New AmeriCorps Positions Open! |
Posted: May 13, 2013 12:52 pm |
Join the Opportunity Link team as a Vibrant Futures VISTA, Volunteer In Service To America, and make a difference in North Central Montana communities. For links to full announcements, click here.
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Water Infrastructure Workshops |
Posted: Apr 18, 2013 3:27 pm |
Opportunity Link, in partnership with the Rural Community Assistance Corporation and Bear Paw Development, will be hosting two workshops on Water Infrastructure.
The first of these workshops is on April 23rd from 1-3:30pm at the NCMT Bus Barn - 3105 Hwy 2 NE in Havre and will cover topics concerning Programs, Resources, and Funding for Water and Infrastructure Systems. For an agenda, click here. To RSVP call 406-265-3699 or email outreach@vibrantfuturesmt.org.
The second of these workshops is on April 24th from 10am-3pm at the Triangle Telephone Hospitality room - 2121 Hwy 2 in Havre and will cover topics concerning the Native American Water Masters Association and Tribal Utility Governance. To register for this event click here.
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Vibrant Futures program is hosting scenario planning workshops |
Posted: Mar 8, 2013 1:46 pm |
During the month of march, the Vibrant Futures team will be traveling throughout our region to host scenario planning workshops in Northcentral Montana communities. The workshops will include exercises and discussion to help facilitate the creation of regional plans for the development of our Hi-line communities. To view an invitation to the workshops, please click here: Workshop_Invitation.
Community members are encouraged to attend, so please RSVP online at www.vibrantfuturesmt.org. Or, call us at 406-265-3699, or email Eryn at enissen@vibrantfuturesmt.org.
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Free Tax Preparation |
Posted: Feb 28, 2013 10:05 am |
As part of Opportunity Link's Wealthy Futures program, we provide free tax services for our region. Community members can file their taxes with one of our certified tax preparers during the week, or independently at any time online through the My Free Taxes site sponsored by Walmart in partnership with United Way, NDI, and Goodwill. See below for the link and call 406-265-3699 for in-person tax preparation with our certified staff.
myfreetaxes.com/opplink
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2012 Montana Free File Campaign Commercial |
Posted: Dec 21, 2012 11:27 am |
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We Ride the Line 5-part web series introduced! |
Posted: Dec 12, 2011 11:31 am |
Opportunity Link and North Central Montana Transit is proud to share rough cuts of "We Ride the Line".
These are the first three of a five-part web series and 30-minute documentary that explores the success of coordinated public transportation in remote Northcentral Montana. Through stories of people who ride, drive and champion the North Central Montana Transit (NCMT) system, audiences will gain an appreciation of the critical need for affordable and reliable transportation in this vast frontier community, and how access to that transportation translates into economic and educational opportunity for community members. Audiences will also better understand the efforts of Opportunity Link and its partners to combat poverty and bring greater prosperity to Northcentral Montana through the development of public transportation.
This series is produced by Rick Williams as part of the degree requirements for the MFA program in Science and Natural History Filmmaking of the School of Film and Photography, Montana State University, Bozeman.
We thank Rick and our transit partners for their support and hard work in this project!
Episode 1 highlights the challenges and impact of NCMT and Episodes 2 & 4 illustrate how NCMT is helping the YouthBuild and Boys & Girls Club programs.
We Ride the Line: Episode 1 - Connections
We Ride the Line: Episode 2 - YouthBuild
We Ride the Line: Episode 4 - Boys & Girls Club
We Ride the Line - Episode 5 - Biodiesel
Please direct all comments and inquiries to Day Soriano, Opportunity Link, at (406) 265-3699 or via e-mail to dsoriano@opportunitylinkmt.org.
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Northcentral Montana awarded $1.5M for sustainability planning |
Posted: Nov 30, 2011 9:32 am |
Opportunity Link (OL), a non-profit organization based in Havre and serving the region of Northcentral Montana, is proud to announce that it has been awarded a 3-year Regional Plan for Sustainable Development Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The HUD grant will fund OL to continue advancing an inclusive vision of improved prosperity for the 10-county and 3-reservation region. More than thirty diverse stakeholders agreed to engage in targeted training and coordinated planning for key public investments in transportation, housing, storm water management, and job development. Partners will look at potential new jobs in “green” industries that make sense for the region, such as energy efficiency housing retrofits and alternative fuel development. The HUD grant requires planners to work specifically in six interrelated elements of community “livability,” including transportation, housing, economic competitiveness, support for existing communities, value of neighborhoods and communities, and coordination of public policy and investment.
