2 Rivers? Here's What It Does

As executive director of Two Rivers, I am often approached with two questions: “What does Two Rivers do?” and “Is Two Rivers part of the chamber?” It is important that community members understand our role and how it is that we serve Valley County.

Two Rivers Economic Growth was created in 1991 to encourage the expansion and development of Valley County. What this means is that we provide supportive services in establishing new business ventures as well as grant writing services for community projects. We are a 401(c)(3) corporation which aids in getting projects such as the Children’s Museum of Northeast Montana off the ground.

We are currently working with the city of Glasgow on a City Growth Plan and will continue to be part of the decision making process as things progress.

We recently launched a Promotional Banner Program in an effort to encourage entrepreneurship while making a visual impact in vacant storefronts. Banners can be specified to suggest a particular type of business that the building owner prefers or would like to see in the area. The banners are free upon request and remain the property of Two Rivers.

We recently launched a Store Front Beautification Project and are awaiting Montana Main Street grant approval to revitalize and restore our historic downtown commercial area.

Two Rivers Economic Growth is strategically located within the chamber office, but we are an entirely separate organization. Our agendas differ in that the Chamber hosts local events and promotes tourism, benefiting existing businesses, while Two Rivers establishes new business and industry, increasing economic development for Valley County residents. Two Rivers and the Chamber work collaboratively on projects and are in support of one another, along with Tourism Business improvement District (TBID), Missouri River County (MRC), Great Northern Development (GNDC), and Tourism Advisory Council (TAC), just to name a few.

Two Rivers relies solely upon member support unlike many counties that impose an additional tax. It is our hope to delineate the idea that if someone is a Chamber member, they do not need to be a Two Rivers member. While the Chamber of Commerce and Two Rivers Economic Growth work within many forums, they are within distinctly separate organizations with different functions. Two Rivers Economic Growth encourages all area individuals, businesses and organizations to join and maintain membership so that we can continue to grow and develop the area economy.

This is an especially exciting time as we continue to experience growth and change in our region. Counties without an active economic development agency lack the resources and infrastructure that are key components in maintaining sustainability and retaining youth. We need your support in helping to make Valley County the best place to live, work and play!

For just pennies per day, you can make a difference and impact your community. Visit our website at http://www.growValleyCounty.com for more information or email Michelle Tade at [email protected] or call 406-263-GROW (4769) and join NOW!

The 2013-14 Board of Directors includes president, Betty Stone (Cottonwood Inn); vice president, Lacey Brelje (Nemont); treasurer, Darrel Wesen (MARCo); secretary, Tom Klotz; past president, Chris Helland, (Helland Agency); as well as Sam Brelje (First Community Bank); Bruce Peterson (county commissioner); Dan Carney, (city mayor); Bob Connors (Glasgow superintendent of schools); DeAnn Ketchum (St. Marie Condo Assn.); Mike Slaats (All Seasons Home Center); Tracey Birkland (Wells Fargo); Lisa Olk (Chamber of Commerce); Joy Guttenberg (Apple Trolley); Jarrell Schock (Missouri River Realty); and Doug Nistler (FMDH).

Valued current members are:

All Seasons Home Center

Apple Trolley LLP

Bell Mortuary

CHMS, P.C.

City of Glasgow

Coca Cola Bottling Co.

Cottonwood Inn & Suites

D&G Sports & Western

Dale Plumbing & Heating, Inc.,

Dental Care Clinic

DRR Investments LLC

Eugene’s Pizza

Ezzie’s Wholesale, Inc.

Farm Equipment Sales, Inc.

The Fashionette

First Community Bank

Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture

Glasgow Courier & Printing

Glasgow Goodkind Gallery

Glasgow Implement

Glasgow Irrigation District

Heavy Photography

Helland Agency

Helland Law

Hi-Line Collision Repair

Hi-Line Ford, Inc.

Housing Authority of Glasgow

Independence Bank

Joseph Reyling, DDS

KLTZ/KLAN Radio Station

La Casa Hotel

Markle’s Inc.

Missouri River Realty

Montana Aviation Research Company

Nemont Telephone Cooperative Inc.

Newton Motors, Inc.

Northwest Farm

Credit Services

NorVal Electric Cooperative, Inc.

North Valley County Water & Sewer

Pehlke’s Furniture

Prewett Interiors

Red Foxx Realty

Reynolds Market

Rundle Restoration

St. Marie Condominium Association

Shopko

T&R Trucking

Taco Shack

Town and Country Furniture

United Insurance & Realty

Valley Bank

Valley Builders Supply, Inc.

Valley County Abstract Co.

Valley County Commissioner

Valley Seed Co.

Valley Veterinary Clinic

Valley View Home

Wells Fargo Bank

Western Drug

Zerbe Brothers

Maury Graham

Jerry and DeAnn Ketchum

Byron and Elinor Lindsay

Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID)

Two Rivers mailing address is 23 U.S. Highway 2 East, Glasgow, MT 59230; telephone – 406-263-GROW (4769); fax – 406-228-2244; email – [email protected]; website – http://www.growValleyCounty.com.