What We Do

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) certified Sweetgrass Development, as the North Central Montana Economic Development District.  We offer a variety of economic and community development services, small business technical assistance including start up and planning, grant writing and administration, and business recruitment and retention.

Our goal is to help the governments and citizens in each county and the Blackfeet Nation achieve their economic goals while preserving their distinct cultures and way of life. 

We envision economically healthy, thriving communities that provide family wage jobs through a blend of a diversified agricultural economies (with emphasis on value-added enterprises), a public transportation system to link communities, improved infrastructure, expanded retail opportunities, improved marketing, promotion and coordination of regional tourism, as well as attracting outside investment for projects and activities with regional impact. 

Actions that are regional in nature and will benefit all counties are:

1. Upgrade the Great Falls airport (e.g., larger runway) and push for improved commercial service.

2. Develop a public transportation system to:
    a. Increase opportunities to commute to job source areas (Fairfield, Shelby, Great Falls,
        and Glacier National Park).
    b. Improve access to medical care in Great Falls or in other communities as they develop
        more medical capabilities.
    c. Increase access to the Great Falls airport (via regional public bus transportation and/or
        via a private sector shuttle bus).

3. Establish a graduate program at the Montana State University College of Technology in Great
    Falls to accommodate training for industry and research employment. Maintain distance learning
    facilities in smaller area communities, such as the MSU center in Shelby.

4. Take advantage of an aging population and the trend toward retirement in places with recreational
    amenities by:
    a. Funding remote campuses to train professional workers (e.g., nurses, engineering,
        architects, financial consultants, software programmers, marketing, medical research
        and management services).
    b. Improve public transportation.
    c. Targeted marketing to this demographic to promote the Sweetgrass region’s high
        quality of life and affordable housing.

5. Promote further development of value-added agriculture:
    a. Tie crop production to renewable energy (e.g. bio-diesel, ethanol).
    b. Develop a regional meat packing plant to allow niche marketing of beef products.
    c. Invest in specialty value-added agriculture facilities, such as malting plants.

6. Undertake regional land use planning to:
    a. Protect the region’s competitive advantage in productive and scenic natural resources.
    b. Identify areas where growth is desirable fiscally, economically and ecologically.
    c. Prepare for the downsides of “amenity-driven” growth (e.g., unplanned growth that
        detracts from the region’s amenities) and the rise of “footloose” businesses.
    d. Prepare for growth with proper sewer, water and road infrastructure.
    e. Halt the spread of weeds and maintain local ecological integrity.

7. Promote and coordinate regional tourism:
    a. Recruit flight service that treats Great Falls as a “destination” airport.
    b. Develop regional scenic byway.
    c. Develop tourism within the Blackfeet Reservation that promotes, respects and
        celebrates tribal identity and sustainability, and links the Reservation to Glacier
        National Park.
    d. Encourage marketing of cultural, historical, agricultural and scientific attractions (i.e.,
        promoting heritage and regional history).

8. Promote the Sweetgrass region as a desirable place to live and do business.

9. Use Sweetgrass Development as an umbrella organization to:
    a. Gather and share regional data.
    b. Coordinate region-wide activities, especially between county and community
        economic development organizations.
    c. Solicit outside investment for projects and activities with regional impact.