Montana sponsoring lunch at huge trade gathering in Las Vegas to intrigue new businesses

A premium fly fishing rod, a free lunch and some silver business card holders are what the state’s economic development crew will use to try to reel in new business from the CoreNet Global summit in Las Vegas next month.

CoreNet is an association for corporate real estate and related professionals.

Site selectors and real estate executives from big business, everything from MTV and Exxon Mobil to Wal-Mart and Coca-Cola, gather at the annual trade show to scout out new locations and opportunities.

Officials from development groups in Great Falls, Butte, Billings, Kalispell and Missoula, along with state government folks and representatives from NorthWestern Energy, BNSF Railway Co. and CTA Architects & Engineers, will be there to offer invitations.

"These are the high rollers and we are going to inundate them with information about Montana," said Jim Smitham, executive director of Butte Local Development.

By JO DEE BLACK
Tribune Staff Writer

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