SigMT

S MT 94 | SIGNATURE MONTANA Holly Matkin is a native Montanan who lives with her husband at the foot of the Elkhorn Mountains. She covers a wide variety of topics as a freelance writer for multiple local and national publications, and especially enjoys writing travel, history, and human interest pieces. "Clients will oen come to us for small business or food/agriculture assistance, and we'll determine that their business is a good fit for a particular grant," Sullivan explains. "We also share grant opportunities through our quarterly Member Chat, our newsleers, and via social media, which results in a lot of businesses reaching out for more information." BLDC recognizes that acquiring the funds needed to succeed can be a significant hurdle for many businesses – especially during startup. "We have a well-established and very active loan program designed to assist entrepreneurs in securing the capital they need," Sullivan says. "We don't compete with banks – we fill a need. In many cases, traditional lending avenues are unavailable to our clients due to a lack of historical financial records. We're able to assume a greater degree of risk to support aspiring small business owners." Clients use this funding for everything from launching their businesses to expanding existing businesses, purchasing equipment, or making leasehold improvements. BLDC Executive Director Kelly Sullivan showcases a stunning view of Butte. "Our loan portfolio is extensive, and providing lending capital is one of the most critical services we provide," Sullivan notes. Securing the perfect operating location is also a top priority for local businesses. "We work with member realtors for assistance in identifying parcels or buildings that developers might specifically be looking for," Sullivan says. "Oen, they are the first to know when new land or facilities become available and are also able to conduct comparative market analyses when the need arises. Our local realtors are a valuable resource for us in making connections that can lead to new business opportunities in Bue-Silver Bow." The home of Montana Tech. e organization's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) focuses on providing guidance and technical assistance to new and existing businesses, including business counseling, planning, and market research. "We also assist entrepreneurs by offering training opportunities in areas such as human resources, social media marketing, QuickBooks, cybersecurity, and Profit Mastery," says Courtney Loeffler, director of the organization's SBDC. e BLDC's 15 board members hail from a wide variety of backgrounds, including banking, utility, legal, media, county government, hospital, university, mining, engineering, real estate, and small and large business sectors. "We work together very closely as a community, and our community economic leaders are all focused on the same goals," Sullivan explains. "Our partners from healthcare, air service, public utilities, the university, county government, the chamber, the convention and visitors' bureau, manufacturing, and small business meet regularly to share leads, success stories, and plans for future development." BLDC's Big Wins In addition to providing assistance to businesses and entrepreneurs every day, BLDC has also been a key player in developing programs and projects that are bringing significant positive change to the area. "We worked with the Economic Development Administration just a few years ago to secure grant funding for two additional rail spurs at Montana Connections Park," Sullivan says. "We've also worked closely with the up-and-coming Praxis Center, which will be a regional rural healthcare simulation training center located in Uptown Bue." BLDC secured a $1 million Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund in 2022 and plans to re-lend a portion of the fund to private business owners and grant another portion to municipalities and nonprofit organizations. At last count, at least 4,423 jobs had been created or retained in Bue- Silver Bow due to the efforts of the BLDC and its partnerships. "It's proven to be a winning dynamic for Bue-Silver Bow," Sullivan says. For more information about the BLDC, visit www.bldc.net or send an email to ksullivan@bldc.net. The Port of Montana is serviced by both the Union Pacific and BNSF railroads.

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