Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
Executive Summary
Northeastern Montana is a unique place, one of the most remote locations in the continental U.S. The six counties of Daniels, Garfield, McCone, Roosevelt, Sheridan and Valley and the people who live in the area served by the Great Northern Development Corporation (GNDC) have withstood challenges and threats—persevering despite the location, lack of a diversified economy, history of oppression and natural disasters including floods and droughts.
In order to achieve success in Northeastern Montana, GNDC’s vision is to sustain and grow healthy and thriving communities by promoting and providing professional services and resources that empower community members to reach their economic goals and improve their lives.
Based on community input, matched with limited resources, the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for GNDC is focusing the next five years on:
- Collaborating with counties, communities, businesses, organizations, private and public entities and other organizations in the region to make the most of existing resources
- Working with entrepreneurs and small businesses
- Building on the area’s strengths including agriculture
- Supporting initiatives that focus on retaining and/or attracting people who have existing connections to the area
Scroll down to see how these priorities will help GNDC to achieve the three goals outlined in this CEDS.
Goal #1
Support Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs in Northeastern Montana
Goal #2
Encourage and Promote Economic Growth and Stability in Northeastern Montana
Goal #3
Positively Impact Area Residents’ Quality of Life Including Access to Housing
Goal #1
Support Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs in Northeastern Montana
Objective 1a:
Increase GNDC’s Business Dynamics ranking of 88.5
Objective 1b:
Increase GNDC’s Business Profile ranking of 57.1
GNDC’s Small Business and Entrepreneurs Programs and Initiatives
- Native American Business Advisor Program
- Small Business Development Center
- Food & Ag Development Center
Strategy 1.1: Provide business planning technical assistance to support existing and new small businesses and entrepreneurs and to help increase their resiliency
Strategy 1.2: Provide financing to those businesses that don’t have the collateral by creating and sustaining loan programs that meet capital needs of business start-ups and expansions
Strategy 1.3: Collaborate with local, Tribal, State, and Federal entities to provide workforce training and apprenticeship opportunities to help increase stability for local business owners
Strategy 1.4: Help business owners with strategies to become more resilient during times of economic downturn
Strategy 1.5: Assist businesses to become more competitive in existing and expanded markets and increase their overall resiliency
Strategy 1.6: Collaborate with the Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes economic development office to implement common CEDS strategies and goals and support regional stability
Strategy 1.7: Build GNDC staff capacity to better understand needs of business owners and entrepreneurs
Read our full Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for more information about our goals.
Goal #2
Encourage and Promote Economic Growth and Stability
Objective 2a:
Increase GNDC’s Employment & Productivity ranking of 79.7
GNDC’s Economic Growth and Stability Programs and Initiatives
- Small Business Development Center
- Native American Business Advisor Program
- Food & Ag Development Center
- Community Development
- Brownfields Programs
Strategy 2.1: Provide guidance to new and expanding small businesses and entrepreneurs to serve the needs of the local communities and retain and attract residents who have existing connections to the area
Strategy 2.2: Encourage diversification of local economies through value-added agriculture opportunities that increase the number of value-added agriculture operations in the region
Strategy 2.3: Assist area leaders and policy council members as they develop and update planning documents (growth policies, housing plans, capital improvement plans, etc.) to increase their economic resiliency
Strategy 2.4: Development of Brownfields areas or locations that have the potential for reuse through collaboration with Montana DEQ and US EPA Brownfields
Strategy 2.5: Support efforts to develop and offer expanded energy resources available in the region to increase stability
Read our full Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for more information about our goals.
Goal #3
Positively Impact Area Residents’ Quality of Life Including Access to Housing
Objective 3a:
Increase GNDC’s Economic Well-Being ranking of 96.7
GNDC’s Quality of Life and Access to Housing Programs and Initiatives
- Small Business Development Center
- Native American Business Advisor Program
- Housing Assistance
- Home buyer Education
- Housing Projects
Strategy 3.1: Assist cities, counties and organizations working to provide safe and healthy housing options to retain and attract residents who have existing connections to the area
Strategy 3.2: Support the development and expansion efforts of communities to provide quality healthcare services to the region’s residents
Strategy 3.3: Facilitate personal wealth growth through education and counseling services to help decrease poverty levels
Strategy 3.4: Promote a sustainable and equitable food system within the region by strengthening local and regional value-added ag industry infrastructure and addressing residents’ interests in purchasing more food locally
Strategy 3.5: Encourage the development of partnerships and coalitions to address the economic needs of the region, avoid duplication of services, and improve access to information or resources for residents of the region
Read our full Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for more information about our goals.
Demographic Data
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
2022-2027
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