Montana: Resources

The Montana Economic Developers Association (MEDA) helps to promote economic development for the state of Montana by sponsoring educational seminars, workshops, and conferences. Its membership consists of economic developers, business specialists, government employers, and staff members of affiliated non-profit organizations. This site mainly contains information regarding the members and activities of MEDA, but the "resources" section contains useful tools such as state profiles, resource team assessments, and various directories.

The Montana Office of Economic Development provides helpful information and resources on starting, locating, expanding, and licensing a business. The site includes resources to assist in finding a location for business in Montana, information on key industries, a business navigator for planning, starting and operating a business, as well as upcoming news and events. In addition, the site includes an extensive searchable database to locate government resources in Montana.

The Montana Small Business Development Center Network (SBDC) aims to help small businesses in Montana. The site offers counseling services for starting or expanding small businesses in areas such as financial analysis, business planning, assistance in market research, and information on licensing businesses. In addition, the site offers information on training workshops and seminars pertaining to business development. 

The Montana World Trade Center (MWTC) is a member-based program of The University of Montana that helps businesses with international trade. Some specific services provided by the MWTC are export/import readiness assessments, online export training courses, and trade missions to help expand member businesses. A paid membership is required to access certain site features and services provided vary by membership type.

The Montana branch of the Department of Commerce specializes in helping small to medium-sized companies develop and execute exporting strategies for international markets. Assistance can be provided in several areas including viable market entry strategies, finding potential international partners, and compliance in federal export reporting requirements and laws. Fees vary and are based on the service provided.