Montana West Economic Development - MWED

10/09/2026

MWED Member Spotlight: Endpoint Technology Partners
A single ransomware attack can end a small business, and most Flathead shops do not have an IT department to fall back on.

Endpoint Technology Partners, an MWED member based in Kalispell, exists to close that gap. They deliver fully managed IT, cybersecurity, and support to small and medium businesses across the region, with transparent pricing instead of the surprise invoices a lot of owners have learned to expect.

CEO David Mayer serves on the board of the Montana High Tech Business Alliance and has been a consistent advocate for building tech ecosystems in rural places, and the Alliance has named Endpoint among the firms contributing to Kalispell's growing tech scene.

Endpoint Technology Partners keeps local businesses competitive and focused on what they do best!

Learn more: https://endpointtechpartners.com

Endpoint Technology Partners provides fully managed IT, cybersecurity & support for small businesses so they can reach their full potential, faster.

10/08/2026

Great Northwest Oktoberfest: Final Weekend!

📅 Thursday, October 8 to Saturday, October 10
🕔 Thursday & Friday, 5 to 11 PM | Saturday, 12 noon to 11 PM
📍 Depot Park, Whitefish
🎟️ $10 admission, kids under 12 free with a parent (tickets at the Main Gate only)

Whitefish's biggest Bavarian party wraps up this weekend, and our member the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce is pulling out all the stops for the finale. Expect live music from the Flathead Valley's own Bavarian Echoes, MAC-toberfest, and Bavarski, plus authentic German-style brews from Bayern Brewing and Hofbräu, food trucks serving everything from schnitzel on a pretzel bun to elk brats, and plenty of friendly competition. Think keg hurling, two-person log sawing, and a stein-holding contest where one sip means you're out.

Thursday night also brings the Hop Queen Finals and crowning of the 2026-27 Hop Queen at 7 PM on the Main Stage under the Bigtop. Drawing about 8,000 people to Depot Park each year, Oktoberfest brings visitors and business to Whitefish and the whole Flathead Valley. Grab a stein and make it a good one. Prost!

More info: https://www.whitefishoktoberfest.com

The Great Northwest Oktoberfest takes place in beautiful Whitefish, Montana. Join us for two weekends of authentic German b**r, food, music and fun - Montana-style!

10/08/2026

Night of the Trades at Flathead Valley Community College
📅 Thursday, October 8
🕠 5:30 to 8 PM (one-hour sessions at 5:45 and 7:00 PM)
📍 FVCC Trades Institute Building, Kalispell
🎟️ Free | Reservations required for sessions

Curious about a career in the trades? MWED member Flathead Valley Community College is opening the doors of its Trades Institute for a hands-on look at where these programs can lead. Prospective students will join sessions led by FVCC instructors, while parents can meet with advisors to learn about pathways to success in the trades and how to secure scholarships and financial aid.

Session topics span building trades, commercial driver's license, culinary arts and catering, electrical apprentice, electrical technology, electronics technician, fi****ms technologies, heavy equipment operator, HVAC, industrial machine technology, plumbing, surveying, and welding and fabrication. These are the skills that keep Flathead Valley businesses building and running. Reserve a spot at fvcc.edu/nott (open to anyone 16 and older).

10/07/2026

National APEX Day Coffee Chat: Your Government Contracting Questions Answered
📅 Thursday, October 8, 2026
🕙 10:00 to 10:45 AM MDT
💻 Live on Zoom | Free

Thinking about selling to the government? Montana APEX Accelerator is hosting a virtual coffee chat and open Q&A in honor of National APEX Day, and MWED is sharing it with Flathead Valley businesses. This live, interactive session is built to answer your questions about getting started in government contracting and navigating the process.

No question is too big or small. The APEX team will lead a brief introduction, then open the floor so you can bring your questions and connect with the people who can help your business pursue federal, state, and local contracts.

Sacn to register!

10/05/2026

Join the the Columbia Falls Area Chamber of Commerce , Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce , and Kalispell Chamber of Commerce as they kick off October with a bang!

10/02/2026

MWED Member Spotlight: Elevated Advisory & Accounting

Ask a business owner what keeps them up at night and the books usually make the list.

That is where MWED member Elevated Advisory & Accounting comes in. Based in Kalispell, they work with local businesses on accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, and financial advisory, scaling all the way up to outsourced CFO and controller support. For a valley full of owner operators, contractors, and small shops, that is the difference between guessing at your numbers and actually knowing them. Their work covers cash flow management, forecasting, budgeting, and exit planning, which means they are often the ones helping a local business figure out whether it can afford to hire, expand, or hand the keys to the next generation.

