Montana Food and Agriculture Centers
The Bear Paw Food & Agriculture Development Center is hosted by Bear Paw Development Corporation. Located in Havre, BPDC is a nonprofit organization who also serves as a federally-recognized Economic Development District and a state-recognized Certified Regional Development Corporation. Bear Paw has been serving the economic and community development needs of northern Montana for more than 50 years. Bear Paw’s FADC was one of the first Centers in Montana and has been providing training, coaching and technical assistance to food and agricultural entrepreneurs in northern Montana for over 20 years. They serve Liberty, Hill, Blaine, Phillips, and Chouteau Counties, including the Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservations.
Meet the FADC Staff
Sara Strissel, originally from east-central Illinois and raised in the heart of corn country, has called Montana home since 2006. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Montana (Go Griz!) and an MBA from WGU. As the Director of Bear Paw’s Food and Agriculture Development Center, Sara is dedicated to helping Montanans drive innovation and grow businesses that develop and commercialize food, agricultural products, and renewable energy. Her efforts contribute to expanding the economy and creating jobs in rural communities, including on farms and ranches.
Contact Bear Paw
Bear Paw Development Corporation
P.O. Box 170
300 Second Avenue
Havre, MT 59501
Phone: (406) 265-9226
E-mail: sstrissel@bearpaw.org
Website: www.bearpaw.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BearPawDevelopment
Contact the FADC Network
The Beartooth Food & Ag Development Center is hosted by Beartooth Resource Conservation & Development Area (Beartooth RC&D). Located in Joliet, Beartooth RC&D is a 501©3 non-profit and Certified Regional Development Corporation (CRDC) that’s been serving Southcentral Montana for more than 40 years. Their FADC provides a full spectrum of services to clients depending on their needs including identifying and organizing trainings, both small business and food safety oriented. Beartooth also houses a Brownfields program and a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to assist local banks and businesses. They serve Big Horn, Carbon, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, & Yellowstone counties including the Crow Indian Reservation.
If you are located in Custer, Powder River, Rosebud, or Treasure county we encourage you to connect with your local economic development organization, Southeast Montana Economic Development Corporation (SEMDC), for resources prior to contacting your nearest FADC.
Meet the FADC Staff
Joel Bertolino worked at the Carbon County USDA Farm Service Agency before taking a position at Beartooth RC&D in 2007. Joel is currently the primary contact for Beartooth RC&D’s FADC program and maintains an active interest in his family agriculture operation which consists of mostly small grains, hay, and livestock on both irrigated and dry land. While at Beartooth FADC, Joel assists clients’ needs for food processing locations, development of business plans, marketing plans, packaging, product development, product pricing and cost analysis, renewable energy project development, as well as grants and loan assistance for related projects. Joel enjoys providing technical assistance to assist businesses in getting started or expanding, which many times require some type of financial assistance to become more profitable and successful.
Contact Beartooth
Beartooth RC & D Food & Ag Center
128 South Main Street
Joliet, MT 59041
Phone: (406) 962-3914
E-mail: jbertolino@beartooth.org
Website: www.beartooth.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/beartoothdevelopment
Contact the FADC Network
E-mail: fadc@mt.gov
302 N Roberts
Helena, MT 59601
The Great Falls Food & Ag Development Center is hosted by Great Falls Development Alliance (GFDA). Located in Great Falls, GFDA is a 501©3 non-profit and a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that’s been serving northcentral Montana for the last 33 years. They are an economic development organization that works on business attraction, business retention/expansion, business start-ups, and a wide range of efforts to make our region more competitive in attracting private investment and retaining/attracting talent. They are involved in downtown revitalization, brownfield redevelopment, workforce, infrastructure, and housing, amongst other things. As a CDFI, they provide gap and bridge financing to businesses, start-up entrepreneurs, real estate developers, and non-profits. They serve Cascade, Teton, Pondera, Toole, Liberty, Choteau, Blaine, Glacier, Hill, Lewis and Clark, Fergus, Judith Basin, Liberty, and Meagher counties including the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and the Little Shell Tribe, which does not have a reservation.
