World Trade & Investment Day 2025

Join us May 7th in Billings for an insightful look into the state of world trade and Montana’s diversified role in global supply chains.

Our 2025 agenda includes a morning of tactical training for Montana firms engaged in international business followed by afternoon sessions crafted to share essential insights regarding a dynamic global trade landscape —from nationally renowned speakers and Montana firms alike. We’ll also honor the Montana exporter of the year as chosen by the Montana district export council and invite consuls general from our trading partner nations to share their perspectives, meet with Montana firms, and amass more granular detail about mutually beneficial trade and investment opportunities.

International trade & investment are essential to Montana’s economy —from wheat to SaaS products and everything in between, Montanans are selling their products & services around the world, importing supply chain solutions, and receiving investment from global markets. Come join us to celebrate Montana’s successes on the global stage, learn about untapped opportunities, and gather together in celebration of World Trade Month.

Wednesday, May 7 · 8am – 6:30pm MDT at the Northern Hotel, Billings MT

Registration includes tactical training for Montana firms engaged in international business, lunch, keynote speakers, panel discussions, and a networking reception. Receive a 10% discount on registration using code BIGKSKY

  1. $134 for BSED use Code BIGSKY

Register today to secure your spot at this premier event! -> World Trade & Investment Day 2025 Tickets, Wed, May 7, 2025 at 8:00 AM | Eventbrite

  • Posted on: March 31, 2025

Building a Stronger Team: Talent Recruitment (Session 1)

In this session, we will equip small business leaders and hiring managers with the tools and strategies they need to attract and retain top talent despite resource constraints. This session will focus on how to build an attractive employer brand and resources to tap into for maximum impact on recruitment efforts. It’s designed to be practical, hands-on, and focused on providing actionable insights to immediately improve recruitment efforts.

  • Introduction | Billings Talent Attraction & Retention Research Project Takeaways | Shaye Metcalf & Marcell Bruski (30 minutes)
      • DCI research deep dive
      • BOIB Recruiter Toolkit exploration
    • Case Study #1| Jeanne Manske| Billings Clinic-Physician Recruitment Sourcing & Strategy Coordinator (15 Minutes)
    • Case Study #2 | Katie Whitmoyer | Woods Powr Grip & Flex Family Health (15 minutes)
    • Rapid Fire Panel Questions | Katie, Cole & Jeanne| Kayla Vokral (15 minutes)
    • Q & A (15 minutes)

In Person at Big Sky Economic Development, Tuesday, April 29th  10:30-12:00 pm 

To register: Click Here. 

  • Posted on: March 31, 2025

Start Smart: Your Guide to Building a Business

Thursday, April 10th 1:00-3:00 pm

Dreaming of starting your own business? Make it happen with Start Smart! This workshop is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs ready to dive into their journey.

Learn how to build a strong foundation for your business by exploring essential topics like startup costs, financing options, and creating a solid business plan. You’ll leave with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to take the smart approach to launching your business.

Don’t just start—Start Smart! Join us to set your entrepreneurial journey on the right track.

To Register: Click Here. (In Person at Big Sky Economic Development)

  • Posted on: March 31, 2025

2024 Battle of the Plans: Awards Ceremony & Press Conference

Join us for an extra HAPPY hour at Craft Local on August 28th as we announce & celebrate the two winners of the 2024 Battle of the Plans program. Both winners will receive a $50k grand prize package designed specifically to help them to open/expand a storefront in the downtown Billings Central Business District.

