BEAR PAW DEVELOPMENT ADDS TWO NEW TEAM MEMBERS

Bear Paw Development Corporation recently announced the addition of two new employees to their roster of economic and community development practitioners. Joining the organization is Julea Robbins as Regional Disaster Economic Recovery Coordinator and Wyatt Anderson as Director of Bear Paw's Food and Agriculture Development Center.

"We are exceedingly fortunate to have the opportunity to add two individuals to our team who will hit the ground running and will have an immediate and positive impact on the region we serve in northern Montana," said Paul Tuss, Executive Director. "Both Wyatt and Julea bring energy, knowledge and a sincere commitment to the economic vitality of rural Montana as they fill these very important positions within our organization."

Robbins is a Havre native, graduate of Havre High School and worked for the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce for the past four year, including the last two as Executive Director. Robbins previously served on the Board of Directors of Central Montana Tourism Region, has continuously been involved with Montana Actors Theatre productions and is a member of the Hi-Line Arts Council. In her new position, Robbins will focus on assisting local governments find solutions to their infrastructure needs through grant writing and project management.

Anderson is a Wyoming native and has an associate's degree from Northwest College in Powell and a bachelor of science degree in agribusiness from the University of Wyoming. He previously worked as a farm laborer. As Director of Bear Paw's Food and Agriculture Development Center, Anderson will help producers, ag entrepreneurs and others with their value-added ag projects, with the goal of bringing additional value to northern Montana's commodities.

"With the addition of Wyatt and Julea, we have rounded-out our staff and look forward to continuing to properly serve the important economic and community development needs of our vast, rural Economic Development District here in northern Montana," Tuss said. "These two new and exciting additions to our team will allow us to continue our 53-year tradition of finding practical solutions to difficult problems that make our special part of Montana a wonderful place to live, work, raise a family and build a business."

Bear Paw Development Corporation is Montana's longest-serving federally-recognized Economic Development District and serves the economic and community development needs of Liberty, Hill, Blaine, Phillips and Chouteau Counties and the Rocky Boy's and Fort Belknap Indian Reservations.