HomeMy WebLinkAboutA3. Prospera
Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Stacy Ulmen, CMC City Clerk Chris Kukulski, City Manager
SUBJECT: Letter of Support of the Prospera Business Network in their Service as the Designated Agency for the Montana Department of Commerce as its Certified Regional
Development Corporation.
MEETING DATE: October 26, 2015
AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Action Item
RECOMMENDATION: Approve a Letter of Support of the Prospera Business Network in their Service as the Designated Agency for the Montana Department of Commerce as its Certified
Regional Development Corporation.
BACKGROUND: The City of Bozeman and Prospera Business Network work together in
partnership in advancing job creation and business development. Prospera has submitted a
request to the Commission asking that a letter of support be drafted supporting their service as the designated agency for the Montana Department of Commerce as its Certified Regional
Development Corporation (CRDC). This letter of support will be included in their renewed
application to serve as the area Certified Regional Development Corporation.
UNRESOLVED ISSUES: None
ALTERNATIVES: Modify the Letter of Support or do not approve.
FISCAL EFFECTS: None.
Attachments: Draft Letter of Support
Prospera’s Request Letter
Report compiled on: October 20, 2015
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Mayor
Jeff Krauss
Deputy Mayor
Carson Taylor
Commissioners Cyndy Andrus
Chris Mehl I-Ho Pomeroy
CITY OF BOZEMAN
121 N. Rouse
P.O. Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771
Phone: (406) 582-2320
Fax: (406) 582-2344
TDD: (406) 582-2301
www.bozeman.net
October 26, 2015
Ms. Bonny Belling, Procurement Officer
State Procurement Bureau
General Services Division
P.O. Box 200135
Helena, MT 59620-0135
Re: Support for the Prospera Business Network’s CRDC Proposal
Dear Ms. Belling,
I am pleased to provide this letter of support for the Prospera Business
Network as a candidate organization to serve as the Certified Regional
Development Corporation (CRDC) for the Gallatin and Park County region.
Prospera has served as our region’s economic and community development
organization for 30 years, and has been the host agency for the statewide
Montana Women’s Business Center since 2009.
As the host organization for the Montana Women’s Business Center, Prospera
provides vital business counseling to entrepreneurs in Gallatin and Park
Counties and annually offers training services to over 1100 people.
Many local businesses have benefited from the programs and services offered
by Prospera. The City’s revolving loan fund, managed by Prospera, has
successfully loaned over $750,000 to local job creating businesses in several
important sectors including bio-science. Additionally, Prospera and the City
of Bozeman have partnered successfully on several Big Sky Trust Fund and
Community Development Block Grant applications which have funded job
expansion activities in the high-tech sector and planning for a high capacity
fiber-optic network. Our partnership has a proven track record of success.
Prospera’s experience, leadership and track record supporting business
development, job creation, access to capital, and positive community impact
illustrates why I think Prospera should continue to serve as our regional
CRDC. Prospera has served our communities and business leaders with
excellence and I look forward to learning of their renewal as our region’s
CRDC.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey K. Krauss
Mayor
Core Values
Integrity: Be honest,
hard-working, reliable
and accountable to the
public.
Leadership: Take
initiative, lead by
example, and be open to
innovative ideas.
Service: Work
unselfishly for our
community and its
citizens.
Teamwork: Respect
others, welcome citizen
involvement, and work
together to achieve the
best result.
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