“These are very similar to the principles stated in OL’s mission, and that is why we thought the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development Grant was a good fit for Northcentral Montana,” says OL Director Barbara Stiffarm. According to Stiffarm, the grant will allow OL to continue to work as a neutral convener of partners across the region, and a catalyst for new economic investments both public and private. OL’s grant application demonstrated the success of previous regional projects, such as start-up and coordination of six new bus systems across the region; production and testing of biodiesel refined from locally-farmed oilseed; YouthBuild and GreenBuild education programs that bring students from tribal colleges to MSU-Northern for GEDs and on-the-job training in certified “green” construction skills. The willingness of municipalities, counties and tribes to coordinate key investments and work together to leverage new resources was a strong asset in securing the award.
The Regional Plan for Sustainable Development project will seek input and involvement from community members throughout the region in order to ensure that planning reflects resident needs and desires. The award to Northcentral Montana acknowledges that rural communities are as deserving of support for sustainable economies as urban areas. Stiffarm says, “We had support for this application from the farthest, most rural areas in our region—as well as the more densely populated communities. We may be separated by vast distances, but we share historic and economic ties, and we share values. Across the region, people want their kids to be able to live and work here. We know this is a big project, but we feel ready for it!”
For more information on the Sustainable Communities Program, visit
www.sustainablecommunities.gov.
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Opportunity Link is on Facebook! |
Posted: Sep 9, 2009 10:35 pm |
Keep updated on Opportunity Link news, events and, yes, opportunities! Be a fan of Opportunity Link on Facebook by clicking on the link below:
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Creating Jobs for Our Sustainable Future: From Ideas to Action |
Posted: Sep 13, 2011 11:25 am |
September 21, Wednesday
Montana State University Northern
Hensler Auditorium
Opportunity Link is inviting key regional stakeholders in a hands-on jobs forum that will be facilitated by nationally-recognized clean energy advocates Green For All and Write Choice Network.
This forum will assist Northcentral Montana communities identify sustainable capital development and entrepreneurship opportunities in the emerging renewable energy industries. The overall goal is to identify relevant, realistic strategies and action steps for economic growth in the sustainability sector.
Green For All, together with the Write Choice Network, will be sharing comparable projects and resources that have helped projects in other regions across the nation to successfully create and sustain jobs in development sectors such as:
• Energy efficiency improvements for residences and business;
• Sustainable water infrastructure improvements and flood prevention;
• Public transit development;
• Regional energy production (wind, solar, biofuels);
• Healthy communities and regional food availability; and
• Waste management.
Green For All and Write Choice Network will focus on Northcentral Montana's rural context, and will encourage local stakeholders to identify practical projects and businesses that are feasible for this region.
For more information, please contact Day Soriano at (406) 265-3699, e-mail dsoriano@opportunitylinkmt.org or visit the jobs forum website by clicking here.
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Soft-skills Instructor Certification Course set for September 27 in Billings |
Posted: Sep 6, 2011 10:24 am |
From Tuesday, September 27 through Thursday, September29, Opportunity Link and the State Tribal Economic Development Commission will sponsor a workforce preparation instructor certification course. Participants will learn the Montana-developed employment soft-skills curriculum titled Workin’ With Tradition (WWT).
WWT was created to support Native American entry-level job seekers from reservation and rural communities as they enter the workplace for the first time. Employers consider soft skills to be vital tools for achieving successful employment. Soft skills include goal setting, handling stress, time management and understanding unwritten rules of the workplace.
“Workin’ With Tradition”, written by Dr. Steve Parese, is the 5th edition of his nationally recognized soft skills training curriculum. It was created in cooperation with three North Central Montana Tribal employment agencies: Blackfeet Manpower, Fort Belknap 477, and Chippewa Cree TANF/ Family Resource Center. Participants in the September train-the-trainer workshop will be certified by Parese to teach WWT.
