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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBeartooth RC&D BearFactsVOLUME 5 ISSUE 2 Resource Conservation & RC&D Coordinator Klessens Leaves Beartooth for Private Sector After 18 years of leadership and service throughout the Beartooth region, James Klessens, has resigned as RC&D Coordinator and has accepted a position as President of Montana's Pioneer Products, Inc. With this move Klessens will have the opportunity to "practice what he has preached" to many area entrepreneurs. James began his career with USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service (then the Soil Conservation Service) 20 years ago when he accepted a position in the Carbon County Field Office and then moved to the RC&D program as Assistant Coordinator, under Bob Tribelhorn, a few years later. Tribelhom and Klessens paired their unique gifts and began a process-to creat~ a fftass roots p~ogt'am that was equipped to truly live up to the Beartooth Mis- sion Statement: The RC&D i~ sponsored and directed by local people to improve the economic and socia[ conditions through comervation, utilization, and development of the natural and human resources of our area. Grip and Grin? Klessens shakes hands with Jim White, Beartooth CFO, as Bob Van Oosten, Beartooth RC&D Area, Inc. provides a means to veteran Beartooth Board Member and Al Jones, focus the resources of people with varied backgrounds, RI)O, MT Dept of Commerce, look on. expertise, and points of view. People working together can develop and implement a plan which will address problent~ or ~ssues that affect their quality of life. Klessens took this challenge to heart and wrote the first Overall Economic Development Strat- egy for the 5 cotmty region, positioning Beartooth to become the Economic Development District designated and thnded by the US Dept of Commerce, Economic Development Administration. This step moved Beartooth into a new ED arena and with tlzat Jalnes Klessens moved into the Co- ordinator's position when Bob Tribelhorn accepted a Coordinator's position in Alaska. Klessens' gift tbr vision has met and exceeded the Mission challenge. Under his guidance a FirstTime Homebuyer program helps qualifying families realize their drealn of home ownership. The Beartooth Foundation was established as a benelhctor of the Beartooth Benefit Golf Tourna- lnent, with the goal of establishing a sustainable source of filnding dollars for the needs of future generations. The Beartooth Revolving Loan Fnnd has grown to over $1,000,000 and serves to pro- vide gap financing to area businesses. Beartooth is helping ag producers add value to their products through the Agriculture Innovation Center. Brownfields, a program designed to help redevelop and rense idled property, by identifying and resolving the environmental condition of the property has become an addition, during the last year, tinder the Beartooth umbrella. In addition, Bear- tooth, recently was designated as one in the system of Montana Cooperative Development Centers throughout Montana. A representative of Beartooth continues to participate on the Board of the National Carbon Offset Coalition. In addition, capacity gained over the years qualified Beartooth to become one of the Montana designated Certified Regional Development Corporations. There isn't one EMS or Ambulance Service in the area that hasn't received assistance from Klessens some way to help equip them to provide their life saving service, continued on Page $ Inside this issue: Link CDBG Grant * Yellowstone 2 County High Tech Firm Updale - IRP 2 Wise Use of His Money 2 How Artists Really Sell 3 RC&D and EDA Legislation 4 Financial Literacy Ior Youth 4 Absarokee Takes Ac~on 5 Bmwn§elds Moving Fo~ard 5 Skriner is New Board Member 5 Farm Fresh Directory Complete 6 Curry Appointed {o ED Council 6 Board of Directors City of Laurel Chuck Egan, Vice Chairman Link Communications, a Monmna~grown product develoly ment and electronics manufacturing business based near Lockwood, earned a $300,000 working capital loan and $50,000 wotkforce train- ing grant from the Montana Dept. of Commerce CDBO pool recently after about 2 years of work towards that. The money is awarded as a grant to Yellowstone County which contracts with Beartooth RC&D administering the grant lbr $24,500, after having spent well over a hun- dred hours on the project and application as well as making earlier loans f¥om the Beartooth Revob,.ing Loan Fund. Link . . Communications Inc.