Tester workshop coming to town July 9

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont, is bringing his Small Business Opportunity Workshop to Kalispell on July 9.

“What we’re doing with these workshops is making sure all entrepreneurs in Montana are aware of the tools out there to help grow their businesses and boost jobs for Montana,” Tester said.

Designed to “ignite innovation,” the workshop offers business owners and aspirating entrepreneurs links to government and community support as well as the opportunity to network with others.  The workshop will focus on entrepreneurship, access to funding, tax credits and marketing opportunities. 

“It’s all about giving businesses the kind of tools to help if they decide to move,” Tester said Thursday.

Representatives from the state Department of Commerce, Montana Economic Developers Association, Montana Community Development Corporation, U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Small Business Administration will participate in the workshop, in addition to representatives from Google and Microsoft’s Bing!

Fifth Wave Leadership chairman and Kalispell resident Morrie Schechtman, business executive Bill Payne of Whitefish and Larry Hall of S&K Electronics will join other Montana entrepreneurs to share their success stories. 

“If we can get small business cranking again, we can get unemployment to go down, “Tester said.

The senator launched the series in June 2009 in Great Falls.  The Kalispell workshop is the fourth in the series and was brought on by conversation between Tester and local Chamber of Commerce officials regarding the high rate of unemployment here in the valley.

“Ultimately, it will be the people driving the car that will get things going again.  This will help them work on that car,” Tester said.

Free and open to the public, the workshop will be held July 9 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Flathead Valley Community College.  Reservations are recommended. RSVP at http://tester.senate.gov/workshop.