Regional development group in the works

Three local economic development groups are joining forces to provide regional services.

The Gallatin Development Corp., Alliance Development Corp. in Livingston and the Northern Rocky Mountain Resource Conservation and Development in Bozeman are applying to the state to become a certified regional development corporation.

By KAYLEY MENDENHALL, Bozeman Chronicle Staff Writer

If approved, the groups will remain separate entities but will use state funds to coordinate their economic development services.

"Originally we got involved because the state decided there would be a benefit at the state level for creating a method for organizations to cooperate on a regional basis," said Cindi Fargo, executive director of Alliance Development.

The Montana Legislature passed a bill last winter to create up to 12 economic development regions in the state. More than two counties must coordinate and groups must apply for funds by Jan. 21.

"The baseline amount is around $30,000," said Josh Kellar, coordinator for Northern Rocky Mountain. "That’s what they tell you to plan on."

Before it can apply, the local group has to gain support from both the Gallatin County Commission and the Park County Commission, said Cynthia Evans, acting director of the GDC.

"Also, it is a requirement that we get the endorsement of the majority of the incorporated towns in our area, which we’re working on getting," she said.

The group has meetings scheduled with Belgrade and Bozeman city officials along with Park County Commissioners. Gallatin County Commissioners have already drafted a letter supporting the group, said Commissioner John Vincent.

"We just got new polling today which clearly shows that economic development and jobs are the number one concerns to Montanans," he said. "That means something to us here."

The program has a rural focus, meaning the regional development corporation will work to help rural communities with economic development strategies. Fargo said those strategies can include development of downtown areas and promotion of tourism.

All three groups agree that main economic development priorities include recruiting new businesses to the area and keeping existing businesses here.

"This complements what we’re already doing, gives us a little bit of money for what we’re doing and coordinates what we’re doing," Evans said. "We will have a memorandum of understanding that we agree to work together on a regional basis."

http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2003/12/16/news/developmentbzbigs.txt