MANAGER PROFILE
Economic Development in North-Central Montana: Paul Tuss of Bear Paw Development Corporation
Created in 1969 as an economic development district, Bear Paw Development Corporation has been shaping the economic landscape of north-central Montana for nearly 50 years. Bear Paw Development is looking to propel its district forward by establishing itself as a leader in alternative energy, transportation, light manufacturing, food processing, health care, value-added agriculture, micro-enterprise development, and workforce education. In an interview with Irrigation Leader’s editor-in-chief, Kris Polly, Paul Tuss, executive director for Bear Paw Development, speaks about the mission and goals of Bear Paw Development. Mr. Tuss discusses the importance of economic development for the region, new areas for expansion within agriculture, and the many economic incentives the state of Montana has to offer to individuals and businesses that wish to call north-central Montana home. Kris Polly: Please tell us about your professional background and the company you work for.
26
revolving loan funds. We have approximately $8 million available to lend to aspiring entrepreneurs or existing business owners who want to open a new business or expand an existing one. We are actively involved in every aspect of economic and community development here in northern Montana. Next year we celebrate our 50th year. We are Montana's longest-serving economic development district, and we have been a federally recognized economic development district since the late 1960s. It is pretty unusual to find an organization doing what we do for as long as we have. Kris Polly: Please tell our readers about the Milk River Project. Paul Tuss: We have been involved in this project since its inception. We live in an area of northern Montana known as the Milk River Valley. It is a beautiful part of our state, and from an economic perspective, the valley produces about 10 percent of Montana's GDP, including a significant portion of its agricultural economy. Over 100 years ago, an incredible piece of infrastructure known as the St. Mary Conveyance Works was designed and constructed. It transfers water from the St. Mary River basin to the Milk River basin. What happened 100 years ago, and continues to happen to this very day, is the Milk IRRIGATION LEADER
PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL TUSS.
Paul Tuss: I serve as executive director of Bear Paw Development Corporation, located in Havre, Montana. We are an economic development district and have been in operation for 49 years. We serve a five-county region in northern Montana that also includes two Indian reservations. We are a nonprofit economic and community development organization engaged in numerous projects in our very rural area. Bear Paw is a one-stop shop for all economic and community development activities in this region. Half our work is devoted to community development, which is focused on local government infrastructure, including water, wastewater, bridges, senior citizen centers, hospitals, walking trails, and other such amenities. The other half of our business is devoted to economic development, focusing on job creation and business growth. We are a regional host for a small business development center, which helps entrepreneurs develop business plans to help them finance their small business start-up or expansion plans. We also house one of Montana's largest
Paul Tuss, executive director of Bear Paw Development.
