Economic developer, Tony Preite back in Montana

In more than 30 years working in the field of economic development, Tony Preite has been involved in myriad projects.

By MICK HOLIEN of the Missoulian

The former regional director of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration is back home and excited to lend his expertise to address some of the areas in which Montana traditionally performs poorly.

Preite, whose first experience in economic development came in Havre, has an office at the Montana Technology Enterprise Center and is contracting with the Montana Economic Developers Association.

Before moving to the EDA’s Denver office, where he supervised development efforts in

10 Western and Midwestern states, Preite was head of USDA Rural Development in Montana from 1993 to 1999.

He supervised the Rural Housing Service, which provides housing grants and loans to rural communities and individuals; the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, which offers financial and other assistance to rural businesses; and the Rural Utilities Service, which helps rural utilities expand and keep up to date.

Dick King of the Missoula Area Economic Development Corporation said Preite’s broad experience could prove invaluable not just to MEDA’s membership but to the entire state.

"He has a contract with (MEDA) to be the point person, the liaison, on certain things that are larger than any one of us that affect the whole state," said King. "He’ll help with big policy issues affecting the economy in the state and assist where there may be some federal funding proposals that might be significant."

While Preite is admittedly concerned about current economic conditions in the state, he’s optimistic about future development.

"It’s not fun to pick up the paper and see where we’re 48th in this and 49th in that, but I think every crisis is an opportunity – and we do have some opportunities," he said.

The first thing the state needs, Preite said, is cooperation.

"I think we have to pull the resources together and try to go down one path and reach some consensus, rather than splitting off those scarce resources and not getting a lot done."

There’s also a need, King said, for legislative changes to to eliminate what’s perceived as an anti-business climate.

Bills proposed during the last legislative session to encourage venture capital investment did not move forward, but he’s heartened that some lawmakers recognize the need for change to stimulate investment in and expansion of small Montana companies.

"I think we’re going to make some progress on that," King said. "Not that it’s impossible to do, but we make it tougher in Montana than other places do. … Our tax system penalizes investment success more than other states."

It’s fitting that Preite’s office is at MonTEC, King said.

The center, which is a nonprofit partnership between the MAEDC and the University of Montana, matches investors with high-tech and biotechnology companies and provides secretarial services, business counseling and legal assistance.

When fledgling entities – such as those nurtured at MonTEC – prosper, it helps the entire state’s economy, Preite said.

"Dick is really setting the stage here with this facility for growing job opportunities in new areas of development," he said.

http://missoulian.com/articles/2003/08/26/business/bus02.txt