The 2024 Downtown Billings Battle of the Plans program and competition began in March 2024. Over sixteen different retail business concepts were submitted to the first phase of the program. Each of the business concepts were submitted for consideration as a new or expanding storefront for the downtown Billings Central Business District. After completing Phase Two requirements, the participants then qualified to compete in this third and final phase of the program: The Competition. Twelve business plans were submitted and pitched in-person for the final competition.  Two winning business plans (one New Business and one Expansion Business) are scheduled to be announced August 28, 2024 and will be award grand prizes valued over $50,000 in eligible expenses. 

program resources

 Two businesses (one new/one expansion) with the winning submissions (“Grand Prize Winners”) will each receive:

  1. $40,000 in reimbursable funds toward eligible expenses:
    • Signage
    • CPTED recommendations 
    • Architectural and engineering design fees
    • City permit fees
    • Obsolescence that requires a change of use and Defectiveness or noncompliance with current building and fire codes
    • Electrical and/or Plumbing service upgrades and Energy efficiency upgrades (exterior windows & doors, HVAC)
    • Facade & storefront restoration
    • Streetscaping & landscaping (lights, trees, sidewalk, curb, gutters, vaults, public art)
    • ADA accessibility expenses
    • Relocation of utilities 
    • Rent assistance
    • Marketing, advertising, & promotion
      *Ineligible expenses include:  FF&E, Paint, Flooring, Inventory & supplies for the business, Operational & soft costs (salaries, wages, insurance, taxes, POS, website, cleaning, maintenance), Cosmetic & aesthetic features, Telephone & internet. 
  2. Free First Year Downtown Billings Association membership, ($300 value) 
  3. A Pop-up Location in the TIFD for the Fourth Quarter of 2024 or First Quarter of 2025.  
  4. One-on-one with partnering property owners offering lease/build-out allowances. 

Grand Prize package Estimated Value: over $50,000

VIEW DETAILED PROGRAM PARTICIPATION PACKET 

Phase I—Submit Initial Business Concept
If your business concept advances through the initial jurying, you will be invited to move on to the second phase of the contest.

  • March 1st – March 13th: Phase I, Call for Business Concepts (All concepts must be submitted by 4pm, March 13, 2024 deadline.)
  • March 13th-20th: Phase I, Selections Committee reviews Business Concepts.
  • March 21, 2024: Finalists announced and invited to advance to Phase II

Phase II—Attend FREE Business Training Courses
Participants moving into Phase II will be given free registration to nine valuable educational business courses. Phase II finalists must attend a minimum of four of the outlined course offerings, but may attend all the courses if they wish. Participants seeking to expand an existing business are exempt from the Phase II course requirements but encouraged to attend a Scale and Growth session that will be offered for them.

  • March 26 – June 21, 2024: Phase II Finalists attend business courses and workshops.
    • Courses. Workshops, Sessions include:
      • Launch your business with Customer-Focused Marketing 
      • Startup Roadmap 
      • Balance Sheet vs. Profit & Loss
      • Cash Flow Projections
      • Effective Email Marketing
      • Business Pitch Best Practices 
      • Scale & Growth Roundtable (for expanding businesses) 
      • Retail Design 101  
      • Copyright, Trademark, & Contracts.
  • Participants who complete Phase II will be given FREE access to the newly-launched AI powered Business Plan writing tool and consultation by EntrePlans. Leverage AI-driven ChatGPT prompts and utilize EntrePlans’s financial projections template to create a powerful business plan. Send your completed plan to EntrePlans experts for invaluable feedback and insights.
  • As Battle of the Plans finalists prepare their business plans for Phase III, the local Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) team is offering one-on-one sessions to review the business plans and help finalists build financial projections.

Phase III—The Business Plan Competition
Heading into the final phase of the competition. All Battle of the Plans participants who complete Phase II requirements then more on to finalize and submit a detailed business plan by August 1, 2024 and present their plans at an in-person Pitch Event the week of August 12th. The two winning Business Plans (one new business/one expansion business) will be announced by August 27, 2024.

