Important Message from Montana Department of Commerce: Commerce Programs and Legislative Economic Development priorities

Per Governor Bullock’s proposed budget for the 2016 – 2017 Biennium, several ED priorities were established. Montana businesses and their employees are the engine of our strong economy. Recognizing this, the first priority in the budget is "Creating Jobs and Building the Economy." This priority is shared by the Montana Department of Commerce as well as the state’s economic development community.

To support this, the 2016 – 2017 Budget contains several key funding proposals that will have a positive impact on economic development activities. These include:

1) A 2-year, 25% inflationary increase for the economic development programs listed in 15-35-108(9)(b), MCA, including Growth Through Ag (GTA), Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), Small Business Innovative Research Program (SBIR), Certified Regional Development Corporations (CRDC), the Cooperative Development Center, Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) and export trade enhancement. (Tied in Gen Gov’t Appropriations)

2) A 2-year, $2.375 million increase (from $1.275 to $3.65 million) in funding for the Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology (MBRCT) (Tied in Gen Gov’t Appropriations)

3) A 2-year, $1.5 million appropriation to continue the work of the Montana Indian Language Preservation Pilot Project (Passed in Gen Gov’t Appropriations)

4) Move $1.2 million appropriation for the Primary Sector Business Training program (WTG) Program to the base budget. (FAILED in Gen Gov’t Appropriations) But funded as OTO; SB 163 to Governor

5) Move $1.6 million appropriation for the Indian Country Economic Development (ICED) Program to the base budget. (FAILED in Gen Gov’t Appropriations) But funded as One Time Only

6) A $500k Native American collateral support program (Tabled in House Appropriations) HB 301 from BSTF

The Montana Department of Commerce looks forward to continuing our long-standing, positive and beneficial working relationship with our economic development partners across the state. Every day we are working, with our partners at our side, to move the above and address bills that may or may not be beneficial to the businesses we all serve to ensure the success and advancement of our collective economic development priorities.

Yours in service,

SEAN BECKER

Administrator

Business Resources Division | Montana Department of Commerce

301 S Park Ave | PO Box 200505 | Helena, MT 59620-0505

P: (406) 841-2707 | F: (406) 841-2731 | Mobile: (406) 581-7571

[email protected] | http://www.businessresources.mt.gov