Great Northern Development Corporation

Business Planning 101 Class - Richland County
2022-01-20 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Denver) | Richland County Extension, 1499 N Central, Sidney, MT, 59270, United States
Do you have a business idea that sits in the back of your mind waiting for you to take action? Well, wait no more!
Learn how you can win $5,000 for your start-up or business expansion below!
Great Northern Development Corporation, Small Business Development Center is hosting a business plan competition in conjunction with the MDT Small Business Enterprise Program throughout a seven-county region in Northeastern Montana consisting of Valley, Garfield, McCone, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan, and Daniels. The goal of this event is to attract new entrepreneurs and support existing businesses in Northeastern Montana by uniting communities in a common goal of economic development. GNDC and the MT SBE Program will award two prize packages of $5,000; one to a startup business and one to an existing business.
SBDC Director, Shandy Moran, will be holding business plan development classes in each of the participating seven counties in January. Entrepreneurs planning to compete in the Minnow Tank Business Plan competition are encouraged to attend a class. These class topics include business plan basics, marketing, and small business financials. Watch the GNDC website or our monthly newsletter for the class schedule release. If you are unable to attend a class please call GNDC to schedule an appointment with Shandy Moran at (406) 653-2590 ext 203. Minnow Tank business plan submissions are due to GNDC by 5:00 PM on March 12th. Submissions can be mailed to GNDC at 233 Cascade Street or sent via e-mail to sbdc@gndc.org.
The Minnow Tank finale will be held April 12th, 2022, at 5:00 PM at the Sidney Event Center, where the finalists will present their business plan live to a panel of judges, one judge being the audience! Support your favorite entrepreneur by planning to attend; tickets will be available at the door or by calling SBDC Program Coordinator Quincy at(406) 650-2524.

See guidelines for contests at gndc.org/minnow-tank/

Business Planning 101 Class - Sheridan County
2022-01-19 14:00 - 16:00 | Sherdian Court House, 100 E Laurel Ave, Plentywood, 59254, United States
Do you have a business idea that sits in the back of your mind waiting for you to take action? Well, wait no more!
Learn how you can win $5,000 for your start-up or business expansion below!
Great Northern Development Corporation, Small Business Development Center is hosting a business plan competition in conjunction with the MDT Small Business Enterprise Program throughout a seven-county region in Northeastern Montana consisting of Valley, Garfield, McCone, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan, and Daniels. The goal of this event is to attract new entrepreneurs and support existing businesses in Northeastern Montana by uniting communities in a common goal of economic development. GNDC and the MT SBE Program will award two prize packages of $5,000; one to a startup business and one to an existing business.
SBDC Director, Shandy Moran, will be holding business plan development classes in each of the participating seven counties in January. Entrepreneurs planning to compete in the Minnow Tank Business Plan competition are encouraged to attend a class. These class topics include business plan basics, marketing, and small business financials. Watch the GNDC website or our monthly newsletter for the class schedule release. If you are unable to attend a class please call GNDC to schedule an appointment with Shandy Moran at (406) 653-2590 ext 203. Minnow Tank business plan submissions are due to GNDC by 5:00 PM on March 12th. Submissions can be mailed to GNDC at 233 Cascade Street or sent via e-mail to sbdc@gndc.org.
The Minnow Tank finale will be held April 12th, 2022, at 5:00 PM at the Sidney Event Center, where the finalists will present their business plan live to a panel of judges, one judge being the audience! Support your favorite entrepreneur by planning to attend; tickets will be available at the door or by calling SBDC Program Coordinator Quincy at(406) 650-2524.

This event will be held in the Jubilee Room at the court house

See guidelines for contests at gndc.org/minnow-tank/

Business Planning 101 Class - Daniels County
2022-01-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Friendship Room, 7 West County Road, Scobey, MT, 59263, United States

Business Planning 101 Class - Roosevelt County
2022-01-18 14:00 - 16:00 | GNDC Conference room

Business Management for Agritourism Operators
2022-01-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Online via Zoom
Starting an Agritourism business may seem difficult, but there are many resources available to help. Weston Merrill, Marketing Officer, will speak on behalf of the MT Department of Agriculture and Hailey Vine, Director of a Food & Ag Development Center, will discuss economic development resources.

Register here for our Zoom meeting: https://tinyurl.com/msbm7f9s

Business Planning 101 Class - Valley County
2022-01-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Cottonwood Inn & Suites, 54250 US Highway 2, Glasgow, MT, 59230, United States
Do you have a business idea that sits in the back of your mind waiting for you to take action? Well, wait no more!
Learn how you can win $5,000 for your start-up or business expansion below!

