Schweitzer plans to revive Made in Montana program

Gov.-elect Brian Schweitzer said Friday he plans to reinstate the Made in Montana program, much of which was cut by Gov. Judy Martz in September.

Schweitzer told participants at a Montana Smart Growth Coalition convention that he believes the program is important to marketing products made in the state.

By the Associated Press

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The coalition promotes community development projects that focus on retaining open spaces.

"The name Montana has an incredible mystique," Schweitzer told the group, adding that the state has products that can be "marketed around the world using the mystique of the Big Sky."

The Martz administration this fall cut much of the Made in Montana budget in favor of a new plan for helping small businesses market their products.

The administration said at the time the goal was to find a fresh approach to aiding Montana firms searching for a broader audience to buy their wares.

At the time, Mark Simonich, Martz’s state Commerce Department director, called it an ineffective "feel-good program" designed to make Montanans proud of merchandise produced in the state.

Schweitzer didn’t immediately offer any d