Economic development experts say Missoula efforts deficient, need reorganization

Missoula’s economic development efforts are woefully deficient, dysfunctional, ineffective and without direction or leadership, a pair of economic development experts from Atlanta told local business leaders Tuesday.

That’s what Jay Garner and Tom DiFiore said they found when they plumbed Missoula’s many agencies assigned to foster a healthy business environment, interviewed the city’s top 100 employers, toured the city and investigated it as if they were a business interested in moving to Missoula.

By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_4fb65030-5d7c-11df-b728-001cc4c002e0.html

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Consultants, community leaders look to advance economic development in Missoula

By KEILA SZPALLER of the Missoulian

To create prosperity in Missoula, the landscape for economic development must undergo a metamorphosis.

That was the heart of the message two Best Place Project consultants delivered Tuesday to some 40 community leaders in Missoula City Council Chambers. The briefing ended with probing questions from audience members about who will hold the reins and how the effort will move forward.

"What role do you see organizations like mine playing?" asked David Ports, executive director of the YMCA.

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_0a48ae5a-5d7a-11df-acf2-001cc4c002e0.html