Ready to take your business plan to the next level with ease? In this episode, Fionn Zarubica, Business Advisor at Headwaters SBDC, reveals how entrepreneurs are streamlining their planning process using the cutting-edge LivePlan software. Discover how this tool empowers users to craft impressive, professional-grade business plans with comprehensive financial projections – all made even simpler with AI-powered features. Whether you're launching a startup or refining your current strategy, tune in to learn how LivePlan could be the game-changer you've been searching for!*

Register for SBDC services here: https://mtsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/

Fionn Zarubica is a versatile professional with over two decades of experience in entrepreneurship, organizational consultation and the cultural sector. Currently, she brings her expertise to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of Montana, where she helps business owners navigate the challenges of starting and growing their ventures. She provides personalized consulting services tailored to the unique needs of each client, specializing in budgeting and finance, business planning and start-up consulting.

Fionn pursued her education at the University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of California, Los Angeles. Before moving into business consulting, she had a distinguished career as a costume designer, working in theater, film, ballet, opera and television across the United States, Canada and Europe. In the museum sector, Fionn held key roles managing the renowned costume and textile collections at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). She contributed to several prominent exhibitions, including California Design, 1930-1965: Living in a Modern Way (2011), Fashioning Fashion: European Dress in Detail, 1700-1915 (2010) and Breaking the Mode: Contemporary Fashion from the Permanent Collection (2006).

From 2010 to 2021, Fionn served as an instructor of museology at California State University Long Beach, College of Professional and International Education. She later worked as a museum consultant and educator in Europe, where she developed cultural programs supported by U.S. State Department grants. Additionally, Fionn is an experienced grant writer and the founder of Fionn Zarubica Creative Partnerships, which provides multidisciplinary support to the creative industries. Her international experience lends a global perspective to her work at SBDC, where she continues to empower entrepreneurs with the tools and strategies they need to succeed.

Is your ag business ready for growth? Would grant funding or a low-interest loan help your business? Are you located in rural Montana? In this episode, we explore Montana's Growth Through Agriculture (GTA) grant and loan program with Hailey Vine, Food & Agriculture Development Officer for the Montana Department of Agriculture, as well as Headwater's RC&D's very own Food and Ag Development Center Director, Brennan Hammer. You'll learn about the application process as well as some key steps.

The Growth Through Agriculture (GTA) program is a grant and loan program established by the Montana Legislature to strengthen and diversify Montana's agricultural industry through the development of new agricultural products and processes. Examples of eligible project activities involve equipment purchases, construction costs, advertising and promotion, and consultant services for engineering. The GTA program is administered by the Agriculture Development Council (Council) which is attached to the Department of Agriculture.

Hailey Vine joined the Montana Department of Agriculture in November 2023 as the Food & Ag Development Officer. Prior to her position with the Department, she worked very closely with the organization as the Food & Ag Development Center Director of eastern Montana for over two years assisting producers in business planning, grant applications, financial projections, and more. She brings a unique perspective and knowledge of the agriculture industry and value-added business world with her background in economic development, federal programs, and business administration. Hailey has a passion to meet people where they are at, assisting them to achieve those next steps to success, both professionally and personally. Growing up as a South Dakota farm girl, she's truly enjoyed working in the Montana agriculture scene along with its great producers and supporters. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in animal science and minor in business administration from Montana State University. Hailey is encouraged daily by her husband, Tyler, as they continue to build their new life and community in the Flathead Valley.

More about GTA: https://agr.mt.gov/GTA

GTA Guidelines for 2024: https://agr.mt.gov/_docs/GTA-docs/GTAGuidelines.pdf

How can creating a Business Improvement District (BID) in Uptown Butte move the needle on the Uptown Butte Master Plan? Shanna Adams, civil engineer, co-owner of the Finlen Hotel, and champion of the Uptown Butte Master Plan Association, speaks to how the creation of BID in Uptown Butte can create a steady source of funding that can be leveraged to bring the vision of the Uptown Butte Master Plan to reality.

https://www.uptownbuttemt.com/

https://www.instagram.com/uptownbuttebid/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559847306163

https://uptownbuttemasterplan.com/

Ever thought of turning an old abandoned building into a thriving cornerstone of your community? Headwaters RC&D Brownfield Program Manager, Melissa Wanamaker can help you make this dream a reality. Learn about Headwaters RC&D's Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund and how Brownfield Clean Up's are rippling across the United States!

Melissa Wanamaker Brownfield Program Manager mwanamaker@headwatersrcd.org (406) 533-6781 https://www.headwatersrcd.org/brownfields

What's the best way to hire? How can employees and employers poise themselves for a smooth hiring practice? What's the best way to deal with a shortage of employees? Tabatha Hyatt, Co-Owner of Express Employment in Butte and owner of Express Employment in Helena breaks down for us all the best practices for hiring and workforce needs.

