RCEDA

Montana Women’s Business Center | Sub Center Grand Opening

Julie Foster — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:13:20 +0000

The Ravalli County Economic Development Authority will hold a Grand Opening of the new Montana Women’s Business Center Sub Center office on Thursday, January 26th from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Refreshments and good networking will be provided. This program provides resources for RCEDA to continue and expand individual counseling to business women (but is available to all businesses). The program includes the monthly Women’s Network Entrepreneurial Training (WNET). Brown bag lunch WNET begins at the REC on February 23rd. Each lunch session includes an hour of professional development with a content expert followed by a 30 minute networking session. Please join us at the Grand Opening to learn more.

Food Entrepreneur Opportunity

Julie Foster — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:42:36 +0000

A new Food Network series is looking for FOOD ENTREPRENEURS. Specifically, people who have left their previous career to start a new restaurant (or similar business). Must have little-to-no prior professional culinary experience.
Must be planning to open a brick-and-mortar space where there will be walk-in customers (restaurant, bakery, sandwich shop, etc.). Must be aiming to open between now and autumn 2012.

Those chosen will receive culinary & business coaching from Bobby Flay (a chef, restaurateur, and fixture on the Food Network) as well as invaluable national publicity. Those interested that fit the guidelines please email the following: Outline your timeline, budget, menu, team, and especially what’s at stake for you in this endeavor (why you are doing it and what risks, financial as well as personal, you are taking).We are highly interested in the “human-interest” angle of your story.

A Facebook Page has been set up and they will be accepting people’s stories through February, and are casting nationally.

The above information was provided to RCEDA for sharing by Prospera Business Network and Ana R. Harvey, Assistant Administrator, Office of Women’s Business Ownership, U.S. Small Business Administration.

Winter 2012 Business Planning Classes

Julie Foster — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:32:26 +0000

Business Classes for Small Business Owners, Managers, and Entrepreneurs! Get the basics of running and managing a successful business by attending Building Bitterroot Business classes offered by the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority (RCEDA) the Bitterroot College Program of the University of Montana (BCP) and the Bitterroot Job Service.

Chic Boutique gets Micro Loan

Julie Foster — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:47:29 +0000

Jeannine Cramer had a dream to open a resale clothing store featuring quality name brand clothing and childrens sports equipment. With the help of a micro loan from RCEDA, Jeanine will be opening Chic Boutique on Monday, October 31st just across the street from the Post Office on 4th Street in Hamilton. Resale or “used” clothing stores are becoming quite popular and this market is becoming very competitive. We are betting on Jeannine because of her business plan, customer and business connections, and her drive and determination. We are confident that Chic Boutique will be a successful addition to downtown Hamilton!

Harvest Moon Bakery Opens in Corvallis

Julie Foster — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:25:03 +0000

Harvest Moon Bakery opened its doors on September 27th to an enthusiastic response from the community. Harvest Moon got a Micro Loan from the RCEDA for start-up.

Eileen and Dave Roiter have been very pleased with the response to their new retail bakery right next to the high school in downtown Corvallis. Things were selling out quickly, but don’t worry they are making more. “We pride ourselves on making everything from scratch” says Eileen, with a selection that includes deserts and pastries, artisan breads and specialty cakes. Dave’s desserts are already well know around the valley, having been very popular at local restaurants. The bakery has been swamped with walk-in customers and special orders, but just as soon as things settle down, Dave and Eileen will be providing specialty soups and sandwiches for the lunch time crowd.

RCEDA’s provides on-going technical support for its borrowers and the staff will be meeting with Dave and Eileen in the next week to provide assistance on managing growth. Too much business is a problem we at RCEDA would like to see more often in the Bitterroot!

Opportunity – RFP For RML Coffee Concession

Julie Foster — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:50:15 +0000

Attached is the Request for Proposals to provide a coffee/concession type service (kitchen plan) at Rocky Mountain Laboratories. Complete proposals are due to RML by 4:30 p.m., Monday, October 31, 2011. Any proposals received after that will not be considered. Proposals may be hand delivered, emailed, mailed or delivered by courier. Confidentiality of unsealed proposals cannot be assured. Please send any questions you may have to me in writing at the following email address: kschmitt@niaid.nih.gov. All questions and responses will be shared to all competitors in writing.

Is There A Child Care Services Gap in the Bitterroot?

Julie Foster — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:34:36 +0000

Several Bitterroot Valley employers have been hearing from employees that there are gaps in child care services available in the Valley.

Please take five minutes and click on the survey below and help us identify issues and give us your comments and ideas. This survey will be used to determine if there are gaps in services and what they are. With enough responses, this information will be used to formulate possible solutions and improvements.

