The Sonoran Institute offers economic development help to Montana communities along the Rocky Mountain Front

A regional nonprofit organization that has helped other communities in the West improve their economies and quality of life, has offered to collaborate with communities along the Rocky Mountain Front on economic development issues.

The Sonoran Institute http://www.sonoran.org/ , based in Tucson, Ariz., with offices in Bozeman, partners with communities to help shape positive community, landscape and economic development strategies. At a Feb. 7 meeting of about 40 community officials, business owners and ranchers, mainly from Pondera and Teton counties, Ben Alexander, the director of the Sonoran Institute’s socioeconomic program, said the Institute is very interested in working with communities here.

The Sweetgrass Development agency, a regional entity involving Toole, Glacier, Pondera, Teton and Cascade counties, hired the Sonoran Institute in 2005 to develop a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for the region. At last week’s meeting in Choteau, Alexander shared highlights from the five-county plan and said his organization would like to continue to work with communities along the Front to address issues raised in the strategy.

By Melody Martinsen-Acantha editor

Full Story: http://www.choteauacantha.com/articles/2006/02/22/news/news1.txt