Bear Paw Development Corporation recently announced that its Annual Meeting for 2020 is scheduled for Thursday, February 20th and that Tara Rice, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce, will keynote the event. The Annual Meeting Luncheon will begin at 12:00PM at the Best Western Plus Havre Inn & Suites, located at 1425 Highway 2 NW. The public is invited to attend.

“We are excited and honored to have Director Rice serve as our keynote speaker this year,” said Paul Tuss, Executive Director of Bear Paw Development. “As a native of rural Montana, and as someone who has worked at both the national and state levels to promote the vibrancy of our smaller communities and rural regions, Tara is a natural fit to discuss the importance of public investments to grow our economy, assist the private sector create jobs and rebuild our aging infrastructure.”

Tara Rice was appointed as Director of the Department of Commerce by Governor Bullock in March 2019 and was confirmed by the state Senate in April. She comes to this position from a public and private sector background in economic development. Rice previously served in the Rural Development area of the US Department of Agriculture, helping to manage USDA’s investments in rural infrastructure, housing and business development. Tara went on to lead the work of the White House Rural Council, driving efforts for rural investment across federal agencies and with state and local partners. Most recently Tara was in private legal practice as a transactional attorney, working with teams of bankers, developers and engineers to build infrastructure and energy projects around the world.

Rice was raised on a ranch north of Choteau. Growing up, Tara was active in Teton County 4-H and Choteau FFA. She is a graduate of Choteau High School, Seattle University and Yale Law School.

“Bear Paw Development has partnered with the Montana Department of Commerce for over 35 years, or since the creation of the Department. I don’t think there exists a closer, more productive relationship anywhere in our state between an economic development organization and the Department than the one we have,” Tuss noted. “This partnership has literally resulted in millions upon millions of dollars being invested in northern Montana to build our infrastructure, help businesses start up or expand and provide entrepreneurs with the business planning services they need to succeed.”

Individuals wishing to attend must RSVP by Friday, February 14th and the cost is $15 per person. RSVP by phoning Bear Paw Development at 406-265-9226 or through email at sredding@bearpaw.org.