[ ~ http ://www.link-comm.com As the $300,000 is repaid, it will come into the Beartooth RLF where it can be relent to small businesses within Beartooth's ser~ vice region, typically in much smaller amounts. Previous CDBG awards f¥om Commerce to start the RLF, (Bt the Custer area Cattle Development Center, and for Columbus's Timberweld Mfg. will bring total CDBG infusions into the ~hnd to over $ ~ million. That phis seed ftmding ~hr the RLF from the U.S. Dept. of Commerce's Eco- nomic Development Agency have created a core pool of funds which was leveraged last year with an additional mill~on dollars from the _ ~USD~A~ R!tral Developm~ent~Agency ancl~M~nt~.~_B merits' long~term, very low interest loans for Revolving Loan Funds. A goal is to build this to a $5-10 million loan fund, similar in size to Butte and Havre RLF's, and with 7,000+ businesses in the Beartooth region, there's certainly plenty of potential borrowers. Link devises and patents various components for radio com~ mnnication systems, sometimes tnanufacturing the product and some~ times licensing it to companies such as General Dynamics. The 15 year old finn began m Bozeman with an MSU Electrical Engineering major ~om Northeastern Montana, Allan Overcast, tackling a radio problem he'd become award of as a ham radio hobbyist. Their newest innovations are a hardware/software package that solves the challenge of getting various radio systems to talk to each other, i.e. those of po- lice, fire, ambulance, sheriff's, FBI, DEA, park serv:~ce, forest rangers, volunteer fire fighters, wreckers, ATF, National Guard, etc. as well as linking in telephones, cell phones, internet e-mails, etc.. Link's unit allows all of the different agencies that were present at a car accident, wildfire, drug raid, chemical spill, high speed chase, tornado, earth- quake, etc. can talk seamlessly. The units are typically added to 911 Dispatch Centers but are small and rugged enough to be mounted in a field command vehicle like a van or SUV. This challenge of making radio interoperable was identified by FEMA as the top priority after Sept. 11 for improving America's terrorism responses as radios that couldn't talk to each other resulted in many firefighters entering the World Trade Center towers just as they were collapsing. The Dept. of Homeland Security helps fund the radio interoperability equipment and Philadelphia, Pittsbnrgh, Oklahoma City, and others are already standardizing on Link's quick, cheap, and effective solu- tion. Yellowstone Coun'cy plans to use 3 of the units. Activity- with the Beartooth Revolving Loan Fnnd (RLF), stimulated earlier this year by a capital injection of $1,000,000 from USDA Rural Development and the Mon- tana Board of h~vestlnents, has been well received by re- gional business interests. According to Jim White, CFO, 7 new loans have been written to date. These loans have provided $531,000 in capital and have leveraged over $2,000,000 in private sector lending. If you an existing business or entrepreneur needing assistance you may access more information about the Bear- tooth RLF on-line at www.beartooth.or~ and or contact Beartooth by calling 406-962-3914. Beartooth is an Equal Opportunity Lender. Volume 5 Issue 2 Creative minds are drawn to the diverse beauty of Mon- tana and it is becoming increasingly clear, that is good for the Montana economy. The Economic Impact of Montana Artists, re- leased in March of 2005 by The Center for Applied Economic Research, Montana State University - Billings, commissioned by the State of Montana Governor's Office of Economic Opportu- nity and The Montana Arts Conncil, looks at the economic role of the State's artisans. The study revealed Montana had a total of 5,840 artists making their living through the arts in 2000. This does not include part.time artista. There are more artists making their living in Montana (5,840) than people employed by: Montana's mining industry (4,800), · The state's wood products manufacn~ring industry (5,700), · And the state's building materials retail trade market (4,900) · Artists' sales produced an expected total economic impact of over $233 million in 2003 Economic iulpacts from out- of-state sales are estimated at $179 million and support 3,200: fhlt-ti~,~ job~rrvlVkn-v~: · 70.2% need assistance with marketing In order to address the marketing assistance request of 70.2% of the artists surveyed a group including MSU Extension Service, MSU-B College of Tech- nology, Montana Department of Comurerce, Sandstone