The training will be held at the Quality Inn Homestead Park in Billings. For more information and to register, please visit the event website and registration page by clicking here.
You can also contact program coordinator Lisa Smith at lsmith@opportunitylinkmt.org or call (406) 265-3699.
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Making Financial Education Effective & Engaging |
Posted: Jul 13, 2011 10:13 am |
Training-of-Trainers
July 20 & 21, Havre
Opportunity Link is offering a “Financial Education Training-of-Trainers” this July 20 & 21 at the Best Western Great Northern in Havre. Karen Smith, Director of Outreach Services from MCUCD (Montana Credit Unions for Community Development) will be the facilitator/trainer for this 2-day training.
There is a registration fee of $180 per person that includes training materials and lunch for the 2 days of training. Participants who complete the workshop would be able to facilitate and provide financial education workshops and would also be able to offer one-to-one coaching to clients.
We have a few slots left so please register soon! You can download the registration, flyer and workshop agenda from www.opportunitylinkmt.org/downloads.php.
For more information, to register or to inquire about reduced rates, please contact Star Perkins at (406) 265-3699 or via e-mail to sperkins@opportunitylinkmt.org.
This workshop is sponsored by Independence Bank and offered by Opportunity Link in coordination with the Montana Credit Unions for Community Development.
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Hi-Line Energy Corps members present their energy partnerships and projects in statewide conference |
Posted: Jun 17, 2011 3:50 pm |
Energy Corps members from across the state of Montana held their annual Mid-term training in Helena May 18th -20th. Hi-Line Energy Corps members Steven Eagle Feathers, Carrie Johnson, Kenny Lamere, Jeniffer Reed, Ariana Teske, and Curtis Windy Boy were there representing the northcentral Montana area.
The first day consisted of all of the energy corps members meeting and updating everyone about their projects around the state of Montana. It was then followed by instruction by Peggy Owens from Sage Solutions Non-Profit Consulting, LLC. Peggy shared with us her vast knowledge of fundraising through her many years of experience.
The second day’s events had our Energy Corps members attending the Repowering Montana’s Communities: Local Energy Solutions Conference. The purpose of the workshop was to provide a platform for local energy leaders to share their experiences in energy conservation throughout the state.
Energy Corps members attended and presented during the workshop. One of the presenters was Opportunity Links Energy Corps member Steven Eagle Feathers. The topic of Stevens’ presentation was the energy fairs that were put on by our very own Hi-Line energy Corps! Lauren Casey presented work being done for the Repowering Flathead Campaign.
The third and final day of the event we found our Energy Corps members helping out with a Community Garden Service Event. Energy Corps members from across the state and the Montana’s Governor’s Office of Community Service planned the event and were well represented with Linda McCulloch and First Lady Nancy Schweitzer in attendance as well.
Special thanks to the Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO), Peggy Owens, NCAT, and Governor’s Office, and all the Organizations and Energy Corps members that made it all possible. For more information visit www.energycorps.org/blog/montana/ or contact Steven Eagle Feathers (Energy Corps) at (406) 265-3699.
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Opportunity Link and Montana Energy Corps members celebrate Earth Day with the Blackfeet Nation! |
Posted: Apr 22, 2011 11:26 am |
Browning, MT - Opportunity Link and Montana Energy Corps members celebrated Earth Day with two full days of activities with the Blackfeet Nation April 20 and 21. Jennifer Reed, Montana Energy Corps member for Blackfeet Community College arranged for the group to visit the Blackfeet owned and operated hydroponic growing systems at the Sun Roads Farms, the new L.E.E.D. Math & Science Building of the Blackfeet Community College and Blackfeet Advanced Technologies.
While in Browning, the group helped kids at the elementary school plant and seed their greenhouse, distributed tree seedlings to organizations, businesses and community members, and also assisted Blackfeet Environmental Office inform community residents of energy saving and earth friendly projects and daily practices.
For more information, please contact Carrie Johnson at (406) 265-3699 or e-mail carrie@opportunitylinkmt.org or e-mail Jennifer Reed at jennifer.reed33@yahoo.com.
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