Great Northern Development Corporation, Small Business Development Center is hosting a business plan competition in conjunction with the MDT Small Business Enterprise Program throughout a seven-county region in Northeastern Montana consisting of Valley, Garfield, McCone, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan, and Daniels. The goal of this event is to attract new entrepreneurs and support existing businesses in Northeastern Montana by uniting communities in a common goal of economic development. GNDC and the MT SBE Program will award two prize packages of $5,000; one to a startup business and one to an existing business.
SBDC Director, Shandy Moran, will be holding business plan development classes in each of the participating seven counties in January. Entrepreneurs planning to compete in the Minnow Tank Business Plan competition are encouraged to attend a class. These class topics include business plan basics, marketing, and small business financials. Watch the GNDC website or our monthly newsletter for the class schedule release. If you are unable to attend a class please call GNDC to schedule an appointment with Shandy Moran at (406) 653-2590 ext 203. Minnow Tank business plan submissions are due to GNDC by 5:00 PM on March 12th. Submissions can be mailed to GNDC at 233 Cascade Street or sent via e-mail to sbdc@gndc.org.
The Minnow Tank finale will be held April 12th, 2022, at 5:00 PM at the Sidney Event Center, where the finalists will present their business plan live to a panel of judges, one judge being the audience! Support your favorite entrepreneur by planning to attend; tickets will be available at the door or by calling SBDC Program Coordinator Quincy at(406) 650-2524.

See guidelines for contests at gndc.org/minnow-tank

Office Closed
2022-01-17
In honor of Martin Luther King Day, our office will be closed today.

Business Planning 101 Class - McCone County
2022-01-12 14:00 - 16:00 | McCone County Fairgrounds, 14 Fairgrounds Rd., Circle, MT, 59215, United States

Financial Skills Next Steps Workshop: Buying a Home
2022-01-12 10:00 - 16:00 | FPHA Conference Room 503, 6th Ave E, Poplar, MT, 59255, United States
In collaboration with the Fort Peck Housing Authority, this class is taking the FDIC Money Smart Financial Skills to the next step. We will hear from professionals on how to find & secure employment, options for financing a home, utilizing a realtor, and maintaining your assets when you reach your financial goals.
For more information contact GNDC Housing Specialist Brianna Vine at 406-653-2590 ext 204 or FPHA ROSS Coordinator Rena Lambert at 406-768-3459

Business Planning 101 Class - Garfield County
2022-01-12 10:00 - 12:00

Agritourism Production Options and Practices
2022-01-11 12:00 - 13:00 | Online via Zoom
Agritourism offers a unique opportunity to diversify production on your operation. Karen Searle, the Owner/Manager of Montana Bunkhouses Working Ranch Vacations, will discuss the operation recently featured on Netflix. Caroline Nelson, Owner of Little Creek Lamb and Beef, will discuss her approach to producing value-added products.

Register here for our Zoom meeting: https://tinyurl.com/msbm7f9s

Introduction to Agritourism
2022-01-04 12:00 - 13:00 | Online via Zoom
Join us to learn about the past, present, and future of Agritourism in Montana.
Pat McGlynn, Flathead County Agriculture Agent, and Dr. Shannon Arnold, MSU Agricultural Education Professor, will discuss the evolution of the industry
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/msbm7f9s

Local Meat Market & Processing Workshop
2021-11-03 10:00 - 15:00 | Circle Country Market Banquet Room, 105 10th Street, Circle, MT, 59215, United States
A great opportunity for ranchers & processors to learn how to add the most value to their operations.
Come learn how to add the most value to your ranching or processing operation in terms of marketing, financing, distribution, & quality. Some topics discussed include enterprise budgeting, marketing techniques, funding & grant opportunities, agritourism, and more. How do you get the most value for your beef while keeping it local? What business strategies & certifications are best for your operation? What can marketing & networking do for your business? Such questions and more will be answered by our featured speakers:

Tommy Bass, MSU Livestock Extension Specialist
Lad Barney, USDA Rural Development
Michael Peter, Director of Food & Ag Development/Loan Officer, Bear Paw Development
Weston Merril, Montana Department of Ag Marketing Officer
Chaley Harney, Montana Beef Council Executive Director
Bill Pelton, Montana State Beef Quality Assurance Coordinator

The end of the event will be followed by Break Out sessions where producers can sit down with the speakers for more one-on-one discussions.
Register below
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/local-meat-market-processing-workshop-tickets-168113593283

