Blog

Posted on

2021 4th of July Schedule

Choteau 4th of July superimposed over an image of fireworks

We’re less than a month away from the 4th of July and planning is well underway!

Check out the Chamber’s Facebook Page events list for all the events from July 2nd through July 4th!

We need volunteer help for our events, like the Parade, Brewfest, and the Steak Fry – please contact Tom at choteauchamber@gmail.com, and please pass the word around your business and organizations that help is needed!

Posted on

Choteau Housing Discussion & Networking

Housing for Our Town

With the recent Gunther Apartments fire and robust real estate sales, the demand for multi-family, single family, and rehabilitated housing is stronger than ever. Many can’t find a
place to live! Choteau is not alone. Communities large and small in Montana are struggling
with affordable housing shortages. Help is available!

The Choteau Area Port Authority is sponsoring an informational meeting on opportunities for funding, partnerships, and assistance from agencies and organizations. It will be just an hour with participation both virtually and in-person.

Join us for the house ing Housing Discussion
June 11th, Noon-1PM
Choteau Pavillion

The event will be live streamed at https://www.facebook.com/choteauportauthority/live for those who can’t make it to the Pavilion.

Tentative Agenda:

● Introductions
● Montana Department of Commerce Housing Division – Julie Flynn
● USDA Rural Development – Katina Uecker
● NeighborWorks Great Falls – Katie Batterbee
● Crowdfund Montana – Andrew Connor
● Questions!
● Next Steps

Posted on

There is still funding available from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

Click here for information from the Small Business Administration

  • The SBA is helping thousands of restaurants and other food and beverage businesses across the country get the help they desperately need to recover and rebuild from this pandemic.
  • While we are still accepting all applications, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund still has funding left for eligible businesses with 2019 gross receipts of no more than $50,000 in annual revenue. Eligible establishments that meet this revenue standard are encouraged to apply through SBA-recognized point-of-sale vendors or directly via the SBA online application portal. 
  • Because the RRF was appropriated $28.6 billion, any additional funding requests over that amount will not be funded with the current appropriation. In addition to the RRF, the SBA has been delivering relief to restaurants through our other COVID relief programs.

Numbers as of 5/12/2021:

  • $2.7 billion of relief funds have been distributed to 21,000 restaurants since the Restaurant Revitalization Fund opened on May 3, 2021.
  • The RRF has received more than 147,000 applications from women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged business owners, requesting a total of $29 billion in relief funds.
  • 13,114 applications from businesses with under $50,000 in pre-pandemic revenue requesting $330 million in funds
  • 100,410 applications from businesses with under $500,000 in annual pre-pandemic revenue requesting $8.14 billion in funds
  • 61,535 applicants from businesses with $500,000 – $1,500,000 in annual pre-pandemic revenue requesting $15.1 billion in funds
Posted on

“Why Choose Montana?” Survey

Thank you for taking the Choose Montana Survey! 

Your perspective will be invaluable as we look to craft our messaging, provide tools and resources, and uncover testimonials that we can use to support the state’s workforce attraction efforts. 

The survey should take you about 5-10 minutes to complete. The current campaign is focused on attracting individuals, not companies, so please keep this in mind as you answer the survey. 
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FZ363QZ

If you have others in your contact database who may also offer a valuable perspective on this matter, feel free to share this link. 

Many thanks! 
Director of Commerce, Scott Osterman

Take the Survey
Posted on

Upcoming Business Virtual Trainings – Generations & YouTube

unrecognizable woman using laptop in workplace

Two trainings to share coming up this month:
1.  Generations in the Workforce, May 6th 11am – 11:30
Register: https://mtsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/4818
SB Webinars-may2021.png

2.  The Great Falls Public Library is hosting a Grow with Google virtual workshop for small business owners that is free and open to anyone on 5/25/21 from 11 – 12 pm. The title is “Use YouTube to Grow Your Business”, 
Here is the registration and event page: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6843847869356743951GFPL_GwG_SocialMedia.png

Posted on

Choteau Fire Victim Needs Request

Choteau Fire Victims Needs

Please forward this among your organizations and to any others who may be able to assist. 

As most of you have no doubt seen, about a dozen families were displaced by the fire at the Gunther Apartments today. Most of the people, including several children, lost everything. They literally only have to their name what they had in their pockets when they evacuated their apartments.

Trinity Lutheran Church has volunteered to serve as a collection point for items needed. Trinity Lutheran Church will be open tomorrow at 8am. 

Please mark (or let us know) if your items are for school aged kids for school related needs so we can send a runner to the school with it.

  • Men’s Shirts: Medium, Large, XL, 2XL, 3XL
  • Men’s Pants: 23×25, L/XL pants, , 42″ pants, 42×36, 34×34, 38×32, 34×36, 34×34, L/XL sweats
  • Men’s Shoes: 10, 11.5, 10, 12, 14, 13
  • Women’s Shirts: Large, XL, 2XL, 3XL
  • Women’s Pants: Large, XL, 16, 18, 20
  • Women’s Shoes: 5, 5.5, 6, 9, 10w
  • Girl size 2-3
  • Needs pull ups

All need sweaters, sweats, pajamas, socks, underwear, hygiene products (tooth paste, tooth brush, deodorant, soap/body wash, shampoo/conditioner, etc.)

If you have items to donate, I can pick them up – please reach out via the Chamber Facebook Page to arrange for pick up.

Thank you.

Yours in Service,


Steve Dogiakos
President, Choteau Chamber of Commerce
Make Choteau Home | Visit Choteau

Posted on

Montana Employer Town Hall – Human Rights Bureau

cid:image001.jpg@01D6CC83.0D110690

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Human Rights

Please join us Wednesday, April 21st at 12 pm for a Zoom meeting where we answer your questions.

It’s time for another Employer Town Hall! This week’s focus is the Montana Department of Labor & Industry’s Human Rights Bureau. They are the first step in a multi-level administrative process that handles complaints of discrimination. Fielding over 5,000 calls a year, this bureau works closely with individuals and employers around the state as they intake complaints, conduct investigations, provide voluntary resolution services and strive to educate and offer outreach.

Please join us this coming Wednesday, April 21st at noon as we provide context to the services we provide, how the process works and to better understand your rights and responsibilities as an employer.

https://mt-gov.zoom.us/j/8540732832
Webinar ID: 854 0173 2832

Dial by Telephone: + 1 646 558 8656

Webinar ID: 854 0173 2832

Posted on

ICYMI: Choteau Acantha’s Presentation about the State Advertising & Marketing in 2021

A big thanks to everyone who joined us for the Chamber of Commerce Membership meeting today! Check out the meeting video here on the Chamber website or directly on the Choteau Chamber of Commerce Facebook Page!

Thanks again to Mel & Jeff for their great presentation!

Continue reading “ICYMI: Choteau Acantha’s Presentation about the State Advertising & Marketing in 2021”
Posted on

February Membership Meeting: Multimedia Marketing in 2021

Join us on Zoom next week where Choteau Acantha owners Jeff and Melody Martinsen will give a presentation on how to effectively use print advertising to reach your customers.

They will talk about market reach, design, use of color, and tell members what services the Acantha offers. They will also talk about other print media in the region, and talk a bit about the importance of using both “new” and “old” media to reach the most potential customers.

Meeting Info:

Zoom Link

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87959417777?pwd=UktzRmFlSXNpa1MvZDMzY1RlN09KQT09

Time

  • Wednesday, February 10, 2021
  • 12:00pm – 1:00 pm