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Montana Clean Technology Alliance gains support from the Governor's Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE from the Governor's Office of Economic Development
Wednesday, May 26, 2010

CONTACT: Evan Barrett 406-444-5634

Alliance Forming to Support Montana’s Growing Clean Technology Economy

(HELENA) - After 18 months of grassroots organizing, gathering data and interviews, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development has stepped up to support the efforts of a broad coalition of partners to provide support for a Montana Clean Technology Alliance.

The Montana World Trade Center and the Bitterroot Economic Development District began putting form to the initiative which now includes a host of private sector companies from across the state that are working on new clean technology platforms in energy, chemicals, renewable and biodegradable products. The private sector companies have been joined by the Governor’s Energy Office, the Montana Department of Labor, the Montana Angel Network, Northwest Energy, the Montana BioScience Alliance and university experts.

Biomimicry Challenge Success Stories

The biomimicry challenge, What Would You Ask Nature?, shows how nature inspired solutions can solve real world problems.The Biomimicry Institue of Missoula chose three firms with real world business challenges and paired them with a biologist. The bio-inspired solutions are reported on the Fast Company website. Follow the below links for detailed report on the projects and their solutions.

Missoula's Best Place Report: The City's Economic Development Status

The City of Missoula's economic development efforts are woefully inadequate according to economic development experts hired under Mayor John Engen's Best Place Project. Consultant's Jay Garner and Tom DiFore presented the results of their report on the status of Missoula's economic development efforts at a public meeting on Tuesday, May 11, 2010. They conclude that Missoula would be best served by creating a new organization focused on traditional economic development such as business recruitment, expansion of existing businesses and the promotion of tourism.

For more information, the two reports are posted on the City of Missoula's website and news stories can be found at Missoulian.com.

2010 Trade Adjustments Strategic Plan

Adding value to wood products

BREDD, Inc and its partners have completed drafting the Community Trade Adjustments Assistance (CTAA) Strategic Plan and amended it to the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) . The wood porducts industry has been hit hard by changing trade patterns. All of the region's communities have lost jobs and seen mill closures due to these changes. The Trade Adjustments Strategic Plan outlines a region wide plan to enhance our economic opportunities through helping communities diversify their economic base and to help forest businesses diversify their production capacity.

BREDD has applied for grant funding from the Department of Commerce, Economic Development administration to implement the Trade Adjustments Strategic Plan. The strategic plan was developed by BREDD and its partners with support from Montana's congressional staff, local and state government, other economic development organizations and private businesses.

CTAA Strategic Plan

Missoula City Council votes to back Montana Sustainable Building Center

March 16, 2010

Montana Sustainable Business Center Missoula City Council approved the City's partnership with the Montana Sustainable Building Center at Monday's City Council Meeting. The partnership allows the Sustainable Building Center to move to the final stages of securing a $1.4 million Economic Development Administration grant. The grant money will help the MSBC purchase and rennovate the building and grounds. Local re-use home improvements retailer Home Resource is the main tenent for the Center but additional space is available .