Business Expansion and Retention (BEAR) Efforts of Yellowstone County Growing

“The services provided through the Business Expansion And Retention (BEAR) program are proving to be a great resource for participants in this program,” states, Linda Beck, Director of Business Outreach and Recruitment at Big Sky Economic Development Authority (Big Sky EDA).

“Our slogan and goal is “our team helping your team grow,”” explains Beck.

Beck further explains, “BEAR is a collaborative community-wide effort spearheaded by Big Sky EDA and facilitated by Beartooth RC&D, Big Sky EDA, Big Sky Economic Development Corporation, Billings Area Chamber of Commerce, Billings Job Service Workforce Center, Celebrate Billings, Montana Department of Commerce, Montana Manufacturing Extension Center, Montana State University-Billings, Rocky Mountain College, and Yellowstone Development and Training Cooperative.”
Joe McClure, Executive Director of Big Sky EDA emphasizes, “I believe the combined expertise of BEAR program team members offers valuable resource tools to the businesses participating in the program.”

These entities provide interviewers, resources, contacts in the community, or financial support to our efforts. BEAR consulting services include workforce training, marketing assessments, government contracting assistance, business and marketing planning and funding options. We also have resources available to our clients in Information Technology and web site development. The BEAR program is a blend of public entities providing services and recommendations to our clients and private sector services and resources.

BEAR is a program designed to provide experienced, knowledgeable assistance in expansion and retention efforts to existing local businesses. The two major components of planned economic development are retention and expansion of existing businesses and the recruitment of new businesses to the area. We believe retention and expansion efforts enhance recruitment potential immensely and that if we put 80% of our efforts into BEAR, those efforts will result in positive results on the recruitment side.

Big Sky EDA provides in-kind funding by specifically dedicating staff to BEAR Program endeavors. In addition, Big Sky EDA provides funds to assist businesses with workforce training and scholarships for membership in Associated Employers of Montana. Our Big Sky Economic Development Corporation incentive programs are also available to existing companies meeting the established criteria.

“The BEAR Team has developed a comprehensive resource list of experts in all aspects of business expansion and retention willing to assist businesses participating in the program,” explains Lyle Gabrian, Chair of the BEAR Resource Team. Business Retention Technology’s Executive Pulse state-of-the-art extranet program has been brought on line to track the progress of our participating businesses and the assistance efforts provided by our Resource Team.

Our priorities are to provide an ongoing, consistent, dependable means for businesses in Yellowstone County to access assistance that will grow their business, expand employment, and increase wealth in our area. We also think it’s important to track and evaluate the effectiveness of the BEAR process through the time and efforts of our volunteers and the progress of the participating businesses. We intend to become well known for providing exceptional professional expertise to area businesses and to develop the resources to increase participation in the BEAR Program by at least 10% per year. Our interviewers are well trained and are business people volunteering their time to this effort.

They are committed and dedicated to our priorities and to our values.

“BEAR is expanding to our surrounding areas and the City of Butte is currently exploring the possibility of developing a similar program in their area,” Rocky Smith, co-coordinator of BEAR and coordinator for Laurel economic development, explains.
Beck adds, “We believe BEAR could and should be a staple for every city in Montana. We would be happy to work with anyone interested in pursuing this process.”

Linda L. Beck

Director of Business Outreach and Recruitment

Big Sky Economic Development Authority

222 N. 32nd Street, Ste. 200

Billings, MT 59101-1948

Telephone: 406.256.6871

Fax: 406.256.6877

E-mail: [email protected].

Website: http://www.bigskyeda.org