Small business center nurtures, finances Montana companies

In 2002, $48.1 million was invested in more than 180 small Montana companies that worked with the Montana Department of Commerce’s Small Business Development Center statewide counseling and technical assistance network.

By JO DEE BLACK
Tribune Staff Writer

The network counseled nearly 1,500 Montana entrepreneurs and existing businesses in diverse industries.

Retail business comprised 18 percent of those counseled, 14 percent were manufacturing, 5 percent were construction, 45 percent were service and 2 percent were wholesale. The types of businesses that received technical assistance included irrigation supply, statue casting, restaurant, potato farming, insurance, taxidermy and clothing sales.

The combination of Small Business Development Center counseling, along with financing from private banks and public loan funds, helped Montana small businesses create and retain 1,400 jobs in Montana’s rural and urban communities last year.

"Montana has the highest percentage of working age individuals who are self-employed in the United States," wrote Mark Simonich, the Director of the Montana Department of Commerce, in a news release. "Montana consistently ranks in the top 10 states for new business start-ups each year."

Susie Miller relied on Suzanne David, director of the Great Falls office, to help develop a business plan for Learning Express a couple of years ago. Miller opened the business in October 2001.

"She was very good about helping me go over each piece of the plan," Miller said.

David’s role of devil’s advocate helped Miller fill in gaps in the plan. David also packaged Miller’s final application for a Small Business Administration loan.

Miller said other than resource books and the Internet, she didn’t know of too many other local sources for help developing business plans.

"When I had trouble getting market information, Suzie was there to point to sources I hadn’t known about," Miller said. "She was great to work with."

Small Business Development Centers offered more than 180 courses in 2002, ranging from the NxLeveL business plan series and management classes to financial analysis and business start-up classes. Business plan writing courses were the most popular, making up 45 percent of the courses offered, followed by how to start a business, which accounted for 14 percent of the courses offered.

The Small Business Development Centers operate in partnership with local economic development organizations and are funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Montana Department of Commerce, and local host organizations.

There are 10 centers in Montana, including:

The Great Falls office serves Cascade, Fergus, Glacier, Judith Basin, Pondera, Teton, and Toole counties.

In 2002:

189 clients were served.

Area of counseling: business start-up, personnel, sources of capital, financial analysis, marketing, accounting.

Project values — $586,600.

Types of businesses: water service, restaurant, taxidermy, souvenir art, music store.

23 jobs created, 36 retained.

Suzanne David, director, 710 1st Ave. N., Great Falls, MT 59403. (406) 453-8834.

The Havre office serves Blaine, Chouteau, Hill, Liberty, and Phillips counties.

56 clients were served.

Area of counseling: sources of capital, business start-up, financial analysis, marketing, accounting, government contracting, computer systems.

Project values — $1,751,800.

Types of businesses: motel, insulating, farm, equipment, seed plant, mobile home sales.

3 jobs created, 24 retained.

Tracey Jette, director, Bear Paw Development Corp. 48 2nd Ave., Havre, MT 59501.

(406)265-4945.

The Helena office serves Broadwater, Lewis & Clark and Meagher counties.

142 clients were served.

Area of counseling: sources of capital, business start-up, financial analysis, marketing, accounting, government contracting, personnel.

Project values — $2,076,100.

Types of businesses: software development, dog grooming, graphic design, building supply, convenience store, barber shop.

26 jobs created, 42 retained.

Ross Johnson, director, Gateway Economic Development Corp. 1015 Poplar Street, Helena, MT 59601. (406)447-1512.

The Wolf Point SBDC serves Daniels, Garfield, McCone, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan, and Valley counties.

59 clients served.

Area of counseling: sources of capital, business start-up, financial analysis, marketing, accounting, government contracting.

Project values — $1,741,617.

Types of businesses: agriculture spraying, craft store, restaurant, dry cleaning, publisher, agricultural store, lumber yard.

21 jobs created, 35 retained.

Jay Boysun, director, Great Northern Development Corp. 233 Cascade Street, Wolf Point, MT 59201. (406) 653-2590.

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/news/stories/20030417/localnews/131202.html