  • August 1, 2024: Phase III, Finalists Business Plan submission deadline.
  • Week of August 12th: Finalists present their business plans at an in-person pitch event.
  • August 28, 2024: The two Grand Prize Winners Announced.
  1. To assist with the opening of one new destination business in downtown Billings (within the boundaries of the Expanded N. 27th St. Tax Increment District – hereinafter TIFD), and one expansion of an existing business.
  2. To attract multiple new retail businesses to the Downtown Billings TIFD and strengthen our already established business base. Retail businesses also include entertainment/activity based businesses and food/eateries.
  3. Showcase the broad variety of business opportunities in the Downtown Billings TIFD.
  4. Fill available retail space with new businesses that complement the existing mix and highlight the potential for businesses to stand out.
  • Spring 2016, The Battle of the Plans program initially launches.
  • The 2016 winning business plan for the Business Expansion category was The Pub Station‘s Ballroom expansion.
  • The 2016 winning business plan for the New Business category was awarded to Vintage Apothecary.
  • November 2016, Vintage Apothecary opened their doors at 2818 Third Ave. North.
  • January 2017, The Pub Station’s ballroom expansion officially opened for business.
  • Spring 2017, A second iteration of the Battle of the Plans program launches.
  • The 2017 winning business plan for the Business Expansion category was Well Pared and their plan to open their second location.
  • The 2017 winning business plan for the New Business category was split between two plans; SomethingChic (a clothing boutique that came in 2nd place in 2016 Battle of the Plans New Business category) and a restaurant known as Mason Dixon.
  • Spring 2018, Battle of the Plans coordinators decide to hit the pause button on the program to give the 2017 winners more time to open.
  • September 2018, Funding issue cancels Mason Dixon’s plans to open  – Their Battle of the Plans winnings were transferred to the 2017 Battle of the Plans co-winner, SomethingChic.
  • September 2018, SomethingChic owner, Linda Brooks, starts a crowdfunding campaign to help raise the collateral to secure her Small Business Loan.
  • December 2018, Well Pared opens their downtown location at 2710 First Avenue North.
  • May 2019, SomethingChic opens at 2818 2nd Ave N.
  • October 2019, Vintage Apothecary owner stated her daily Bridger to Billings commute had grown tiresome and relocated her shop to Bridger, MT.
  • December 2022, Well Pared closes all locations after seven years as a brick and mortar (four of which included their downtown location).
  • January 2024, The Pub Station Ballroom (2016) and SomethingChic (2017) downtown Billings locations are still open for business.
  • March 2024, A third iteration of the Battle of the Plans program begins.
  • August 2024, Twelve businesses compete in the 2024 Business Pitch Competition.

The Selection Committee will consist of a representation of Downtown Billings property owners, business leaders, community leaders and representatives from the Promotion partners: The DBA, Big Sky Economic Development, Cushing Terrell, EntrePlans, Start.Grow.Thrive., and Downtown Billings Partnership. 

Eligibility:

  1. This promotion is open to all legal U.S. residents, 18 years of age or older at the time of entry.
  2. Proposed retail businesses can be independent operations or franchised.
  3. If the proposed business concept features an expansion of an existing business, then the proposed expansion must be new to Downtown Billings and can only be the second or third store in the portfolio.
  4. Employees and temporary employees of the Downtown Billings Association, Contest sponsors, and the immediate family of each, are not eligible for entry. 
  5. All business concept submissions must be emailed, delivered, or postmarked to the Downtown Billings Association (DBA) by 5:00 p.m. on March 12, 2024.
  6. Willingness to commit to a 3-year lease in the Billings TIFD. 

Conduct: 

  • By entering the Promotion, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsors, which shall be final and binding in all respects. The Official Rules as outlined in this document will be posted at www.downtownbillings.com and accessible throughout the promotion.
  • Sponsors reserve the right in their sole discretion to disqualify any individual or business they find tampering with the entry process, or the operation of the website; or to be acting in violation of the Official Promotion.
  • Posted on: August 19, 2024

2024 Battle of the Plans: Business Pitch Competition

Join us at the third and final phase of the Battle of the Plans Business Plan Competition. 

