COVID-19 Help For Businesses

For the past 25 years, Lake County Community Development Corporation has been here to help our great community weather many economic shocks. We were here with you through the 9-11 crisis and the Great Recession of 2008, and we will again be here for you through the initial shock and certain economic recovery from the current international health crisis.

We want you to know we are open and anxious to help our business community.

As responsible citizens, we are following the recommendations of our state and federal leaders by practicing social distancing and taking extraordinary measures to provide a safe working environment for our employees. Accordingly, our scheduled public workshops are postponed. Nevertheless, we are all available by telephone or e-mail and we want to hear from you.

How we can help:

We are working with government agencies to try to expedite relief loans and grants.

Government funds to stimulate long term economic recovery are definitely on the way, but rapid deployment of government relief has historically been a problem in times of crisis. For short term solutions, taking personal action by working in conjunction with local partners and agencies is the best answer.

If you are a current LCCDC loan client, we want to work with you to help you weather this storm. Your business or Cooperative is important to our community. Our Business Development Team will be reaching out to all of our loan clients this week to help you develop a workable plan.

If you are not a current LCCDC loan client, we can also be helpful. Our Expert Network of business and Cooperative advisors are ready to help you. In times of change our well-qualified advisors can quickly help you assess your options before you make a critical decision. Please do not hesitate to contact our offices at 406-676-5901 to speak with a Business Advisor.

We have loan funding available

Currently, loan funding is available to existing clients and qualified new clients. In the next few weeks, most loans we make will be in the $5,000- $100,000 range with some loans as large as $150,000.

In the near future we also expect several new sources of COVID19 relief loan funds to be made available through our many government agency partners. Larger loan funding will also become available again as the COVID19 crisis passes and the economy begins to recover.

Education, Consultation

and Advice

Webinars- LCCDC is working to convert our public education programs to webinars. We expect to bring these to you again very soon.

One on One telephone and e-mail consultations are available through our staff and our expert advisor network.

Updates and ongoing information announcements will be posted on our website and Facebook page.

Resources outside

of LCCDC

Through the Montana Economic Developers Association and the Montana Non-profit Association we have been working with your Federal & State Legislators, Federal Government Departments, SBA, USDA and others to source government relief funding for our community. The first $300 billion government economic stimulus act was passed last week and the second $1.2 trillion act is expected to pass this week.

The Small Business Administration has funds available through their Disaster Loan Program.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has a website with resources and information for business owners and employers.

MT Department of Labor (Job Services) Employment expenses rise and fall in direct correlation to sales volume. The Polson Job Service Center is available to answer your employer questions at 406-883-7880. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to lay off staff, please contact them for advice. Employees can be referred to the MontanaWorks website.

Your friends at Lake County Community Development care deeply about your personal health and well-being. We are here to help as we all weather our immediate national health crisis. We also care deeply about mitigating the long term effects of a recession on our community’s economic health and well-being. We want to work with you. We know we can help and we looking forward to speaking with you soon.

Jim Thaden is Executive Director of Lake County Community Development Corporation