Diversification Focus Groups
As part of the continuing Regional Economic Diversification Project, a series of focus groups have been scheduled for the week of January 12-15. These group meetings will occur in each of the counties on the following schedule:
Teton County/Choteau Focus Group -- Monday, January 12 from 10:00 a.m. to Noon. Meeting will be held at the Choteau Public Library in the Alice Gleason Room. Meeting is sponsored by Sonoran Institute.
Cascade County/Great Falls Focus Group #1 - Monday, January 12 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Meeting will be held in the Conference Space at Macaroni Grill/Chili's, 1401 Market Place Drive. Meeting is sponsored by Shoot the Moon LLC.
Toole County/Shelby Focust Group -- Tuesday, January 13 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Meeting will be held at The Griddle Cafe, 311 Main, Shelby. Meeting is hosted by the City of Shelby.
Cascade County/Great Falls Focus Group #2 - Tuesday, January 13 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Meeting will be held at Holiday Inn Great Falls in the Mansfield Room. Meeting is sponsored by Holiday Inn Great Falls.
Pondera County/Conrad Focus Group -- Wednesday, January 14 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Meeting will be held at the Pondera County Courthouse in the main courtroom. Meeting is hosted by Pondera Regional Port Authority and Pondera County Commissioners.
Glacier County/Cut Bank Focus Group -- Wednesday, January 14 from Noon to 2:00 p.m. Meeting will be held at the Glacier Electric Coop, 410 East Main, Cut Bank. Meeting is hosted by Cut Bank Development Corporation.
To ensure we have enough space and refreshments for everyone, please RSVP as soon as possible to:
Kim Thiel-Schaaf, Community Asset Director
Great Falls Development Authority
300 Central Ave. Suite 406
(406) 771-9025
MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THE PROJECT AND THESE GROUP SESSIONS:
You may be wondering -- what is this project, who’s paying for this, why you should take time out of your day to attend and what will be achieved? This might help make up your mind. Praxis Strategy Group of Grand Forks, North Dakota was hired as the lead firm to conduct the multi-faceted strategy development project funded by grants obtained from the Secretary of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment and the Montana Department of Commerce. The project is in response to the deactivation of the 564th Missile Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base, is funded at $564,000, and will benefit the five counties of Montana’s Sweetgrass Economic Development Region – Cascade, Glacier, Pondera, Teton and Toole. The project is being administered by Great Falls Development Authority, on behalf of Cascade County, and is expected to be completed sometime in April, 2009.
From
http://montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=9021835Economic study launched for Rocky Mountain Front - The Great Falls Development Authority (GFDA) has hired the Praxis Strategy Group to conduct an economic development study of the Rocky Mountain Front region. The GFDA funded the study with money received from the federal government following the deactivation of the 564th Missile Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base. The project will look at how to bring more business and people to communities along the Rocky Mountain Front, which is where the missile squadron operated prior to deactivation earlier this year.
Consultants have already met with officials in Cascade County and will also talk with people in Pondera, Toole, Teton and Glacier counties. The consultants will spend about eight months studying the region and try to develop strategies that will diversify the economy. Some of the areas being looked at for potential development include energy, agriculture, and small business. The consultants will also help the region identify funding sources for new businesses. Delore Zimmerman of the Praxis consulting firm said, "What we'd like...is some specific action steps that people here in the county can undertake. And...to start launching some of those implementations. So it's not just a study that sits on a shelf. It's something that people actually can put into action."
If you would like more information on the project, please feel free to contact Kim Thiel-Schaaf at the Great Falls Development Authority.
Signup to get news emailed to you