CLICK FOR PRINTER FRIENDLY SCHEDULE

The day’s schedule:

  • 8:00am: Greetings and intro
  • 8:20am: Sweetwater Cafe (Existing/Expansion Business)
  • 8:40am: Confetti Heart Studio (Existing/Expansion Business)
  • 9:00am: Frae Collective (Existing/Expansion Business)
  • 9:20am: Magic City Battlegrounds (New Business)
  • 9:40am: Haven Light Therapy (New Business)
  • 10:00am Break (15min)
  • 10:20am: Kitty Corner Cafe (New Business)
  • 10:40am: Moffee Mug (New Business)
  • 11:00am: Contrast 406 (New Business)
  • 11:20am: The Good Wolf (New Business)
  • 11:40am: Whimsie (New Business)
  • 12:00pm Lunch (1 hour)
  • 1:20pm The Firestone Food Court (New Business)
  • 1:40pm Pete’s Meats (New Business)
  • 2:00pm Conclusion of the day

The 2024 Downtown Billings Battle of the Plans program and competition began in March 2024. Over sixteen different retail business concepts were submitted to the first phase of the program. Each of the business concepts were submitted for consideration as a new or expanding storefront for the downtown Billings Central Business District.

After completing Phase Two requirements, the participants then qualified to compete in this third and final phase of the program: The Competition. First the finalists are required to submit a detailed business plan (on or before August 1) and then present their plans to the program’s Selections Committee at this in-person Pitch Event scheduled for August 15th at the ArtHouse Cinema.

There will be two winning business plans (one New Business and one Expansion Business). The winners be announced by August 27, 2024 and will be award grand prizes valued over $40,000 in eligible expenses. 

 

program resources

 Two businesses (one new/one expansion) with the winning submissions (“Grand Prize Winners”) will each receive:

  1. $40,000 in reimbursable funds toward eligible expenses:
    • Signage
    • CPTED recommendations 
    • Architectural and engineering design fees
    • City permit fees
    • Obsolescence that requires a change of use and Defectiveness or noncompliance with current building and fire codes
    • Electrical and/or Plumbing service upgrades and Energy efficiency upgrades (exterior windows & doors, HVAC)
    • Facade & storefront restoration
    • Streetscaping & landscaping (lights, trees, sidewalk, curb, gutters, vaults, public art)
    • ADA accessibility expenses
    • Relocation of utilities 
    • Rent assistance
    • Marketing, advertising, & promotion
      *Ineligible expenses include:  FF&E, Paint, Flooring, Inventory & supplies for the business, Operational & soft costs (salaries, wages, insurance, taxes, POS, website, cleaning, maintenance), Cosmetic & aesthetic features, Telephone & internet. 
  2. Free First Year Downtown Billings Association membership, ($300 value) 
  3. A Pop-up Location in the TIFD for the Fourth Quarter of 2024 (Oct., Nov., and Dec.).  
  4. One-on-one with partnering property owners offering lease/build-out allowances. 

Grand Prize package Estimated Value: over $50,000

VIEW DETAILED PROGRAM PARTICIPATION PACKET 

Phase I—Submit Initial Business Concept
If your business concept advances through the initial jurying, you will be invited to move on to the second phase of the contest.

  • March 1st – March 13th: Phase I, Call for Business Concepts (All concepts must be submitted by 4pm, March 13, 2024 deadline.)
  • March 13th-20th: Phase I, Selections Committee reviews Business Concepts.
  • March 21, 2024: Finalists announced and invited to advance to Phase II

Phase II—Attend FREE Business Training Courses
Participants moving into Phase II will be given free registration to nine valuable educational business courses. Phase II finalists must attend a minimum of four of the outlined course offerings, but may attend all the courses if they wish. Participants seeking to expand an existing business are exempt from the Phase II course requirements but encouraged to attend a Scale and Growth session that will be offered for them.