Tabatha began her journey with Express Employment in 2017 in a usual and unusual way. Usual in that she lost a job in a unique field and didn’t know where to turn. She went to her local Express Employment office for help! Unusual in the fact that she landed AT Express working as a Business Developer partnering with businesses on their job needs. She loved it so much she became partner and she loved that so much that she recently purchased the Helena Express Employment also!

Originally, Tabatha earned her degree in Health Promotion and ran corporate wellness programs for 20 years. She added her MBA with marketing around the time she started at Express to expand her skills and be able to step out of wellness. Little did she know she was stepping into the most ‘well’ thing she’s done! Helping people on both sides of the coin with employers and employees is the ultimate rewarding position to be in. We help problem-solve all day everyday and find solutions every day! Whether you’re looking to hire or be hired, seeking help for a day or a decade, you can find it with Tabatha and Express!

expresspros.com/buttemt

Jen DeLong and Lisa Howell, owners of Recreate Climbing + Fitness in Butte, Montana talk to us about what it takes to bring to life a dream. Their story is one of grit, determination, aligned timing, and lots of trust. In this episode, you'll hear about their do's and don'ts, and their wins and failures. They share their best tips for entrepreneurship and scaling the walls of what is possible for your business.

Visit Their Website:

https://recreateclimb.com/

About Jen & Lisa:

For fifteen years, I worked as a dental hygienist and loved the relationship aspect of working in direct patient care. Prior to dental hygiene, I worked as a human resource specialist for Montana State after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from MSU-Bozeman. Go Cats! I have a wonderful husband, Ryan, and two beautiful children, Sawyer and Sadie. We live in Butte and also run an electrical contracting business, Wired Electric. I have always made fitness a priority in my life, and have found group fitness training to be the most effective way to stay committed to a workout routine. Prior to group training, I trained for long distance running events and ran outdoors. Throughout my life, I struggled with various injuries brought on by my career and also years of running. I spent many years in physical therapy to correct these injuries. Through these trials, I have gained a passion for mobility training and injury prevention. I am certified in Functional Range Conditioning and am also certified as a Healthy Steps Nutrition (HSN) Coach. The foundation for fitness is nutrition, and I truly believe in a holistic lifestyle. Coaching with HSN makes this endeavor simple, but, not easy. We’re so stoked to be partnered with such an amazing company. Recreate is truly my dream gym – which is why you’ll see Jen and I, and our families, working out and climbing right along side you. We created the gym we wanted to belong to – we hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Hello, my name is Jen DeLong. I graduated from the University of Montana in 2003 with a degree in History and Communications. While I was at the U of M, I competed on the University Track Team for four years. On the side, I got a minor in Contemporary Dance and went on the study dance for the next decade.

After completing my studies I was a college pastor and spent several of my summers as a tour director in Europe and Central America working with high school students. Both of these jobs fueled my love for faith, personal growth and leadership development.

In 2012 with a curiosity for business, I launched a wedding and portrait photography business that I’ve done over the last decade. In 2014, my husband and I relocated to Butte, where we began investing in real estate, revitalizing old buildings into vibrant living spaces.

Presently, I am the co-founder of Recreate Climbing and Fitness Gym with Lisa Howell, embracing the opportunity to inspire others to reach new heights in their health and wellness. As I grow in experience, I believe strength training and functional fitness are foundational to living a vibrant and active life. In 2020, I completed a certification as a Health and Life Coach from the Health Coach Institute. I love running Spartan races and exploring my potential. I’m a mom of three beautiful kids, Ava, Jude, and Adele and I have an amazing husband, Matt DeLong.

How can you make the most of the USDA Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program? Marlee Johnston of USDA and Headwaters Food and Ag Development (FADC) Director, Karley Carter share with us how Headwaters and USDA can help you be a successful grant applicant for this critical food and ag grant program!

More on Value Added Producer Grants: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/value-added-producer-grants/mt#overview

Book a consult with Headwaters FADC Director: https://www.headwatersrcd.org/food-and-agriculture-1

Marlee Johnston, Ag Producer State Specialist, has been with USDA Rural Development since July, 2019. Marlee’s primary role is assisting producers across MT in accessing grant and loan funding. Montana has seen great success in the Value-Added Producer Grant, bringing over $7.0 million dollars to over 45 receipts in the last 3 cycles.

How can you use USDA's Value Added Producer Grants (VAPG) or Montana's Growth Through Agriculture Program (GTA) to grow your ag business? Cari Verlanic of Farmer Boy Eggs in Drummond shares with us how they have used grants to grow!

My name is Cari Verlanic and I’ve been married to a rancher for 39 years. I’m the mom to three grown boys who are the owners of Farmer Boy Eggs. I was a school teacher for Drummond Public Schools for 27 years and am now the manager of our boys egg business. When I’m not at the chicken coop or delivering eggs, I am busy on the ranch helping to manage the day to day schedules, bookkeeping and field work.

More About Farmer Boy Eggs:

https://www.farmerboyeggs.com/