The Beartooth Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc. (Beartooth RC&D) is asking the City Council to renew a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Beartooth's economic development services through Dec. 31, 2015.

Beartooth RC&D is a Federal grant-funded rural and economic development agency that has operated since 1969 in five south-central Montana counties, including Yellowstone County.  Federal funds are matched in Yellowstone County by a $3,500 membership fee and a $22,920.95 assessment, both of which are split among the County, the Big Sky Economic Development Authority (BSEDA) and the cities of Billings and Laurel. The City of Billings' portion of that amount is $9,871.54.  Those paying membership fees are represented on the Beartooth Board of Directors; Billings' representative currently is Council Member Al Swanson.

Projects for 2014-15 through the Beartooth Big Sky Trust Fund included:

• A $26,250 planning grant to the BillingsWorks Workforce Council for a strategic plan in partnership with BSEDA;
• A $26,250 planning grant to the Billings Area Chamber of Commerce for a convention and conference center feasibility study;
• A $21,100 grant for an economic impact study for the proposed Trailhead Commerce Park project;
• A $26,285 planning grant to offset building expansion expenses for Promise Holdings, LLC;
• A $26,250 planning grant to offset expenses for creating a training protocol to export GTUIT, LLC, technology to Egypt;
• Planning to help expand the Yellowstone County Museum into the Museum of the Yellowstone; and
• Identifying funding opportunities for the Lockwood Pedestrian Safety District.

Beartooth RC&D also is a state-recognized Certified Regional Development District, the state Food and Ag Development Center and the Montana Cooperative Development Center.

City Council may:

• Approve the MOU and payment;
• Postpone action on the MOU and payments, or;
• Disapprove the MOU and/or payments.

The City of Billings' annual Board dues are $9,871.54.  These represent 36% of Yellowstone County's base fee of $3,500, plus an assessment of .1537 cents per capita, based on the most current Federal Census estimate.  A total of $10,000 is budgeted for the Beartooth RC&D contributions in FY 2015.

Other contributions from the area are $6,581.03 (24%) from Yellowstone County; $1,645.26 (6%) from Laurel; and $9,323.12 (34%) from BSEDA.

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the MOU and payment of the invoices.