Meet the FADC Staff
Anna Flies joined the Great Falls Development Alliance (GFDA) in July 2023 as the Food, Ag and Bio Processing Business Development Officer and Food & Ag Development Center director. Previously, she had practiced as an acupuncturist for six years in both Seattle, WA and Great Falls, MT where she saw patients in an integrative health clinic and ran her own acupuncture business. Despite the diverse background, Anna has deep roots in both Montana and the farming community. Her great grandfather raised cattle and alfalfa in Power, MT and she considered becoming a farmer before being introduced to acupuncture. Given her background, she leapt at the chance to dive into the world of agriculture and food processing through the lens of economic development. Anna enjoys listening to entrepreneurs’ and business owners’ dreams and helping them access the tools and resources to achieve them. These tools include includes business planning and strategy, financing and financial management, marketing, trainings, discovering market opportunities, and much more! GFDA is particularly well suited to working with food and ag manufacturing businesses.
Contact Great Falls
Great Falls Development Alliance
PO Box 949
405 3rd Street NW Suite 203
Great Falls, MT 59404
Phone: (406) 590-1301
E-mail: anna@growgreatfalls.org
Website: growgreatfallsmontana.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GreatFallsDevelopmentAuthority
Contact the FADC Network
E-mail: fadc@mt.gov
302 N Roberts
Helena, MT 59601
The Eastern Montana Food & Ag Development Center is hosted by Great Northern Development Corporation (GNDC) in Wolf Point, MT. GNDC is a Certified Regional Development Corporation (CRDC) and Economic Development District (EDD) focused on fostering agricultural growth, supporting local farmers, and promoting food security to build resilient communities. At the core of their mission is the belief that a thriving agricultural sector is the foundation for a prosperous future. The Eastern Montana FADC implements strategic initiatives to enhance farming practices, promote value-added products, and create avenues for economic diversification. Through collaboration with local stakeholders, educational institutions, and industry partners, we strive to empower farmers and agribusinesses with the knowledge and resources they need to flourish.
Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation (EPEDC) is a CRDC and EDD located in Glendive, MT that’s been serving southeastern Montana for nearly 20 years. EPEDC in partnership with GNDC and the FADC Network strives to encourage, stimulate, and promote economic development, expansion, and diversification in eastern Montana. The Eastern Montana FADC offers services to residents in Carter, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, McCone, Prairie, Roosevelt, Richland, Sheridan, Valley, and Wibaux counties including the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.
If you are located in Custer, Powder River, Rosebud, or Treasure county we encourage you to connect with your local economic development organization, Southeast Montana Economic Development Corporation (SEMDC), for resources prior to contacting your nearest FADC.
Meet the Staff
Shaylee Wahl joined the GNDC team in November as the Food & Ag Development Specialist for northeast Montana. In her role, she will provide critical support to local ag producers, specialty crop producers, and other similar businesses as they look to grow and expand. She will also provide resources for local communities and organizations focusing on the food and ag industry. Shaylee grew up in Circle and recently moved back with her husband this fall. She likes to rope & read in her free time. Shaylee has a background in economic development, tourism, ranching, and meat processing and is excited to be back home to help our local communities and ag producers thrive! She is very excited to join the FADC team and see our region grow.
In March 2024, Hannah Wichman became a part of the Eastern Plains Economic Development Center as the Food & Ag Development Specialist. In her role she will be providing support to specialty crop producers, local ag producers, and other value-added ag businesses in our region as they look to start, grow, and make valuable connections on their business journeys. Prior to becoming a part of the team, she moved from Southwest Minnesota graduating from South Dakota State University with a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Communications. Hannah has a background in marketing, as well as social and digital media. She has a strong dedication to small business growth and the agricultural community, devoting her time to assist clients in organizing, marketing and aligning their business goals to put them on the fast track to success. Hannah lives in Circle on her fiancé's family ranch and enjoys hunting and helping on the family ranch.
