Economic development workshop on slate in Missoula 12/12

State, regional and local economic development entities are sponsoring a workshop in Missoula on Thursday 12/12 to show legislators and elected officials just how such expansion occurs.

By MICK HOLIEN of the Missoulian

Sponsors of the daylong meeting at the Montana Technology Enterprise Center, 1121 E. Broadway, include economic development organizations from the Bitterroot valley to Eureka and others like the state Department of Commerce, the University of Montana and UM College of Technology.

The workshop will feature an economic overview by UM economist Larry Swanson and eight 15-minute case studies from such businesses as Pyramid Mountain Lumber, Bitterroot Restoration in Corvallis, Pluss Corp. in Columbia Falls and Nutritional Laboratories International of Missoula.

The session, which will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., concludes with a 30-minute question-and-answer period about legislative issues related to economic development.

According to Dick King, executive director of the Missoula Area Economic Development Corp., rather than serving as a lobbying effort, the workshop will allow legislators and elected officials to see practical examples of an important stage of economic development.

"There’s a lot that goes on at the community level," he said. "It’s where it happens."

For more information, contact MAEDC at 728-3337.

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