Made in Montana Trade show postponed – Organizers trying to rally funds to hold event

During last year’s trade show at the Great Falls Civic Center, Gary Hochberger signed up six new wholesale accounts for his franchise, The Popcorn Colonel.

"It was a valuable way for me to meet wholesale customers. I don’t attend any other trade shows," he said.

Hochberger will have to do a little more pavement pounding to add wholesale accounts this year. It doesn’t look like the statewide Made in Montana show, a fixture in Great Falls for seven years, will take place this year.

"We’re continuing to talk to folks interested in helping with the show, but it probably won’t be held in March," said Webb Brown, president of the Montana Chamber of Commerce http://www.montanachamber.net.

The Chamber rallied to continue the trade show after the former director of the Montana Department of Commerce, Mark Simonich, cut $100,000 from the Made in Montana program budget in October.

By JO DEE BLACK
Tribune Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050203/BUSINESS/502030333/1046