Montana Finance Information Center

Technical Assistance

The programs listed below provide business assistance in various areas of business growth and development.

These programs, as part of the Business Technical Assistance Bureau within the Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development, assist businesses in the following areas:

Small Business Counseling

For an individual that is looking to start a new business or expand their existing business, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network is the best place to start. The SBDC Network supports ten centers around the state, focusing on counseling in areas such as financial analysis, business planning, training and workshops and loan packaging assistance to help small businesses achieve their goals of growth, expansion, innovation and success.

Capital Formation and Intellectual Property

Montana Technology Innovation Partnership (MTIP) is a Montana Department of Commerce initiative created to promote technology commercialization as a viable economic development strategy for the State of Montana.MTIP's mission is to build the short-term benefits of technology research and development into the long-term rewards of economic development through commercialization.

Export Trade

Export Montana is committed to helping Montana companies pursue commercial opportunities abroad.

An export specialist provides technical export assistance to Montana companies with information and training to address issues such as:

• export regulation and compliance;
• methods of shipment;
• methods of payment;
• market research;
• responding to trade leads; and
• follow-up communication with overseas clients.

Export Montana coordinates the state's protocol and foreign relations with foreign diplomatic office representatives. This includes providing briefings, scheduling meetings and arranging receptions for visiting dignitaries. Maintaining good relations with the various foreign diplomatic missions that serve the Montana region is essential to assisting Montanans with international business connections.

These are other state-wide resources and partners providing technical assistance:

Montana Economic Developers Association

The Montana Economic Developers Association is an association of economic development professionals. We are professional "lead" economic developers, business specialist, government employers, and staff members of affiliated non-profit organizations which promote and foster economic development activities in Montana.

Montana Manufacturing Extension Center

The Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) is a statewide manufacturing outreach & assistance center staffed by full-time professionals with degrees in engineering and extensive experience in manufacturing and business in a variety of industries. MMEC can assess your business operations today and help you innovate - grow - profit for tomorrow. Our field staff are knowledgeable, unbiased, and forthright in their observations as we work with you to improve your business.

Montana Job Service Directory 

Job Service Offices are located in 23 Montana cities. Montana’s One-Stop Centers make up a state-wide system of workforce development partners that collaborate to provide customer focused employment and training opportunities that prepares, trains, and connects a highly skilled workforce to the business community striving to enhance and improve long term employment outcomes for job seekers and business.

Office of the Montana State Auditor

The Office of the Montana State Auditor, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI) is a criminal justice agency that protects Montana’s consumers by ensuring fairness, transparency and access for Montanans in two of Montana’s largest industries — securities and insurance.

Other resources within the Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development include:   

MicroBusiness Finance Program

The MicroBusiness Finance Program administers funding for the MicroBusiness Development Corporations (MBDCs) located across Montana. MBDCs work with Montana-based businesses with fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees and gross annual revenues of less than $1,000,000. Certified MBDCs:

• Provide loans up to $100,000 to qualified microbusinesses;
• Provide training and technical assistance to qualified microbusinesses;
• Underwrite and service their microloan portfolios. 

Revolving Loan Fund List

This is a list of state-wide resources for revolving loan fund providers.

Certified Regional Development Corporations

The Certified Regional Development Corporations (CRDC) program supports a regional approach to economic development, facilitating an efficient delivery of economic development programs by supporting regional capacity.

The CRDC program supports each of the CRDCs with annual funding for economic development services supporting their region, including personnel and operating expenses, and any other expenses deemed necessary to maintain the organization’s certification as a CRDC.

A CRDC must be a private, non-profit corporation, and apply for certification through a competitive state Request for Proposal (RFP) process.

Made in Montana

The popular Made in Montana program builds recognition for products that are "authentically" Montana. That means they are grown, created, made and/or enhanced in the state, resulting in 50% or more added-value. Program features include:

• Free membership for producers and retailers selling Made in Montana products
• Logo usage on qualifying products and signage
• Online database to find a buy products