Thanks so much for your time!!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CQVPD35

How to protect your company and avoid termination complications

Julie Foster — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 17:49:33 +0000

The Bitterroot Job Service Employers’ Council (JSEC) presents: Termination “Mechanics”. How to protect your company and avoid termination complications. For complete information view the PDF.

Learn:

What to do to protect your business and reduce fraudulent Unemployment Insurance (UI) claims against you.
What employers can do to guarantee a fair determination and reduce the risk of going to a hearing.
How to prepare for a UI hearing.
The definition of misconduct and why documentation is important.
How coaching and corrective action can redirect unproductive employee behavior.
How employment policies help you and which ones are necessary to protect your business.
How the correct use of discipline safeguards your company.
More about wrongful discharge and other legal issues.

Date: Thursday, November 3, 2011
Time: 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Location: Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital, 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton
Cost: $40.00 per person/payable to Hamilton JSEC
Contact Heather Mousley at 375-6042 or hmousley@mt.gov to register

Support the Town of Stevensville Waste Water Improvement Application

Julie Foster — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 17:30:47 +0000

If you would like to add your voice to support the Stevensville waste water project that will provide municpal sewer service to area businesses and help retain good paying jobs in the Town and Ravalli County please send an email or a letter to Julie@rceda.org.

Please contact Senator’s Baucus, Tester, and Congressman Rehberg as well. Ask them to support the Town of Stevensville’s infrastructure application to the U.S. DOC / EDA and to the Montana Department of Commerce!

Suggested Language:

On behalf of the “your organization” , I am writing to express strong support for the Economic Development Administration and Montana Department of Commerce Community Development Block Grant for the Town of Stevensville’s waste water improvement applications.

In Ravalli County, EDA and CDBG play an invaluable role in helping our local communities create and retain high quality private sector jobs. An application was submitted to the EDA and will soon be submitted to the CDBG for sewer infrastructure funding in the Town of Stevensville. This project is to retain one of Ravalli County’s largest employers, Selway Manufacturing, it will also provide municipal sewer service to Bitterroot Tool & Machine (BTM). BTM is a company of 19 and their facilities are currently outhouses. The Town of Stevensville, in collaboration with Ravalli County has established the first Tax Increment Finance District (TIFD) in Ravalli County near Selway Manufacturing. This TIFD will provide gap funds to the sewer infrastructure project, it took a year to put the TIFD in place and was the only way to fill part of the gap for matching funds to complete the funding structure for this project.

Please support these applications and bring the waste water systems in our Town to the businesses that provide good paying jobs in this community. These businesses can not continue to function without adequate infrastructure. The community and the State could lose these companies other neighboring states that will provide infrastructure.

Stevensville: Wild West Machine receives USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant

Julie Foster — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:56:50 +0000

Wild West Machine received a USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant for technical assistance, with the assistance of the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority (RCEDA). The grant includes help with new technology and marketing. Wild West Machine products, including the popular GrainMaker®, are manufactured by Bitterroot Tool & Machine (BTM).Wild West Machine LLC is owned by Bonnie Jones which has a business to business relationship with BTM. Both companies provide good paying jobs in Ravalli County.

The GrainMaker® is a quality, hand-operated grain mill designed to make quick work of grinding grains of all types. The GrainMaker® is the size of a Kitchen Aide mixer and each mill is serialized to meet ISO standards. Bitterroot Tool & Machine was able to obtain their ISO through a 2008 USDA RBEG, administered by RCEDA. Every GrainMaker® grain mill is hand-crafted in the Stevensville, Montana shop and is a non mass-produced, heirloom quality machine. Wild West Machine is the only company manufacturing a hand powered grain mill that is completely machined. This enables Wild West Machine to provide an Heirloom Guarantee on everything on the mill, including the burrs. The guarantee is not only for the initial customer’s lifetime, it is generational and Wild West Machine will stand behind their product for life. The popularity of GrainMaker® has resulted in BTM having to add additional shifts. In the coming twenty-four months it is anticipated that two new employees will be hired. Along with good wages, BTM provides paid vacation and holidays, sick leave, and is working towards a full benefit package.
Bitterroot Tool & Machine is located in the recently created North Stevensville Tax Increment Finance District (TIFD). BTM currently does not have access to municipal waste water service. RCEDA submitted a proposal to the U.S. Department of Commerce/Economic Development Administration to assist with sewer service construction in the new District. The project will be funded through the operation of the TIFD and a grant that will submitted by RCEDA to the Montana Department of Commerce under its Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG).