Economic Developer, Ron Klaphake Launches New Business in Montana – Community Economic Development Services (CEDS)

Former Missoula resident, economic developer and entrepreneur, Ron Klaphake has returned to Montana and opened a new business in the Bitterroot Valley. Community Economic Development Services (CEDS) http://www.cedsmontana.com focuses on helping communities with infrastructure and renewable energy projects. CEDS also assists private companies and non-profit organizations facing growth and survival issues by providing business planning and financial assistance.

Klaphake, who as chief executive officer of the Missoula Area Economic Development Corporation (MAEDC) from 1986 to 2000, was one of the principals in creating the vision for MonTec (Montana Technology Enterprise Center) and organized its initial governing board. He also set up the first revolving loan funds operated by MAEDC. As one of the founding members of the Montana Economic Developers Association, Klaphake served for two years as its first president. Prior to his tenure in Missoula, he led the staff of a downtown development corporation and was a city manager in the Midwest.

Klaphake left Missoula in 2000 to direct the Greeley/Weld County Economic Development Action Partnership in Greeley, Colo. From 2005 until this past summer, he was CEO of the Arizona Broadway Theatre – a state-of-the-art, 475-seat professional dinner theatre that he and his son designed and developed in the Phoenix metro area.

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Contact:

Ron Klaphake, Principal

Community Economic Development Services

1412 Creekside Drive

Stevensville, MT 59870

Tel: 406.777.2828

E-mail [email protected].