Economic Development
Our Economic Development Strategy focuses on 1) improving and expanding access to income opportunities for individuals that is, having more skills, increased income, and better jobs and 2) increasing access to small business development resources to support business retention, expansion, and start-up.
The primary regional workforce data collected via surveys over this past year has yielded workforce information related to OL’s 11-county region that is being utilized to attract and develop partnerships to conduct and finance workforce skills training; networking with target groups representing low-income residents in the region to provide training opportunities; identification of workforce skills needed to support existing and emerging economic sectors; and developing non-traditional training delivery systems to increase accessibility by low-income individuals.
Our small business development objective was designed to increase economic activity in the region for more locally owned businesses, as well as new and expanding businesses. This will be brought about through better access to entrepreneurial education programs, supported by increased access to resources to support business retention, expansion, and start-ups. The related action steps will result in residents in OL’s region experiencing increased access to business resources such as the new market tax credits program, financial support for businesses, and entrepreneurship support programs.
In the Northcentral region small businesses are a dynamic force for commerce, employment, products and services. Investment in small business is vital to stimulating economc growth with long term results. The work involves creating equal access to business tools, resources and support systems that will lead toward creating an environment that is conducive for low-income residents and low-income communities to start, continue or expand their businesses.
Sub-Projects:
Transportation
Our Transportation Strategy focuses having access to public transportation and development of alternative transportation systems to improve access to employment, education, health care, and other basic services.
The access to and availability of transportation services are key elements in sustaining the livelihood and enhancing the vitality of each community within the rural region we serve. Over the past two years OL has worked to facilitate the planning and organizational development to establish a regional transportation network that would provide public transit services for all residents of Northcentral Montana.
OL is committed to securing the funding from the State of Montana Department of Transportation (MDOT) as well as in obtaining local match funds to establish the Northcentral Montana Regional Transit system that will serve to link communities and increase access to vital services for the residents thereby providing a better way of life.
Opportunity Link continually strives to create collaborative connections that provide opportunities to establish partnerships that will link agencies, businesses, institutions, and organizations with projects to leverage new practices, improve systems, fill existing gaps, and create innovative solutions. We believe that collaboration and partnerships increases the potential to build sustainability and attract other resources. We are also very much committed to continually strive for success or improvement in our work through informed decisions and actions that result from evaluation of our programs.
Sub-Projects:
Asset and Wealth Creation
Wealth creation includes partnering with agencies, institutions, and organizations that will increase the availability and participation levels of low-income people in wealth creation programs. The work includes activities to pilot, replicate, and deliver programs that will help build assets – financial education programs and promotion of the EITC; Individual Development Accounts (IDA’s) for business, education, housing, and even for vehicles; Mutual Self-Help Housing and other affordable housing programs; job readiness and work skills to increase employability; and technical and specific skill training to emerging economic sectors that offer living wage employment opportunities.
Sub-Projects:
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