Every strong local economy runs on businesses that know their numbers and Elevated Advisory and Accounting is here to help.

Learn more: https://www.elevatedaccounting.com

10/01/2026

Congratulations to MWED member Stockman on the grand opening of its new Columbia Falls branch. The celebration runs Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. at 1211 9th Street West, with the official ribbon cutting alongside the Columbia Falls Area Chamber at 5 p.m. The public is invited for tours, refreshments, and a chance to meet the team.

Branch manager Mark Johnson, known to many here from his time as a lender here at MWED, said the project has supported the local economy from the start through local contractors during construction and new jobs once the doors opened. Stockman broke ground in August 2024 and opened to customers earlier this month. Stop by Oct. 7 and help welcome them to the neighborhood.

Learn more at:

Stockman Bank in Columbia Falls will have its grand opening and ribbon cutting event in Columbia Falls on Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 4 to 7 p.m., with an official ribbon cutting ceremony with the Columbia Falls Area Chamber at 5 p.m. The event will take place at 1211 9th Street West, Columbia Falls, and...

09/30/2026

Leading With Impact: A Practical Leadership Formula
Presented by Express Employment Professionals - Kalispell, MT

📅 Thursday, October 8
🕗 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. check-in and breakfast | 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. program
📍 Red Lion Hotel, 20 N Main Street, Kalispell
🎟️ $50 registration, with $10 going to nonprofit Flathead Industries

MWED member Express Employment Professionals of Kalispell is inviting the Flathead Valley's supervisors, team leads, operations, and HR leaders to an interactive morning focused on front-line leadership. Great leaders drive results one conversation at a time, and this session delivers practical tools attendees can apply immediately to strengthen teams, improve performance, and retain talent.

Speaker Art Atkinson, VP Emeritus of Express University at Express Employment International, has trained more than 6,000 new Express franchisees and staff members and taught more than 3,000 small business training seminars across North America. He will cover how to build trust and influence that drive engagement and accountability, lead one-on-one conversations that reduce firefighting, coach for ownership instead of dependency, and motivate teams with the C.A.R.E. method.

Strong front-line leaders make for stronger Flathead Valley businesses.

Reserve your seat today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leading-with-impact-tickets-1997060986169?aff=oddtdtcreator

09/29/2026

New Venture Launch: Planning Essentials for Entrepreneurs
📅 Tuesday, October 6, 2026 | 8:30–10:30 AM
📍 Wachholz Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center at FVCC, 715 Grandview Dr., Kalispell
💵 No cost to attend

A strong business plan does more than fill a binder. It communicates vision, viability, and discipline, and it can be the difference between a yes and a pass. This session with MWED and Rich in Thought Consulting walks you through building a plan that wins support from banks, investors, and partners, without wasting effort on the parts that don't matter.

In this session, you'll learn how to:
✅ Identify the critical sections of a compelling business plan
✅ Translate your strategy into bank- and investor-ready language
✅ Use practical templates to focus your effort where it counts

You'll walk away with practical planning templates and a clear picture of what funders actually look for, so you can start writing right away.

Best suited for entrepreneurs launching a new venture or preparing to pitch banks, investors, or partners.

No cost to attend, but space is limited! Reserve your spot here:
https://dobusinessinmontana.com/masterclass-form/

09/29/2026

Department of Commerce launches revamped Automation Loan Program

The Montana Department of Commerce (DOC) offers an Automation Financing Program, which helps Montana manufacturers invest in equipment, technology and process improvements that increase efficiency, productivity, capacity and long-term competitiveness.

DOC recently revised the program into a Direct Lend component and a Collateral Support component. The Direct Lend applications opened on September 1 and provide loans directly through Commerce of up to $100,000 for equipment purchases, software implementation, or other process improvements. The Collateral Support program application window will open on December 1.

Do you have upcoming projects that may be eligible?

• Read the attached summary flyer from the Department of Commerce:https://mcusercontent.com/f39ef98d39cd78a6637dbecd0/files/e1f158c6-1e6c-7b53-a86b-46109679df0b/MT_Automation_Financing_Program_One_Sheet.pdf

Visit the website:
https://commerce.mt.gov/Business/Business-Assistance/Montana-Automation-Financing-Program/