  • March 26 – June 21, 2024: Phase II Finalists attend business courses and workshops.
    • Courses. Workshops, Sessions include:
      • Launch your business with Customer-Focused Marketing 
      • Startup Roadmap 
      • Balance Sheet vs. Profit & Loss
      • Cash Flow Projections
      • Effective Email Marketing
      • Business Pitch Best Practices 
      • Scale & Growth Roundtable (for expanding businesses) 
      • Retail Design 101  
      • Copyright, Trademark, & Contracts.
  • Participants who complete Phase II will be given FREE access to the newly-launched AI powered Business Plan writing tool and consultation by EntrePlans. Leverage AI-driven ChatGPT prompts and utilize EntrePlans’s financial projections template to create a powerful business plan. Send your completed plan to EntrePlans experts for invaluable feedback and insights.
  • As Battle of the Plans finalists prepare their business plans for Phase III, the local Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) team is offering one-on-one sessions to review the business plans and help finalists build financial projections.

Phase III—The Business Plan Competition
Heading into the final phase of the competition. All Battle of the Plans participants who complete Phase II requirements then more on to finalize and submit a detailed business plan by August 1, 2024 and present their plans at an in-person Pitch Event the week of August 12th. The two winning Business Plans (one new business/one expansion business) will be announced by August 27, 2024.

  • August 1, 2024: Phase III, Finalists Business Plan submission deadline.
  • Week of August 12th: Finalists present their business plans at an in-person pitch event.
  • Week of August 19th: Selections Committee may ask for some final one-on-one with Finalists.
  • August 27, 2024: The two Grand Prize Winners Announced.
  1. To assist with the opening of one new destination business in downtown Billings (within the boundaries of the Expanded N. 27th St. Tax Increment District – hereinafter TIFD), and one expansion of an existing business.
  2. To attract multiple new retail businesses to the Downtown Billings TIFD and strengthen our already established business base. Retail businesses also include entertainment/activity based businesses and food/eateries.
  3. Showcase the broad variety of business opportunities in the Downtown Billings TIFD.
  4. Fill available retail space with new businesses that complement the existing mix and highlight the potential for businesses to stand out.
  • Spring 2016, The Battle of the Plans program initially launches.
  • The 2016 winning business plan for the Business Expansion category was The Pub Station‘s Ballroom expansion.
  • The 2016 winning business plan for the New Business category was awarded to Vintage Apothecary.
  • November 2016, Vintage Apothecary opened their doors at 2818 Third Ave. North.
  • January 2017, The Pub Station’s ballroom expansion officially opened for business.
  • Spring 2017, A second iteration of the Battle of the Plans program launches.
  • The 2017 winning business plan for the Business Expansion category was Well Pared and their plan to open their second location.
  • The 2017 winning business plan for the New Business category was split between two plans; SomethingChic (a clothing boutique that came in 2nd place in 2016 Battle of the Plans New Business category) and a restaurant known as Mason Dixon.
  • Spring 2018, Battle of the Plans coordinators decide to hit the pause button on the program to give the 2017 winners more time to open.
  • September 2018, Funding issue cancels Mason Dixon’s plans to open  – Their Battle of the Plans winnings were transferred to the 2017 Battle of the Plans co-winner, SomethingChic.
  • September 2018, SomethingChic owner, Linda Brooks, starts a crowdfunding campaign to help raise the collateral to secure her Small Business Loan.
  • December 2018, Well Pared opens their downtown location at 2710 First Avenue North.
  • May 2019, SomethingChic opens at 2818 2nd Ave N.
  • October 2019, Vintage Apothecary owner stated her daily Bridger to Billings commute had grown tiresome and relocated her shop to Bridger, MT.
  • December 2022, Well Pared closes all locations after seven years as a brick and mortar (four of which included their downtown location).
  • January 2024, The Pub Station Ballroom (2016) and SomethingChic (2017) downtown Billings locations are still open for business.
  • March 2024, A third iteration of the Battle of the Plans program begins.

The Selection Committee will consist of a representation of Downtown Billings property owners, business leaders, community leaders and representatives from the Promotion partners: The DBA, Big Sky Economic Development, Cushing Terrell, EntrePlans, Start.Grow.Thrive., and Downtown Billings Partnership. 

