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Missoula office provides path to federal contracts

Businesses in western Montana interested in government contracts can get help from a resource at the Missoula Area Economic Development Corp. http://maedc.org/

By ROBERT STRUCKMAN of the Missoulian

http://missoulian.com/articles/2004/09/17/news/local/news04.txt

The office, one of five in the state, is the newest regional center for the Montana Procurement Technical Assistance Center. As a whole, in 2003 the technical assistance rendered by the five offices has helped Montana businesses generate contracts totaling $100 million, said Maureen Jewell, state director of the business service.

On Wednesday about 40 businesses met for a seminar at the Missoula center, at 1121 E. Broadway. Those present represented multistate corporations such as Salish-Kootenai Technologies, a tribal corporation based in St. Ignatius and owned by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, and major local operators such as Neptune Aviation Services. There were also smaller start-ups such as Fire Solutions Inc., owned by Levi Cheff.

The companies might have been diverse, but the goals were uniform. Those present wanted help navigating the often-confusing maze of regulations and requirements in order to contract with the state or federal government, said center manager Teri Wellings.

Officials at Neptune had been talking about broadening their business in recent years, said president Kristen Schloemer. It wasn’t until the abrupt termination of Neptune’s contract with the U.S. Forest Service that the plans got under way.

Even for a relatively large and sophisticated company like Neptune, the process was "overwhelming," Schloemer said.

Jennifer Draughon, a vice president at Neptune, said Wellings was like an "angel."

The center, which opened on May 3 this year, is backed by a federal and local partnership. On the federal side are the Department of Defense and the Defense Logistic Agency. The local partner and host is MAEDC. The funding is evenly split between them, said director Dick King.

Wellings said the center is so new that its yearly budget is still up in the air.

The Missoula center services Powell, Ravalli, Granite, Deer Lodge, Beaverhead, Mineral and Missoula counties.

Wellings said the federal government is the largest single purchaser of goods and services in the world.

"If you know of anyone who is interested, send them my way," Wellings said.

Reporter Robert Struckman can be reached at 523-5262 or at [email protected]

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