Contact Great Northern
Great Northern Development Corporation
233 Cascade St # 3
Wolf Point, MT 59201
Phone: (406) 653-2590 ext 207
E-mail: fadc@gndc.org
E-mail: fadc@epedc.com
Website: www.gndc.org
Website: www.epedc.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GreatNorthernDevCorp
Contact the FADC Network
E-mail: fadc@mt.gov
302 N Roberts
Helena, MT 59601
The Headwaters Food & Ag Development Center is hosted by Headwaters Resource Conservation & Development (Headwaters RC&D) in Butte, MT. Headwaters RC&D is a 501©3 non-profit and Certified Regional Development Corporation (CRDC) that’s been serving southwest Montana for more than 51 years. Their mission is to provide their clients with access to essential resources that result in sustainable economic development and conservation management. They serve Beaverhead, Butte-Silver Bow, Deer Lodge, Granite, Jefferson, Madison, and Powell counties.
Meet the FADC Staff
Brenan Hammer is the Food and Agriculture Program Director at Headwaters RC&D in Butte, MT. He has a communications degree from Concordia College Moorhead, 5 years of experience with the USDA Forest Service as a range technician along with non-profit experience. As a Montana native, Brenan has always wanted to help his State thrive, especially for those in the agriculture working space. He wants everyone to have the ability to build their dream in "The Last Best Place.” In his spare time, he enjoys baking, running and playing guitar.
Contact Headwaters
Headwaters RC&D
Thornton Building, 5th Floor
65 East Broadway
Butte, MT 59701
Phone: (406) 533-6784
Cell: (406) 490-5485
E-mail: bhammer@headwatersrcd.org
Website: www.headwatersrcd.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/headwatersrcd
Contact the FADC Network
E-mail: fadc@mt.gov
302 N Roberts
Helena, MT 59601
The Mission Mountain Food & Ag Development Center is hosted by Mission West Community Development Partners (MWCDP) under the Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center (MMFEC) in Ronan, MT. MWCDP is a 501©3 non-profit and Certified Regional Development Corporation (CRDC) that’s been serving northwest Montana for more than 25 years. MMFEC is an FDA registered, USDA Meat Inspected, and Certified Organic facility that is licensed for retail and wholesale food production and storage. They specialize in food product and market testing and development, labeling, packaging development and sourcing, processing farm-to-institution markets, and other technical assistance in the food science and production space. These resources are accessible to all value-added businesses and food entrepreneurs across Montana. The Mission Mountain FADC primarily serves Sanders, Lake, and Mineral counties including the Flathead Indian Reservation.
Meet the FADC Staff
Jan Tusick is the founder of the Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center. Her work in food systems extends over the past 30 years as MMFEC partners with organizations across Montana and the Northwest to build local food economies. She is working with projects such as Grow Montana Policy Coalition - of which she is a founding steering committee member, the NW Food Hub Network - a network of cooperative food hubs in the NW, Local Food for Local Families - a collaboration of organizations across MT that are working to bring local food to MT families, Montana Food and Agriculture Development Center Network - 11 centers that provide TA to emerging food and agriculture businesses and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Food Sovereignty Team Local Food Access project. Jan represents Montana Farmers Union and its farmer and rancher members and participates in the Connecting and Scaling Food Entrepreneurs Theme committee for the NW & Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center, bringing 30+ years of experience in local food system development and food entrepreneurism.
Karl Sutton serves as Mission West’s REAP (Rural Energy for America Program) specialist. Karl provides grant writing assistance to rural businesses and agricultural producers in applying for funding to assist with energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy generation. Along with REAP, Karl offers technical assistance to clients for other funding programs and opportunities. Karl has 12 years of experience operating a diversified Organic seed and small fruit farm that utilizes energy efficiency strategies and photovoltaic energy generation. Previously, Karl managed MWCDP’s cooperative development program where he facilitated the development of Triple Divide Organic Seeds Cooperative. Karl received his Master’s Degree from Prescott College in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Social Ecology. His academic work included developing and leading a community-based participatory research food assessment that engaged various community constituents — Including for-profit, nonprofit, youth-at-risk, local governments and Wind River Schools (Native Field Science Center and Fort Washakie school district) — within Fremont County, Wyoming. Karl has presented his work for various national organizations, including the Wallace Center’s National Good Food Network and the Organic Seed Alliance’s biennial conference.
