Small Business Development Center (back to top)
SBDC contact - Joe LaPlante
The Havre Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is part of a statewide network of resource and technical service providers that assist start-up and existing businesses. The SBDC professional staff provides confidential business consulting, training and information to small business leaders and potential entrepreneurs. With assistance from our staff, business leaders can develop and enhance the financial, managerial and technical skills they need to compete and succeed in today's complex business environment.

Our services are provided free of charge and funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Montana Department of Commerce and local lenders.
Areas of Assistance:
• Technical assistance in writing business plans for new and existing businesses, financial analysis, planning and state and private capital sources.
• Assistance with marketing research, analysis and strategy as well as advertising, packaging and promotion.
• Training in all areas of business management and referral to business professionals as needed.
• One-on-one counseling for existing and start-up business management.
• Pre-Counseling (Preparedness List).

Havre SBDC Outreach and Training Schedule

Business Plan Outline (88kb)
Cash Flow Revised (28kb)

                    
The SBDC is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA’s funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions, or services. All SBA funded programs are extended to the public on an non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least one week in advance. Contact Joe LaPlante at 48 Second Avenue, Havre, MT 59501. 406-265-9226

Housing and Community Development (back to top)
Housing and Community Development contact - Craig Erickson
Project Planning & Implementation
Improving public facilities within the Bear Paw District has been a continuous goal of the organization since it’s inception in 1968. Bear Paw Development has helped complete eight significant infrastructure projects, representing $6.3 million in public/private investment, and has begun several more projects that will help meet the public facility projects and improvement needs of the District’s communities.

• Rocky Boy’s/Northcentral Montana Regional Water System
  • Plan (220kb)
  • Federal Legislation (168kb)
  • Engineering Accountability Report (2.7Mb)
• Chester Water/Sewer Improvements – April 2003
• Geraldine Water & Wastewater Treatment Upgrads – April 2003
• Zortman Water System Replacement – November 2002
• Havre Water Distribution System Upgrades – June 2001
• Highwood Water & Wastewater Facility Improvements – January 2000

• The Havre Housing Rehabilitation Project provides loans to individual families or landlords with tenants that meet household income guidelines. The purpose of the program is to provide decent, safe and sanitary housing for low and moderate income residents by rehabilitating existing housing units that are in substandard condition.
  • Guidelines (64kb)
  • Application (48kb)
• The purpose of Havre’s First Time Homebuyers Project is to assist low to moderate income families in becoming property owners. This is accomplished by providing down payment and closing cost assistance through a deferred loan, payable upon re-sale of the property.
  • Guidelines (68kb)
    Application can be obtained through your local home mortgage lender

Community Planning

• Community Resource Assessments were conducted in Big Sandy, Chester, Chinook and on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation resulting in action plans to make improvements in each community.
  • Rocky Boys (408kb)
  • Big Sandy (272kb)
  • Chinook (244kb)
  • Chester (380kb)
• The District’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is updated on an annual basis. The CEDS is a byproduct of a thoughtful and often challenging planning and implementation process designed to improve the economy and quality of life in northcentral Montana
  • 2006 CEDS Cover
  • 2006 CEDS Table of Contents
  • 2006 CEDS Part 1
  • 2006 CEDS Part 2
  • 2006 CEDS Part 3
  • 2006 CEDS Part 4
  • 2006 CEDS Part 5
  • 2006 CEDS Part 6
  • June 2006 Economic Profile

Loan Department (back to top)
Loan Department contact - Sylvia Murray
Microbusiness Loan Program
As a certified Microbusiness Development Corporation, we provide loans to residents seeking to start or expand a business located within our five county service area including both Rocky Boy’s and Fort Belknap Indian Reservations.            

Requirements:
• Fewer than 10 full-time employees
• Less than $1,000,000 in gross annual sales
• The maximum loan amount is $100,000
• Loan term, which is based on the useful life of collateral offered as security, cannot exceed 10 years.
• Interest rate is set at prime plus up to 4%
• Loan funds may be used to finance business start-ups and expansions.
• Loans may be part of a larger business loan package.

Regional Revolving Loan Funds
Bear Paw Development has created a revolving loan program established through community match funding as well as grant and loan funds from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, Montana Department of Commerce and USDA/Rural Development.       

Qualification Requirements:
• The maximum loan amount is $250,000 or 75% of the project cost, whichever is lesser.
• Loan term is based on the useful life of collateral offered as security
• Loan funds may be used to finance business start-ups and expansions.
• Loans may be part of a larger business loan package.
• Refinancing may be considered if it can be demonstrated that the loan funds will have a direct and positive impact on the business.

This is an Equal Opportunity Program. Discrimination is prohibited by Federal Law. Complaints of discrimination may be filed with USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Bldg., 1400 Independence Ave, SW, Washington DC 20250-9410

Loan Application Forms
Loan Application Checklist (164kb)
Loan Application (160kb)
Personal Financial Statement (48kb)
Personal Income and Expense Statement (52kb)
Schedule of Liabilities (24kb)
Authorization to Release Information (100kb)

Contact Bear Paw's Small Business Development Center for assistance in completing the necessary paperwork.

Value-Added Agriculture Department (back to top)
Value-Added Agriculture Department contact - Pam Lemer
Montana Agriculture Innovation Center
The MAIC Network was established to provide agricultural producers with new tools to increase the success of their operations. MAIC provides technical assistance to producers in the following areas:

Feasibility Studies Product Development Business Plan Assistance Grant Funding

Marketing Assistance Nutritional Analysis Marketing Plan Assistance Tradeshow Assistance

WHAT IS VALUE-ADDED?
Value-added is the process and development of a differentiated, high value, consumer oriented product and in the content of the MAIC program based upon a montana produced or harvested agricultural raw good. Value-added agricultural products create additional avenues to compete nationally and at margins that help ensure profitability.

Project Application Form
Client Homework (72kb)





http://dnrc.mt.gov/st_mary/default.asp

The St. Mary Rehabilitation Working group is committed to finding a “workable” solution to rehabilitating the St. Mary Diversion Works. This system diverts water from the Blackfeet Reservation into the North Fork of the Milk River.

Bear Paw Development Corporation offers administrative and fiscal support for the SMWG.



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