC&D and as a County Commissioner for Anaconda Deer Lodge County. Her college aged son recently gave her some great words of wisdom: "You have one mouth and two ears; use them proportionally."
MEDA Home