Contact Mission Mountain
Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center
407 Main Street SW
Ronan, MT 59864
Phone : (406) 676-5901, ext. 111
Email : jan.tusick@missionwestcdp.org.
karl.sutton@missionwestcdp.org
Website : https://missionwestcdp.org/mission-mountain-food-enterprise-center/
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/MissionWestCDP
Contact the FADC Network
E-mail : fadc@mt.gov
302 N Roberts
Helena, MT 59601
The Montana Business Assistance Connection (MBAC) hosts a Food & Ag Development Center located in Helena, MT. MBAC is a federally recognized economic development district (EDD) and state certified regional development corporation (CRDC). MBAC’s ultimate goal is to improve the standard of living for all citizens by enhancing the area business climate, diversifying the local economy, expanding the tax base, and enhancing local employment opportunities. MBAC has leveraged private and public capital resources and professional business development assistance to directly create and retain hundreds of area jobs and inject millions of dollars of capital into the regional economy. They serve Lewis & Clark, Broadwater, Meagher, and northern Jefferson Counties.
Meet the FADC Staff
Eric Seidensticker has been in economic development for nearly 8 years. During his tenure in the field, he has served primarily as a community & business development specialist. He has also served as an Executive Director for a county-level economic development organization. Eric focuses heavily on assisting rural businesses, agriculture development, and providing technical assistance to local governments. His favorite activities are assisting clients with leveraging resources and accessing capital.
Contact MBAC
Montana Business Assistance Connection
225 Cruse Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: (406) 447-1510
E-mail: eseidensticker@mbac.biz
Website: https://www.mbac.biz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mtbusinessassistance/
Contact the FADC Network
The Montana West Food & Ag Development Center is hosted by Montana West Economic Development (MWED) in Kalispell, MT. MWED is a 501©3 non-profit economic development organization that’s been serving northwest Montana for the last 26 years. MWED promotes economic diversity, job growth, and healthy businesses in northwest Montana. MWED provide training, coaching, access to financing, business planning and development and networking ensuring that more of the state’s food, agricultural and energy dollars circulate in Montana. They provide services to Flathead and Lincoln counties.
Meet the FADC Staff
Ben Thiem brings over two decades of non-profit experience to his role at Montana West Economic Development with a background in fundraising, grant-writing, communications, strategic planning, and programs. He has Midwestern roots, growing up in a sugar beet farming family in the Red River Valley of northwest Minnesota. Ben is a board member of Code Girls United, the Board Treasurer for the Rotary Club of Kalispell Daybreak, and a member of the Leadership Montana Flagship Class of 2023 and Leadership Flathead Class of 2023. Ben enjoys being a connector and providing support and technical assistance for businesses of all types in Northwest Montana.
Contact MWED
Montana West Economic Development
44 2nd Avenue W
Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: (406) 257-7711
E-mail: ben@dobusinessinmontana.com
Website:
https://dobusinessinmontana.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MontanaWestEconomicDevelopment
Contact the FADC Network
E-mail: fadc@mt.gov
302 N Roberts
Helena, MT 59601
The Prospera Food & Ag Development Center is hosted by Prospera Business Network. Located in Bozeman, Prospera is a 501©3 non-profit and Certified Regional Development Corporation (CRDC) that’s been serving southwest Montana for over 35 years. The Prospera FADC works to increase the capacity of Montana farmers, ranchers, and other food entrepreneurs to serve local, regional, and out-of-state markets for food, farm-based renewable energy, and other value-added agricultural products. Situated in the hub of one of the fastest growing areas of Montana, their FADC is at the nexus of fast-growing businesses serving an increasing consumer demand for Montana sourced products. Prospera’s FADC serves Gallatin and Park counties.
