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
Josh Gomez is originally from southwestern Wyoming where he grew up around Wyoming’s cattle industry. Josh has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from MSU – Northern. Josh has 20 years of military service, including in the U.S. Army and Montana Army National Guard. As the Director of Bear Paw’s Food and Ag Development Center, Josh continues to serve by helping Montanans innovate and grow businesses that produce and commercialize food and agricultural products in addition to renewable energy products, helping to expand the economy and create jobs in our rural area, including on our 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 : jgomez@bearpaw.org
Website : www.bearpaw.org
Facebook : www.facebook.com/BearPawDevelopment
Contact the FADC Network
Phone : (406) 444-5424
E-mail : fadc@mt.gov
302 N Roberts
Helena, MT 59601
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
Phone : (406) 444-5424
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
Phone : (406) 444-5424
E-mail : fadc@mt.gov
302 N Roberts
Helena, MT 59601
The purpose of the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority (RCEDA) is to promote, stimulate, develop and advance the general welfare, commerce, economic development and prosperity of local citizens, Ravalli County, and the State of Montana.
A primary goal of the RCEDA is to create the foundation and infrastructure for knowledge-based businesses in the Bitterroot Valley to thrive. RCEDA provides cost-free business and financial planning and entrepreneurial support services which include grants, loans, technical expertise, relocation assistance, quality workforce and more.
Contact RCEDA
Ravalli County Economic Development Authority
274 Old Corvallis Rd Suite A
Hamilton, MT 59840
Phone : (406) 375-9416
Website : rceda.org
Facebook : www.facebook.com/RCEDA
Contact the FADC Network
Phone : (406) 444-5424
E-mail : fadc@mt.gov
302 N Roberts
Helena, MT 59601
The Central Montana Food and Agriculture Development Center is operated by Snowy Mountain Development Corporation located in Lewistown, Montana. The purpose of the center is to support economic development through assistance in the development of new businesses and retention of existing production and value-added agriculture businesses in Central Montana and to further develop local food structures. This center recognizes the hard work of existing organizations and will collaborate through partnerships within the community and across the state. In addition, the center offers trainings and courses to further support food and agriculture in Central Montana.
Specifically, the Central Montana FADC will work to further the reach of value-added ag products within Central Montana, create an even larger focus on local food through implementation of local sourcing to schools and expansion of the local farmer’s market, encourage sustainability of agriculture operations through succession strategies and mentorship programs and support of numerous organizations and events already working to promote Central Montana’s thriving agriculture sector.
Snowy Mountain Development Corporation was established in 2001 to build community and economic capital in an rural six-county area of Central Montana.
Contact Snowy Mountain Development Center
Snowy Mountain Development Corp
507 W Main St
Lewistown, MT 59457
Phone : (406) 535-2591
Contact the FADC Network
Phone : (406) 444-5424
E-mail : fadc@mt.gov
302 N Roberts
Helena, MT 59601