Great Northern Development Corp. Helps During Business Challenges
When COVID was causing many businesses to temporary shut their doors a year ago, the Great Northern Development Corporation increased its activity in order to assist the area businesses during the pandemic.
Tori Matejovsky, executive director of the Great Northern Development Corporation, explained that one of the organization’s top concerns was and continues to be small businesses. “Our role was really helping them get ready to apply for and answer questions about the various COVID relief programs,” she said.
Part of their work was informing businesses and helping them decide whether to apply for Paycheck Protection Program loans with the assistance of financial institutions. “We were able to help a lot of those businesses as far as providing information and answering questions. We tried to get the word out the best we could with our limited budget and staff capacity.”
The Great Northern Development Corporation is designated by the U.S. Economic Development Administration as an Economic Development District for Roosevelt, Daniels, Sheridan, Valley, Mc-Cone and Garfield counties.
The organization kept its commitment of helping businesses by planning a regional conference regarding the revitalization of the economy called “Rise and Restore.” The conference needed to be canceled because of social distancing concerns, but a webinar was then conducted for the region. The “Rise and Restore” conference is rescheduled for this fall.
Matejovsky said a focus is how to improve small businesses’ efforts in recruiting and attracting a skilled workforce, and new residents to the area to increase the local tax base.
She noted that through technology advances, people can now work for many different types of businesses on-line while living anywhere that they want. The hope is that Montana natives want to come back and live in Northeastern Montana.
“We need to get communities on board for this,” she said.
Matejovsky feels that restaurants were impacted the most as far as area businesses were concerned.
“They continue to struggle with their work force. That’s always a long-term issue,” she added.
She said the U.S. Small Business Administration is now offering a restaurant revitalization fund. The program provides emergency assistance for eligible restaurants and bars. The program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic- related revenue loss. Check www.restaurants.sba. gov for more information.
“We really want to get our restaurants to apply for that,” Matejovsky said. She notes GNDC can help businesses through the process. “While GNDC does not administer these programs, we do assist businesses and individuals who have questions or are working on an application.”
Another new SBA program is the shuttered venue operators grant. Eligible entities include live venue operators, theatrical producers, live performing arts organization operators, museum operators, motion picture theatre operators and talent representatives. Check svograntportal. sba.gov for more information.
Other areas where GNDC can provide information include rental assistance through the CARES Act’s relief program. Look at https:// housing.mt.gov/Rental-Housing/ Montana-Emergency- Rental-Assistance-Program to find what’s available.
Tourism grants can help area groups market events. The Growth Through Agriculture program provides loans and small grants to help producers with new marketing ideas. This is an annual program that opens up in the summer. More information can be found at www. agr.mt.gov/GTA. Businesses seeking assistance in completing their application for the Growth Through Agriculture program, or would like one-on-one technical assistance for their value-added ag business can reach out to the GNDC Food And Agricultural Development Center director, Tami Burke, at 406653-2590 ext. 201.
Matejovsky said a food study will take place during the next six months to understand what the options are to get locally grown products into local markets. “There’s a push to get information for more food distribution hubs,” she said.
The Native American Business Advisor, under the direction of Mark Sansaver, has Indian Equity Funds opening up this summer. For more information, contact Sansaver at 406-653-2590, ext. 202.
