Governor: Economic Development Tool Helping Existing MT Businesses. Business Expansion and Retention (BEAR)

Governor Brian Schweitzer announced today that the Governor’s Office of Economic Development business expansion and retention program (BEAR), has launched and is helping existing businesses across the state.

The program, which was recently purchased by the Governor’s Office through ExecutivePulse for use by all local economic development organizations, provides a tool to identify weaknesses and expansion opportunities with in existing businesses. Initial trainings on the new system have been conducted in Helena and Billings. This program has been previously used in Billings, Butte and Kalispell, but will now be available to the entire state.

“The BEAR program is an exciting investment for existing businesses,” said Governor Schweitzer. “It will help local economies by giving folks to tools they need to be sustainable in their community and the information to grow their business in innovative ways.”

The program works primarily in four steps:

o Local teams prepare surveys,

o Conduct interviews,

o Analyze and consolidate comprehensive data,

o Help troubled businesses with intervention teams.

“Often economic development focuses on recruitment, which is important,” said Governor Schweitzer. “But is also important to work to save existing jobs and expand existing businesses.”

The ExecutivePulse Program brings local leaders and development groups together to help communities explore options for strengthening, sustaining and growing local businesses.

This Business Expansion and Retention program will create a strategically-based survey that identifies a comprehensive profile of each company containing extensive numbers and data about the firm including workforce, sales, e-commerce and facility and equipment data. It also identifies the business owner’s attitudes and opinions about the community, the local and state business climate, municipal services and future economic conditions and business plans.

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Sarah J. Elliott
Communications Director
Governor Brian Schweitzer
406-444-9725
[email protected]