Efforts ramp up to improve Missoula’s economic development after criticisms "The Best Place Project"

They described Missoula’s economic development this way: woefully deficient, dysfunctional, ineffective and without direction or leadership.

It’s been about a month since a pair of Georgia economic development consultants left Missoula leaders reeling with a harsh public review of the city’s economic development strategies.

Hired by Mayor John Engen’s Best Place Project and funded in large part by St. Patrick Hospital, the consultants said Missoula really doesn’t have a unified economic development plan; nor does it have an effective or comprehensive method to advertise itself.

They described Missoula’s economic development this way: woefully deficient, dysfunctional, ineffective and without direction or leadership. Moreover, they took special note of failings they found with the Missoula Area Economic Development Corp. http://www.maedc.org

By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_34ac705c-7902-11df-b89c-001cc4c002e0.html