We have many partners across the state, consisting of other economic development professionals, organizations, and tourism industry professionals devoted to fostering economic prosperity in Montana. Partner ProgramsEconomic Development Advisory CouncilSmall Business Development Center (SBDC) Advisory CouncilTourism Advisory CouncilTourism Regions and CVBs EDACText/HTML The Economic Development Advisory Council provides advice and encourages promotion of economic development in the state of Montana. The council is statutorily composed of 19 members, 15 of which are appointed by the Governor. Find more information about the council on their website. SBDCAdvisoryCouncilText/HTML The State SBDC Advisory Council furnishes advice, gathers information, makes recommendations and performs activities necessary to comply with federal funding requirements. The Council leverages support for the SBDC Network, and provides advice to the SBDC State Director of matters relating to strategic planning, best practices, and solfing marketing and funding challenges in the statewide SBDC Network. PartnerProgramsText/HTML Business Expansion and Retention (BEAR) Governor's Office of Economic Development, Motnana Department of Commerce, Montana Department of Labor and Industry and Montana Economic Developers Association (MEDA) formed a partnership that allows Montana to be one of several states to make the BEAR program available statewide. The BEAR program is supported by local community entities that provide staff and financial support so that local business owners and operators are able to access much needed resources allowing them to improve and/or expand their business. Montana Economic Developers Association (MEDA) MEDA is an association of economic development professionals and consists of business specialists, government employees, and staff members of affiliated non-profit organizations which promote and foster economic development activities in Montana. Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) MMEC is an outreach center at the Montana State University College of Engineering. MMEC provides technical, business management, growth services and engineering assistance to manufacturers. Field consultants provide assistance with expertise in solving problems and continuous improvement for quality management systems, Lean Manufacturing, costing/financial models, and other toos for operations and future strategies. TAC Text/HTML The Governor-appointed Tourism Advisory Council oversees the distribution of the Lodging Facility Use Tax ("bed tax") to Montana's tourism regions and convention and visitor bureaus, advises the Department of Commerce relative to tourism promotion, and fulfills other functions as defined by MCA 2-15-1816. Regions CVBs Text/HTML Tourism Regions and CVBs Montana is organized into six tourism regions and 18 CVBs, each of which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting its area.