STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES

The Abilities Fund
Centerville Office
410 N 18th St
Centerville, IA 52544-1823
Telephone: 641-856-2173
Toll Free: 888-222-8943
Fax: 641-856-3101

Iowa City Office
332 South Linn Street, Suite #17
Iowa City, IA 52240
Telephone: 319-338-2521
Toll Free: 866-720-3863
Fax: 319-338-2528
URL: http://www.abilitiesfund.org/

"This summer The Abilities Fund, together with a national lending partner, will launch a nationwide direct loan program for entrepreneurs with disabilities. In 45 states, loan guarantees will also be available to as a means to secure loans for entrepreneurs. Flexible terms and competitive interest rates for microloans ranging from $500 - $25,000 will be offered.

In support of new microlending services, The Abilities Fund will be expanding its online presence to include training and technical assistance. Soon, people with disabilities nationwide will have 24-hour access to features such as Feasibility First ©, business plan development, and financial planning for business startup -- all of which are resources designed to prepare entrepreneurs with disabilities for self-employment."

Bear Paw Development Corporation
PO Box 170/48 2nd Avenue, Havre MT 59501
Phone: (406) 265-9226 or (888) 528-2327
Fax: (406) 265-5602
URL: http://www.bearpaw.org/

Bear Paw Development Corporation is a private, non-profit organization created for the purpose of administering programs to help improve regional economic conditions in Hill, Blaine, Liberty and Chouteau Counties and the Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy's Indian Reservations.

Career Training Institute and Women’s Business Center (CTI)
347 North Last Chance Gulch, Helena, Montana 59601
Phone: (406) 443-0800 or (800) 254-6607
Fax: (406) 442-2745
URL: http://www.ctibrc.org/index.php

The Career Training Institute (CTI) is Montana’s central Women’s Business Center and the area leader in delivery of services to women for job training, welfare-to-work, displaced homemakers, nontraditional careers, and other special target demonstration projects for women in transition to the workplace. CTI’s OWBO grant targets new and expanding businesses for women in four rural counties. CTI is located in Helena’s Family Investment Center, a local one-stop education and training agency. CTI maintains partnerships with all appropriate agencies delivering referral services to individuals seeking to overcome barriers to long-term employment and find satisfactory careers for themselves and the stability of their families. For the past 15 years, CTI has delivered quality employment and training services with access to various federal, state and local funding streams which allow the agency to share costs for optimum service delivery, to prevent unnecessary duplication of services, and to satisfy participant and agency goals by using the latest techniques in case management and quality assurance. CTI maintains close contact with area employers who benefit by access to a trained workforce, and to unions, other businesses and contractors.

Career Transitions
P.O. Box 145, 91 Southview Avenue, Belgrade, MT 59714
Phone: (406) 388-6701
Fax: (406) 388-6595
E-mail: darla@careertrasitions.com
URL: http://www.careertransitions.com/

Providing Career counseling to include non-traditional occupations, office machines and computer training, resumes, interviewing skills, applications, job market updates, job search strategies, assertiveness, self esteem, coping with stress and change. This program is for displaced homemakers, single parents and low income individuals.

Community First Fund - MT
32 South Tracy Avenue, Bozeman, Montana 59715
Phone: (406) 587-4486 or (800) 332-2796
Fax: (406) 585-3538
E-mail: info@hrdc9.org
URL: http://www.thehrdc.org/communityff.php

District 7 Human Resources Development Council
MicroBusiness Development Corporation
7 North 31st Street, Billings, MT 59101
Phone: (406) 247-4732
Fax: (406) 248-2943
E-mail: dist7hrdc@imt.net
URL: http://www.imt.net/~dist7hrdc/

Geographic Area Served: Yellowstone, Big Horn, Carbon, Stillwater, and Sweet Grass Counties in Montana (Rural, Urban)
Mission: To provide loans up to $35,000 to new or expanding businesses unable to obtain financing through conventional means.

Human Resource Development Council
32 South Tracy Avenue, Bozeman, Montana 59715
Phone: (406) 587-4486
Fax: (406) 585-3538
E-mail: hrdcjr@aol.com
URL: http://www.ruralisc.org/hrdc.htm

Counties served: Gallatin, Park and Meagher

Montana Business Connections
URL: http://www.mbc.umt.edu/

"Montana Business Confections is a central clearinghouse for resources and information on business assistance and economic and community development. Founded in 1990, Montana Business Connections (MBC) is housed on the campus of The University of Montana in the William and Rosemary Gallagher Building, School of Business Administration."

Montana Business Incubator
Montana State University - Billings
100 Poly Drive, Suite 150, Billings, MT 59101
Phone: (406) 657-2138
Fax: (406) 657-2006
E-mail: mbinc@mtbiz.org
URL: http://www.mtbiz.org/

The Montana Business Incubator (MBI) provides entrepreneurs with access to people, technology, ideas, funding, and other resources to help them prosper. We are actively seeking committed entrepreneurs and inventors seeking business triumph.

Montana Community Development Corporation
110 East Broadway, Second Floor, Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: (888) 745-5601 or (406) 728-9234
Fax: (406) 542-6671
E-mail: mcdc@montana.com
URL: http://www.mtcdc.org

Montana Community Development Corporation (MCDC) business workshops cover basic or advanced business concepts. Business owners learn from experienced trainers in a relaxed interactive setting. The training uses real-world information, featuring local business owners as speakers. Trainers emphasize practical problem-solving that most business owners can carry out independently. MCDC's marketing alliances provides a network of similar businesses to work together on efforts which include market research, promotion, distribution and advertising. Business alliances they have developed include tourism, child care, and the arts.

Montana Department of Commerce – Business Resource Division
301 South Park, P.O. Box 200501, Helena, MT 59601
Phone: (406) 841-2730
Fax: (406) 841-2731
URL: http://businessresources.mt.gov/

• Montana Finance Information Center
  URL: http://www.mtfinanceonline.com/

The Business Resources Division is comprised of a variety of programs aimed at improving, enhancing, and diversifying Montana's economic and business climate.

Montana State University Extension Service
Office of Community Development, 106 Taylor Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717
Phone: (406) 994-2962
E-mail: dsharpe@montana.eduu
URL: http://www.montana.edu/wwwcommd/

Montana State University Extension Extension's Community Development Programs help citizens, organizations and governments gain the information they need to make their communities better places to live.

Montana University Affiliated Rural Institute on Disabilities
The Rural Institute, University of Montana, 52 Corbin Hall, Missoula, MT 59812
Voice/TTY: (406) 243-5467 or (800) 732-0323
Fax: (406) 243-4730
E-mail: rural@ruralinstitute.umt.edu
URL: http://ruralinstitute.umt.edu/

"The Rural Institute: Center for Excellence in Disability Education, Research, and Service, is part of the national network of programs funded by the Federal Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) committed toincreasing and supporting the independence, productivity, and inclusion of persons with disabilities into the community."