Gallery, Yellowstone Art Museum, Toucan Gallery, Carbon County Arts Guild, Custer County Cohural and Historical Center and Beartooth RC&D Area, Inc. organized an art marketing workshop. The es-ent, on May 7, was sold out within a matter of a few weeks (this is the third across the state, all of which have closed registration early) to a fill1 house of 130 art enthusiasts. One hondred and thirty participants spent the day gain- ing insight from the group of artists who included Carol Hagan, Kevin Red Star, Charles Fritz, Brian A~hmore, Mere Coleman, Tim Shinenbarger, Rocky Hawkins, Greg Hawn, Nancy Halter, Sue Tirrell, as well as collectors, marketing prot~ssionals, curators and directors. Maybe it's time to view our art community in a new light. According to the Economic hnpact study, noted earlier, the Total Sales for Artists in the Beartooth region is $7,015,757 with a Total Econonfic hnpact of $8,366,256. Let's take a look at some addi- tional letk brained statistics for this right brained industry i¥om The Role of Community-Ba~ed Creative Enterprises (Nonprofit Arts ganizatio~u) in Montana's Economy published in May of 2003 and Winner of the 2003 International Economic Development Coun- cil Research Award. $13.5 lnillion in tax revenue is generated by Montana's non- profit arts - $4 million in tax revenue stays in Montana - $9.5 million in tax revenue goes to the U.S. Government · Montana's arts have a greater employment impact than one quarter of the state's top 100 industries Homegrown creativity is found in all classes, races, gen- ders and ethnic groups: does not require advanced degrees, al- though many of the participants in the workshop possessed formal certification of training; and is not regional or urban. There- fore the creative enterprise in Montana oft~rs economic op- portunities to people and com- munities that have not been able -- to advance using traditional educational pathways or ecc~ nomic development routes. The wide acceptance and participation of the Art Marketing Workshops, in the Beartooth region as well as across Montana speak to an important basis for regarding the importance of the Creative Cluster in the Montana econ- omy - it is most effkctive where artisans are willing to think and act like business people, and manuthcturers and services are willing to think and act like artists. To access the sources of information for this article go online to: Economic Development America Summer2004 issue http://www.eda.gov/News Events/Edevin focoalition.xml The Ecm~omic Impact of Montana Artists htrp://ar t.tnt.gov/resour ces/resources econartists l.asp Arts Market. http://www.artsmarket.colrt/index.html EDA and RC&D Program Fun ding Earlier this year, the nation received word of new budget proposals that would have redefined the allocation of funding, (Strengthening America's Communities Initiative), that works in so many of the communities to provide, especially in rural areas, the competitive edge in development. Closer to honre, Beartooth was one of three Montana RC&D's who were targeted to lose fimding t¥om the USDA, NRCS-RC&D as part of the proposed budget. Beartooth also had uncertainty around the Economic Development Administration funding for the Beartooth Economic Development District.. Through the maze that is our federal system, the fbllowing information has been located regarding those particular funding sources that are cru- cial to Beartooth's continuing efficiency. The language below is taken directly frmn http://www.thomas.loc.gov and favorably indicates the funding will be available for Beartooth to continue to se~,e the citizens of oor region tfirough the RC&D Program and the Economic Development District. We have a great deal of gratitode for those who responded in support of Beartooth to our Montana congressional delegation and to the National Association of Development Councils and National RC&D Council who interceded on a national level on our behalf.. Of All Are Welcome! Saturdays 8 am 12 pm Every Saturday July 30 - October 1 Located on West 12th Downtown Red Lodge between Red Lodge Drug and Flashes course, weareverypleasedthatwebavethesupportofSenatorFin cial Literacy Baucus, Senator Burns and Congressman Rehberg and their a/~ outstanding staff, as we collaborate for the well being of the EDA: "The Committee recommends an appropria- tion of $314,924,000. The recommendation is $30,864,000 above the fiscal year 2005 trading level and $288,340,000 above the budget request. The recommendation