Missoula Economic Partnership Announces Grant Kier as New Executive Director

The Missoula Economic Partnership (MEP) http://www.missoulapartnership.com is pleased to introduce Grant Kier as MEP’s new Executive Director beginning October 1, 2018.

Grant brings a balance of mission focus, analytical depth, and executive leadership to MEP. Most recently, he led Five Valleys Land Trust in Missoula from 2007-2017. His experience working with diverse entities and establishing Five Valleys Land Trust as one of the most respected and successful conservation organizations in the state helped families expand their businesses and helped communities around Missoula County tap into the growing recreation and tourism economy. Grant left Five Valleys in the fall of 2017 to run in the Democratic primary for Montana’s US House seat.

"If I learned anything in the past year, it’s how important good paying jobs are to Montana families, how important outstanding skilled workers are for successful businesses, and how much people in Montana want to expand economic opportunity here while protecting our quality of life–at MEP I’m excited get to work with a great team, in all of these areas, and build a stronger community for the future," said Grant.

Grant demonstrated his commitment and passion to economic development in his service on the Missoula Economic Partnership Board, included serving as the Treasurer, which lends institutional knowledge and organizational drive to his skill set.

Scott Burke, MEP Board Chair, commented on the search process, saying, "We were lucky to have a wonderful pool of candidates, which made this an extremely difficult decision, and we’re thankful for all those who applied. We’re confident that we’ve found a candidate who demonstrates dedication to Missoula’s unique opportunities and challenges in the economic development ecosystem. Collaboration is one of MEP’s primary objectives, and Grant is a team player with a proven ability to bring key stakeholders together to work towards agreed upon goals."

Prior to arriving at Five Valleys Grant worked as Executive Director of Bitter Root Land Trust in Hamilton, MT, as a project manager for a geotechnical company in Cambridge, England, and as a consulting geologist in Pinedale, Wyoming. He has a Master’s degree in Geology from the University of Colorado.

Missoula Economic Partnership works to grow a sustainable, vibrant, and diversified regional economy. For more information on the Partnership, visit http://www.missoulapartnership.com

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Untapped potential: As new director, Grant Kier outlines vision for Missoula Economic Partnership http://www.matr.net/article-84678.html