A Bit About the 2014-2015 Forum Series
The forums included:
Community Assets and Growing Local Business
The featured speaker was Karl Dye, then the Executive Director of Bonner County Economic Development Corporation. He was joined by panelists Brigid Burke of Kootenai River Development Council; Tim Dougherty of Idaho Forest Group; and Nick Raines, Asbestos Resource Program Manager
The Importance of Anchor Industries
Featured Chad Shilling, Campus Director and Business Professor at the Lincoln County campus of Flathead Valley Community College. Shilling was joined by panelists Tim Lindsey of Revett Minerals and Johnette Watkins, manager of Kootenai Job Service.
Sustainable Economies and Resilient Communities; and How the Forest Service Contributes to Social and Economic Sustainability
Presented by Krista Gebert, the regional economist from Forest Service Regional office in Missoula.
Better Jobs Montana
Greg Gianforte spoke of his vision for the potential for high tech jobs in Montana. Greg is the founder of Right Now Technologies.
Forum on Healthcare
Hosted by the Cabinet Peaks Medical Center. It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the many services and benefits provided by Libby’s healthcare community and the significant impact that healthcare has on the economy!
Making Cents of Business Loans, Small Grants and other Incentives
Featured a panel of local and state experts on how to grow small businesses. This forum focused on the challenges faced by business owners who wish to grow their companies or startups ready to put down roots.
Strengthening Our Recreational Economy
Increasing and augmenting business for visitors in Lincoln County was the subject of this information-packed forum.
Stepping up Tourism in Kootenai River Country
The evening included an overview of the importance of Tourism on local economic development, the impact tourism has for Montana, why people come, why they return, what they want and how to use local assets to build a more robust tourism economy.
Building a Remarkable, Resilient Community – with Your Input
Vicky Soderberg from Cygnet Strategies conducted an interactive workshop to help develop a sense of place for our area, the basis for the next steps in planning a prosperous future for Lincoln County.