does not in- clude tBnding for the Strengthening America's Communities Initiative and has restored the appropriation for the Economic Development Administration lEDA] to previous years' level." "The EDA provides grants to local governments and nonprofit agencies for public works, planning, and other pro- jects designed to facilitate economic development." [USDA} RC&D: For resource conservation and de- velopment, the Committee recommends an appropriation of $51,228,000. This amount is the same as the fiscal year 2005 lex,el. How are your teenager's financial skills? Is their finan- cial experience and knowledge sufficient to help them make wise money choices in their life? According to tfie Montana Guaran- teed Student Loan Program (MGSLP) "an estimated 39% of all students graduate with unmanageable debt". They go on to say "It can be avoided!" Recently, Tina Wagner and Aaron Mayernik t¥otn the MGSLP showed both the Junior High and High School students at the Joliet School how to stay out of the "money trap" with a hands-on financial literacy workshop. By using gaines and work- sheets, the students gained knowledge through the use of age appropriate information on a variety of topics indudmg: · what college can do for them what preparations can make that happen · choices, choices, choices - schools and careers · financial aid, scholarships · budgets, balancing a check book, credit cards and debt This program is offered free of charge to any school and is available on an ongoing annual basis in order to utilize the value of repetition in learning. If a school in your community is interested in offbring your youth this competitive advantage you may contact Tina Wag- ner or the Montana Guaranteed Student Loan Program by email or phone. Tina can be contacted at twam~er@m~sln.state.mt.tu or by calling (406)444-0350. Hardin, Billings and Lodge Grass Brown[ields Grant Assessments Underway The Brova~fields Hazardous Substance Assessments funded by EPA through Beartooth RC&D are well underway with the Phase I on 4 sites ahnost complete. The Big Horn County Commissioners requested help from Beartooth in getting a Phase I assessment completed on property in Lodge Grass. Prior land use was two gas stations and the petroleum piece of the site has been monitored by DEQ and EPA for some time, however, solvents and various other types of substance commonly used in service stations had never been investigated. The Phase I was completed by Maxim Technologies and Big Horn County is one step closer to their goal of building an Emergency Services, Police and Fire Complex on the property. The Third Street Building site has a completed Phase I, Pre-Demolition Assesslnent and Cost Estimate conrpleted but has unfortu- nately lost an all in, portant piece to the puzzle. The local bank that had been a partner in this project, i¥om the beginning, has decided to not redevelop the property. Redevelopment is a critical part of the Brownfields plan. A public meeting to discuss the thte of the building is scheduled tbr 7 pm August 29, 2005 at the Big Horn County Courthouse, 3rd Floor Conference Room. Coulson Park Phase I has been completed in draft form and will be finalized during the week of the 11 th of July by Pioneer Technical Services, the enviromnental firm contracted to complete this assessment. A public meeting is scheduled tbr August 11 A major accomplishment is the first draft of a Phase I on the Gateway Triangle, one of the original neighborhoods in Billings, spanning 27 city blocks, with mixed use and 93 different property owners. This area is prime for development and was chosen as part of the Brown- fields project in order to move that process along for the City of Billings and the Gateway stakeholders, if their goal is to develop their prop- The Assessments are on file at the Beartooth RC&D Area office in Joliet for anyone interested in reviewing them. Arrangelnents can be made to access these reports by calling 406-962-3914 or contacting Betty Curry, Brownfields Coordinator at betry, curry~rcdnet.net Lisa Skriner- MSU-Billings, College o£ Technology Resource Team Assessment Board o£ Directors Appoints Absarokee Citizens Take Education Member Collaboration continues to equip the Beartooth region wifl~,partnet' ' '~kit.