Meet the FADC Staff
Sam Blomquist is the Food & Agriculture Program Director at Prospera Business Network. Sam has spent the past fifteen years working in the food and agriculture sector in the Gallatin Valley and throughout Montana. She has been involved in a diversity of projects from launching successful food and agriculture businesses; providing technical assistance training to value-added food enterprises; working to expand local food procurement in institutions; and numerous collaborative efforts aimed at growing a robust community food system. She holds a B.S. from University of Montana in Resource Conservation, a M.S. from Montana State University in Sustainable Food Systems and is a Registered Dietitian. Sam believes deeply in the connection between food, agriculture, economic vitality, and community. She is delighted to be part of the Food & Ag Development Center Network.Contact Prospera
Prospera Business Network
865 Technology Blvd, Ste A
Bozeman, MT 59718
Phone: (406) 587-3113
E-mail: sblomquist@prosperamt.org
Website: www.prosperamt.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProsperaBusinessNetwork
Contact the FADC Network
E-mail: fadc@mt.gov
302 N Roberts
Helena, MT 59601
The Ravalli Food & Ag Development Center is hosted by Ravalli County Economic Development Authority (RCEDA) in Hamilton, MT. RCEDA is a 501©3 non-profit economic development organization that’s been serving the Bitterroot Valley for over 27 years. RCEDA offers expertise in providing a variety of technical assistance to diverse businesses and corporations, small business counseling, expansion and retention services, grant writing and project capitalization. Other specialties include development of local infrastructure, land use and zoning for economic development purposes, as well as establishing effective regional partnerships. They serve Ravalli and Missoula counties.
Meet the FADC Staff
Julie Foster is a 30-year veteran of small entrepreneurial Montana business with 23 years of experience in rural economic development. She has been the executive director for RCEDA since 2005 and the FADC Director since 2019. She understands business, the cooperative business model including cooperative housing, the art of putting together complex finance strategies and the relationships necessary to succeed. She has attended training and conferences around the nation and one international visit to Laos on these topics. Professional and personal interests include innovative economic development, cooking and outdoor recreation, particularly long distance back packing, with friends and family. Julie has lived in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley of Western Montana for 40 years with her best friend and husband Steve.
Grace Nichols is the Specialty Crop Business Development Program Manager at RCEDA. Originally from Chugiak, Alaska, Grace has a B.S. in Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Systems from Montana State. Grace has worked in agriculture and the food industry food for ten years, providing technical assistance to ag producers, conducting food product development research, fruit tree and berry research, and making morning pastries in a professional bakery.
Grace supports farmers growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, nursery crop, and beekeepers, assisting them with business planning, access to funding, networking, and other technical assistance. She also hosts Women in Ag networking and education events, assists with farm to school activities, and puts on stress management courses for producers. Grace’s favorite part of her job is talking to passionate producers about their crops!
Contact RCEDA
Ravalli County Economic Development Authority
274 Old Corvallis Rd Suite A
Hamilton, MT 59840
Phone: (406) 375-9416
E-mail: julie@rceda.org
E-mail: grace@rceda.org
Website: rceda.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RCEDA
Contact the FADC Network
E-mail: fadc@mt.gov
302 N Roberts
Helena, MT 59601
The Central Montana Food and Agriculture Development Center is hosted by Snowy Mountain Development Corporation located in Lewistown, Montana. For over 20 years, Snowy Mountain Development has been building community and economic capital in the rural six-county area of Central Montana. Situated in the geographic heart of Montana, SMDC maintains strong partnerships at the regional, state, and national level and believes in the importance of these collaborative efforts to see projects through to a successful completion. The staff at Snowy Mountain Development takes a wholistic approach to implement key community and economic development projects in support of local governments, community organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs. They serve Fergus, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, Musselshell, Petroleum, and Wheatland counties.
Meet the FADC Staff
As a farmer, rancher and small business owner, Abby Majerus excels at supporting Central Montana's production agriculture operations in diversification of income streams and to ensure they remain sustainable and viable. She brings strong experiential knowledge to the FADC network, from her involvement on her family ranch to international businesses experience from her time with the Montana World Trade Center. Abby has a passion for keeping generational family operations productive and profitable while encouraging new ideas and endeavors. The Central Montana FADC supports new and existing food, agriculture and renewable energy businesses through coaching and business technical assistance including business planning and development, access to financing, market research, grant identification, industry specific trainings and business networking. Specifically, the Central Montana FADC works to further the reach of value-added ag products, strengthen local food systems through infrastructure and marketing improvements, and encourage sustainability of agriculture operations through succession strategies and mentorship programs.
Contact Snowy Mountain Development Center
Snowy Mountain Development Corp
507 W Main St
Lewistown, MT 59457
Phone: (406) 535-2591
E-mail: majerus@snowymountaindevelopment.com
Website: https://www.snowymountaindevelopment.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/snowymountaindevelopment
Contact the FADC Network
E-mail: fadc@mt.gov
302 N Roberts
Helena, MT 59601