Business

Since 1987, the U.S. Small Business Administration has celebrated Women’s History Month to recognize the role women entrepreneurs play in building and strengthening our local and national economies. Women have transformed the face of entrepreneurship across Montana in both urban and rural communities. This is especially true while our nation confronts the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Women entrepreneurs continue to play a greater role in creating new jobs and economic activity across the country. According to the National Association of Women Business Owners, nearly 12 million businesses are owned by women, generating $1.7 trillion in sales, and employing over 9 million peo...

RONAN — The past year has brought a slew of new faces to Mission West Community Development Partners. The recruitment of new talent, fueled by passion for community development, is intentional, says Executive Director Jim Thaden.  “It’s a fact that the populations of the counties we...

RONAN — The hub of economic development in the Mission Valley starts the New Year with a new name, new faces and more lending muscle. Mission West Community Development Partners (formerly Lake County Community Development Corporation) is a burgeoning non-profit, headquartered in Ronan, with four major ...

News from Unity Bank POLSON — Unity Bank, a local community bank with 16 locations across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Montana is pleased to announce the hiring of Katherine “K-Ann” DeLong as a personal banker and Isaiah Dentler as a teller, both in the Polson location.  DeLong mo...

News from Unity Bank POLSON – Unity Bank, a local community bank with 16 locations across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Montana, is pleased to announce the hiring of Megan Pope as their branch manager in the Polson location.  Pope has been a resident of the Polson area for nearly 10 years. She...

News from the office of Governor Gianforte HELENA — Governor Greg Gianforte announced his support for SB 65, legislation designed to offer liability protections to businesses, health care providers, places of worship, and nonprofit organizations that follow public health guidelines to combat the s...

News from Karen Kallestad, LCCDC RONAN — Lake County Community Development Corporation has free workshops coming up.  On Jan. 20, Digital Strategies for Small Businesses: learn how to develop a digital strategy to reach your target markets from 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m. at the Boys and Girls ...

News from the office of the Governor MONTANA – The Governor’s office announced $350,000 in funding to support the growth of 34 Native American-owned small businesses in each of the eight Tribal Nations in Montana through the Indian Equity Fund Small Business Grant program at the Montana Depa...

MONTANA — As director for the U.S. Small Business Administration Montana District, I have the unique opportunity to work with entrepreneurs and small business owners across Montana to help provide capital and connections that support growth for our state’s businesses. This year has kept my team b...

While 2020 may not seem like an auspicious year to launch a new business, five intrepid women have opened retail shops in downtown Polson since June 15.  River Rock Mercantile at 7 3rd Ave. E. opened June 15, just two days after the Hallmark store closed at the same location. The new owner, Megan Com...