~aext~t senae~the cktizenry~ In reeogaition of the ~tal role education plays [n economic developlnent, the Board of Directors voted to establish an Education seat on the Board of Directors. Lisa S~iner, Partnership and S~ategic ~l~ance ~sistant to the Dean, has been chosen to se~e in this ~paciW. Lisa joined &e staff of &e MSU-B, ~llege of Technol- o~ in Janua~, 2005. With the ~llege of ~stern Utah, Price, UT for 27 Years, as Director of Human Resources and lnsfitu. fional Research, Grant Development, Lisa has been successfifl in fimding opportuni- ties through grant applications and has recently submitted, Communi~-Based Job Training Grant in partnership with MSU- Northern, MT Tech-Bu~e, UM Tech- Mis- soula for 2 million. Klessens Resigns As Coordinator - continued from page 1 The Staff and Board of Directors want to take this opportu- nity to thank James for his vision and hard work and to wish him continued success in his new career. James' expertise and assistance will be missed throughout the region but don't expect a disconnect. That sense of community has been a personal driving fbrce tbr James, and has been the vehi- cle to lead Beartooth to it's current status and remains a strong part of Klessens' personality. The Klessens family continue to live in Joliet and in all likelihood will continue to demonstrate the value of community in their lif~. A Look At Their Town Absarokee has some vacant bnildmgs on a beautiful newly renovated Main Street had the citizens are not w{lling to let that situation continue.. This motivation was sufficient to spur a call to Montana Economic Developers Association (MEDA) to get on the list for a Resource Team Assessment. (RTA). This process is truly community driven. From the ini- tial meet4ng to agree to hold the RTA, Absarokee's stakeholders showed up to do whatever it took to have a snccessth[ assess- ment, with Mike Reynolds chairing the organizational commit- tee. The volunteer team of prol~ssionals included A1 Jones, MT Department of Commerce, Linda Beck, Big Sky Econonfic De- velopment Authority, Kathy Bailey, Snowy MT Developluent Corporation, Gloria O'Rourke, MEDA and Victor Bjornberg, Travel Montana listened tbr a day and a half to the citizens opinions of their town. In response they have compiled a re- port and suggestions and resources to help direct the comlnu- nity eflbrt. The fbllow-up meeting is at 7 pm, July 1 lth at the Cobblestone School. The Absarokee report, as well as all of the RTA reports from prior assessments can be accessed at http://vo,vw.medamembers.org . If your community is inter- ested in having a Resource Team Assessment please contact Betty Curry at Beartooth RC&D, betty, curw~rcdnet.net 604 West Front Street, PO Box 180, Joliet, MT 59041 P one: 406-962-3914 Fmx: 406-962-3647 h~p//~w bea~ooth.org nfo~bea~ooth ,org U.S. POSTAGE PAID JOLIET, MT 59041 PERMIT NO. 10 CJtJzen$ BuJldJng Stronger Communities If you would like to receive this newsletter electronically please contact us at info@beartooth.org Economic Development Advisory Council Curry Appointment Watch fbr the new Farm Fresh Directory which lists direct farm markets and specialty food producers serving South Central Montana. Farm Fresh is a program of the Beartooth Ag InnoYation Center (BAIC) and is working to stinmlate and sustain the agricul- ture community and economy as well as the health and welfare of local citizens. Through buying local food products, each of us: · help preserve local green space · contribute to the local economy - preserve the rural tradition - encourage better agriculture practices - create diversity - consep,'e native habitat, soils and natural resources - serve higher quality and fresher food tbr families The directory will be available in businesses and fhrmers markets throughout the 5 county region. For more information contact Chaz Holt at cdholt77C/~ahoo.com. Betty Curry recently accepted an appointment, by Gover- nor Brian Schweitzer, to the Economic Development Advi~ sory Council. The 19 member Councilwas created during the 2003 Legislative Session as part of the legislation creating Certified Regional Development Corporations (CRDC). Primary duties are to advise the department concerning the distribution of funds to CRDC's for business development, in accordance with state statute regarding the creation, opera- tion, and maintenance of the micro business finance pro- gram. Additional duties include advising the governor and the department on significant matters concerning economic development in Montana, prescribing allowable administra- tive expenses fbr which economic development funds may be used by CRDC's; and encourage CRDC's to promote eco- nomic developmmtt on Indian reservations in their regions. Partnemhips..