Intermediate Desktop Quickbooks Wolf Point
2021-10-21 09:00 - 13:00 | GNDC Conference room
Join us for a day of Intermediate Desktop Quickbooks, we will expand on the basics of accounting, navigating Quickbooks, entering transactions, running reports and much more.
**********Limited Seating**********
There are Four 1 on 1 sessions with Quickbooks ProAdvisor Wendy Weissman, Business Consultant Shandy Moran and Small Business Supportive Services Specialist Shannon Hahn . First come first serve, call to reserve your spot today! For questions or more information email sbdc@gndc.org.
Cost: $10 with Lunch
Follow the link below to register.
https://mtsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/5102

Beginner Desktop Quickbooks Wolf Point
2021-10-20 09:00 - 13:00 | GNDC Conference room
Join us for a day of Beginner Desktop Quickbooks, we will work through the basics of accounting, navigating Quickbooks, entering transactions, running reports and much more.
**********Limited Seating**********
There are Four 1 on 1 sessions with Quickbooks ProAdvisor Wendy Weissman, Business Consultant Shandy Moran and Small Business Supportive Services Specialist Shannon Hahn. First come first serve, call to reserve your spot today! For questions or more information email sbdc@gndc.org.
Cost: $10 with Lunch
Follow the link below to register.
https://mtsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/5101

Intermediate Desktop Quickbooks Glasgow
2021-10-19 09:00 - 13:00 | Cottonwood Inn & Suites, 54250 US Highway 2, Glasgow, MT, 59230, United States
Join us for a day of Intermediate Desktop Quickbooks, we will expand on the basics of accounting, navigating Quickbooks, entering transactions, running reports and much more.
**********Limited Seating**********
There are Four 1 on 1 sessions with Quickbooks ProAdvisor Wendy Weissman, Business Consultant Shandy Moran and Small Business Supportive Services Specialist Shannon Hahn . First come first serve, call to reserve your spot today! For questions or more information email sbdc@gndc.org.
Cost: $10 with Lunch
Follow the link below to register.
https://mtsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/5100

Beginner Desktop Quickbooks Glasgow
2021-10-18 08:00 - 13:00 | Cottonwood Inn & Suites, 54250 US Highway 2, Glasgow, MT, 59230, United States
Join us for a day of Beginner Desktop Quickbooks, we will work through the basics of accounting, navigating Quickbooks, entering transactions, running reports and much more.
**********Limited Seating**********
There are Four 1 on 1 sessions with Quickbooks ProAdvisor Wendy Weissman, Business Consultant Shandy Moran and Small Business Supportive Services Specialist Shannon Hahn . First come first serve, call to reserve your spot today! For questions or more information email sbdc@gndc.org.
Cost: $10 with Lunch
Follow the link below to register.
https://mtsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/5099

Holiday Digital Campaign: Beginner to Pro - Glasgow
2021-10-04 12:00 - 17:00 | Cottonwood Inn & Suites, 54250 US Highway 2, Glasgow, MT, 59230, United States
The holidays are upon us, have you thought about your digital marketing strategy? Have you seen the Shop Small campaign and thought how can I put this to work for my business. Let us help you figure out your digital marketing plan and answer #whatdoesahashtagdo?
Join us for an afternoon in Glasgow preparing for the holiday sales season focusing on digital marketing. This FREE workshop is about promoting your business and sales through the many outlets of digital marketing while getting the most for your buck.
Within the next 3 years, it is estimated that 20% of ALL retail sales will be done online. If your business is not selling its products online you’re missing out on a valuable opportunity to expand and reach new customers. Many digital marketing platforms offer a way for you to boost your sales, target your audience and keep in contact with your clientele.
Miranda Gilbert owner of Girl Geek Communications will join us as our presenter. Her company is an Online Presence Management company that helps businesses manage their presence online – whether through their website design, social media, digital marketing, or online directories. She works with clients all over the country – from celebrity chefs to local plumbers and everything in between!
You won’t want to miss this! This event is ~FREE~ and open to the public but space is limited. We ask that you register at
https://mtsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/5185
in order for us to have ample spacing and beverages for everyone.

Basics of Running a Food Subscription or Community Supported Agriculture Programs
2021-01-27 13:00 - 15:00
Even before people were avoiding crowds and shopping from home, subscription services were surging. Customers eager for more at-home experiences have continued the trend. Food and grocery sales have moved quickly to crowd the virtual space, and consumers have found comfort in the convenience and simplicity of a subscription from a favored food company. Food producers, eager to capture more direct to consumer sales with a product have been happy to oblige.
As the number of new farmers markets has plateaued, farmers have continued to explore the expanding direct to consumer markets like community-supported agriculture. At first glance, a CSA program may seem like another subscription service, but it’s one that builds deep roots with their customers.

This program will cover the basics of, and differences between, subscriptions and community-supported agriculture programs. Topics covered will include pricing, packaging, building a program, fulfillment, and more. This program is for farmers, ranchers, meal kits, and food producers of all kinds.
