Tester Announces Plan to Create Jobs & Spur Economic Growth in Roosevelt, Daniels, Garfield, McCone, Sheridan & Valley Counties

(U.S. Senate) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester has helped secure $70,000 to spur economic growth and create jobs in northeastern Montana.

“This is a small investment with potentially huge returns,” said Tester, a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. “By developing a comprehensive strategy for supporting business development, creating jobs, and attracting outside investment to northeastern Montana, we can create a solid foundation on which our rural economies can flourish.”

This funding—awarded by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to the Great Northern Development Corporation (GNDC) in Wolf Point—will go toward creating a comprehensive plan to increase investment, create jobs, and grow local economies across Roosevelt, Daniels, Garfield, McCone, Sheridan, and Valley counties.

“Great Northern Development Corporation is honored to receive an EDA Partnership Planning award for FY18,” said Tori Matejovsky, Cooperative Development Specialist for GNDC. “The EDA Planning Partnership program offers stable funding that GNDC leverages with state and local funds, to implement a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy in northeast Montana. GNDC greatly appreciates the opportunity to participate in this vital program, and is excited to continue offering much needed economic development services to the rural communities in our region.”

Tester has been a champion for job creation and business development throughout the state. In addition to hosting 17 Small Business Opportunity Workshops over the last 10 years, Tester launched his #EmployMT initiative back in January.

In fact, rural business development is one of the major reasons Tester opposes President Trump’s proposed budget, which would eliminate both the Economic Development Administration and the USDA’s Rural Business and Cooperative Service.