Flathead Regional Business Center a Model for Business Services

Private businesses, legislators, and government agencies have long touted the need for government to operate more like private industry, and business service agencies in the Flathead area have taken this advice to heart.

In an effort to improve services to businesses in the Flathead area, the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce spearheaded efforts to develop a comprehensive business resource center located in the Depot Building.

The FRBC is a collaboration of Northwest Montana’s leading providers of business development services:

• Flathead Convention and Visitor Bureau

• Flathead Job Service, Business Advocates

• Flathead Valley Community College, Contract Training

• Kalispell Area Chamber of Commerce

• Kalispell Small Business Development Center

• Montana Manufacturing Extension Center

• Montana Department of Commerce, Regional Development Officer

This coordinated offering of economic and business development services is innovative, conserves community resources, and projects a seamless approach to service delivery that will be appreciated by new and growing businesses. It will provide a single location for businesses to access workforce training and development information, start-up and expansion financing information, economic and community data and research, and business plan assistance.

“This is a common sense approach to solving business challenges”, said Joe Unterreiner, Kalispell Chamber President. “The collaborative partnerships we have established in this location will provide convenient way to help business grow and expand”.

Wendy Keating, Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner, sees the center as being on the cutting edge of customer-focused services for businesses. “Businesses are the primary customer of the Job Service Workforce Centers, and we are pleased to be able to offer our employer services in a setting that’s convenient to our business customers and allows us to partner with other organizations to better serve Montana’s employers,” said Keating.

In addition to providing employment services, the Job Service Workforce Centers provide facts about employment, wages, taxes and other issues of importance to employers. To publicize business services available to local employers, the Job Service Workforce Centers are participating in an informational campaign with JobLINC, Montana’s statewide workforce system.

The campaign features the business advocates at the Job Service Workforce Centers who provide personal assistance to employers through their specialized knowledge of the local employment market. In addition to helping businesses find and pre-screen job candidates, representatives assist them in understanding regulations and how to take advantage of business tax credits.

CONTACT:
Virginia Sloan
Job Service Business Advocate
406-758-6228

Kathy Yankoff
Business Services Coordinator
406-444-7092