Eligibility:

  1. This promotion is open to all legal U.S. residents, 18 years of age or older at the time of entry.
  2. Proposed retail businesses can be independent operations or franchised.
  3. If the proposed business concept features an expansion of an existing business, then the proposed expansion must be new to Downtown Billings and can only be the second or third store in the portfolio.
  4. Employees and temporary employees of the Downtown Billings Association, Contest sponsors, and the immediate family of each, are not eligible for entry. 
  5. All business concept submissions must be emailed, delivered, or postmarked to the Downtown Billings Association (DBA) by 5:00 p.m. on March 12, 2024.
  6. Willingness to commit to a 3-year lease in the Billings TIFD. 

Conduct: 

  • By entering the Promotion, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsors, which shall be final and binding in all respects. The Official Rules as outlined in this document will be posted at www.downtownbillings.com and accessible throughout the promotion.
  • Sponsors reserve the right in their sole discretion to disqualify any individual or business they find tampering with the entry process, or the operation of the website; or to be acting in violation of the Official Promotion.
  • Posted on: July 31, 2024

3rd Annual Boots & Beads Art Auction + Indigenous Showcase

Please join us for Triia’s 3rd Annual Boots & Beads Art Auction + Indigenous Showcase at the Pub Station.
This event features live music, comedy, dinner, and auctions.
Triia – Teaching. Reaching. Innovative. Indigenous. Artists., as part of the Native American Development Corporation (NADC), would like to share with you the announcement of our ‘3rd annual Boots & Beads Art Auction & Indigenous Showcase’ to be held in conjunction with Native American Development Corporation’s 15th annual Big Sky Native ECon conference. Boots and Beads brings together Native American entrepreneurs, artists, and business leaders from multiple communities across the country, providing an original networking opportunity.
Enjoy a farm-to-table 3-course dinner, live music from Native American performing artists, and the opportunity to bid on original works of art from a few of our favorite accomplished Native American artists.
  • Posted on: July 25, 2024

Featured: Valley Credit union’s High School Entrepreneurs competition returns, April 12

Featured Article:

Valley Credit Union

April 3, 2023

The Hive is back and better than ever! On April 12th, 10:30 am at the Petro Theatre at Montana State University -Billings (1500 University Drive), eight local high school students will showcase their entrepreneurial skills and compete for real money to kickstart their businesses.

Hosted by Valley Credit Union, The Hive will feature students from Senior, Skyview, and West, as well as the Career Center who have spent the semester learning about entrepreneurship, starting businesses, creating business plans, and selling their products at pop-up events. They are now ready to pitch their ideas to a panel of local businesspeople.

Valley Credit Union will award $5,000 to the first prize winner to assist with startup costs, while Northern Hotel will award $1,500 and $1,000 to the second and third prize finishers, respectively. In addition, TEDxBillings will award $500 to the People’s Choice winner, so be sure to attend and vote for your favorite pitch!

“Valley Credit Union wants to get behind our local high school students who are interested in running their own business one day. We love the opportunity to turn that dream into reality by awarding the winning business a cash prize, and we’re excited this event is returning for a 2nd year.”

Brandon Scala, Valley’s SVP of Business Development

The winners will also receive mentoring from the Billings Chamber of Commerce and Rock 31, plus advertising help from AD Creative.

Come and support our future entrepreneurs and witness the innovation and creativity of our local high school students. The Hive is made possible by Northern Hotel, Billings Chamber of Commerce, AD Creative, Art House Billings, Billings Public Schools, Rock 31, Montana State University Billings, Canvas Creek Team Building, and TEDxBillings.

Mark your calendars and don’t miss out on this exciting event!

About Valley Credit Union

Since 1949, Valley Credit Union has proudly served citizens within its communities, which now includes 30 counties across Montana and Wyoming. From the beginning, the credit union was founded on the promise to provide accommodating, personalized service, as well as top-notch financial services to its members. Those founding principles are the same driving force that still directs its mission today.

For more information about Valley Credit Union, visit www.valleyfcu.com.