Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Business Programs Trade Shows topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commerce briefs committee on business programs; officials defend SHOT Show outreach and say it produced manufacturers
Summary
Commerce officials described Business MT programsincluding export assistance, micro-business lending, SSBCI, Big Sky economic development loans and Indian Country programsand defended attendance at the SHOT Show as a driver for at least several firearms manufacturers relocating to Montana.
Commerce staff presented the Business MT division's suite of economic development programs to the appropriations subcommittee, describing loans, grants and technical assistance aimed at expanding industry and attracting employers.
The division's export team receives state funding that enables federal matching; presenters said Commerce received $400,000 in state funding that enabled roughly $800,000 in federal trade expansion program funds and that the state recently tied for the largest award nationally when it obtained $900,000 in federal support for the next year. Staff said those federal funds support marketing and export assistance to Montana manufacturers.
Program managers outlined several loan and grant programs: a micro-business finance model that certifies local micro business development corporations, a distressed wood products revolving loan fund originally capitalized at about $11.3 million that has been fully loaned out but continues to revolve, an automation loan program seeded by ARPA repayments, and a Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer matching grant program offering $300,000 annually. The Big Sky Economic Development suite was described as supporting local revolving loan funds and included a new loan participation opportunity and a $500,000 planning-grant window.
The Small Business Development Center network was noted as leveraging $325,000 in state funds into roughly $1,000,000 of private and federal support, a 3-to-1 leverage ratio. Indian Country programs were described in detail: the Indian Equity Fund (maximum award $14,000, 1:1 cash match), a Tribal business development grant (50% match required), a Native American Business Advisor Grant ($160,000 total, $20,000 per organization up to eight organizations), a Native American Collateral Support Program initially funded with $500,000 from the Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund, and tribal tourism support.
Committee members questioned the business attraction team's participation in the SHOT Show in Las Vegas and requested accounting of travel and state staff attendance. Deputy Director Mandy Rambo and Director Green defended attendance at SHOT Show, saying Commerce staff have tracked companies that located or expanded in Montana after the SHOT Show, including Brixtell Defense (Glendive), Ultimate Defense (Billings) and Olympus Arms (Helena). Rambo said the state will provide a detailed accounting of state-paid expenses and a list of state employees who attended; she also said many attendees at the Montana booth paid their own way, including local manufacturers and regional economic development organizations.
Committee members asked how Commerce calculates return on investment for trade show attendance. Rambo said the department estimates ROI by modeling expected local payroll, wages, and tax impacts as well as known capital expenditures and that she would provide more detailed numbers to the committee. No formal committee action was taken; staff said they would deliver requested expense and attendee lists.
