Ronan business receives grant, creating jobs

A local business has received a grant, which will allow them to build staff and equipment.

Ronan Telephone Company, a long-distance service provider through Access Montana, has announced it will receive $82,500 from the Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund.

Chief Executive Officer Jay Preston said that Ronan Telephone Company, covering Pablo and Ronan, offers some cable television.

General Manager Colleen Rudio explained that the funds have allowed the number of employees to grow from 30 up to a tentative 41 within the first year of the program in July 2018.

“The first year will be advancing technology and expanding” what the company can do for its customer base, Rudio said.

She added that the new employees will bring skills to help the company expand as well.

Since the business is largely physically-based, Rudio said that the company is “constantly” adding and replacing equipment.

A new data system will also be introduced along the way, she said.

Preston added that a wireless broadband network is offered by the company, and “w will also be adding fiber optics, depending on the population.”

Rudio, who said she owns her own business working with organizations to utilize grant opportunities, she wondered if Ronan Telephone Company could qualify for any funding.

She added that Preston, who is founder of the Lake County Community Development Corporation, was “another piece of the puzzle” and between the two, they were able to determine which resources the business qualified.

“It was a great collaboration,” Rudio said.

Rudio said that the business found out at the end of September, beginning of October about the grant.

Due to guidance from the LCCDC, Rudio said that the Ronan Telephone was able to submit paperwork for an early start, allowing them to get a jump-start on hiring new employees.

In addition to the Big Sky fund, the company has been assessing employees to best serve customers.

“We’re very excited to be able to do this for the communities we serve,” Rudio said.

BSTF provides state funds to promote long-term stable economic growth in Montana through job creation and planning.