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Community Development Publications
 Serving on County Boards, Districts, Commissions and Committees in Montana: A Handbook for Members, Local Government Officials and Citizens
Provides information for citizens, local government officials and board members. It includes information on Montana's Open Meetings Law, Code of Ethics, membership liability and Robert's Rules of Order in addition to a list and description of the major county boards, commissions, councils and districts in the state.
(2008)
4500 $8.00/Paper or 4500E $4.00/PDF
Using Focus Groups for Community Development (PDF 249K)
Focus groups can be an effective means of involving citizens in a decision making process. Yet focus groups can also increase conflict and strain group dynamics if not properly executed. This publication provides information on the reasons to use a focus group, the steps involved, the types of questions that could be posed and expected outcomes. (2008) MT200807HR FREE
 Public Lands in Montana: A Guide for Counties and Communities
Provides information on the political and economic implications of public lands in Montana. (2007) Email Commdev@montana.edu for copies
Crooked Bow, A Niche Marketing Development Case Study (PDF 1.31MB)
This case study documents the effort of a small group of beef producers on the Flathead Reservation in northwest Montana to develop and market a value added beef jerky product. It reviews the process, through interviews with those involved, from the initial idea through the successful development and marketing of the product. (2005) 4493 Free
Nature Tourism Business (Video)
Natural attractions throughout America provide the backdrop for a host of tourist opportunities. This video provides an overview of nature tourism businesses ranging from bird watching, photo tours, ATV recreation, environmental lodges, scenic flights and others. Businesses in Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, Utah and Wyoming are featured. (2003) VIDEO045 $14.95
Planning Meeting Agendas (PDF 86K)
Meeting agendas have many benefits, yet surprisingly few leaders take the time to plan and circulate an agenda ahead of time. This publication will help group leaders construct, disseminate and use an effective meeting agenda. (2002) MT198433HR Free
Setting Group Goals (PDF 70K)
Groups are often ambitious in achieving initial goals, but then stagnate when new goals are not set. This MontGuide describes several methods for setting and achieving group goals, including brainstorming, the nominal group technique and force field analysis. (Reprinted 2002) MT198401HR Free
Facilitating Strategic Planning (Revised)
This brochure provides a step-by-step guide for conducting strategic planning. It is intended for facilitators coordinating strategic planning efforts of community, governmental, and non-profit organizations in which the time of staff and volunteers is limited. (2000) EB0076 Free
Community Tourism Assessment Program (Video)
Developed by the Western Rural Development Center to help communities determine their tourism potential, the Community Tourism Assessment Program has been implemented in over a dozen Montana communities by the MSU Extension Service and the Montana Department of Commerce's Travel Montana division. Towns featured in the video include Choteau, Deer Lodge, Ft. Belknap, Hamilton, Lewistown and Three Forks. (1998) VIDEO040 $14.95
Basics of Marketing for Small Business and Entrepreneurs (PDF 20K)
Steps small businesses should take in marketing their products or services. (1997) MT199012HR Free
Managing Community Growth
Environmentally attractive communities, especially in the western United States, continue to experience an influx of residents seeking a better quality of life. Many of these towns are scrambling to find ways to manage growth, both inside and outside their city limits. This program explores some of the management techniques used by Rocky Mountain communities. (1997) VIDEO039 $14.95
Marketing Research for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Managers (PDF 114K)
No matter what your budget or experience, marketing research can help your business market more successfully.(1997) MT199013HR Free
The Importance of Image for Retailers.
Unsatisfactory store images leave lasting impressions on consumers. This
guide outlines how small business owners can evaluate and improve their image -- from store appearance to staff presence. (1997) MT199705HR Free
Growing Pains: Managing Population Growth in the West (Video)
Explores the impacts of a population shift toward environmentally attractive regions and how communities in Montana, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico are attempting to cope. (1996) VIDEO037 $14.95
A Primer for Montana Taxes.
Analyzes Montana's changing tax base, government revenue sources, changing property tax base, natural resource taxes and attempts to answer the question: How high are Montana's Taxes? Includes 7 graphs. (1996) MT199601AG Free
Starting a Small Business: The Feasibility Analysis (PDF 107K)
How to evaluate whether your business idea is worth pursuing. Includes worksheets. (1996) MT199510HR Free
Fun on the Farm: Starting A Farm and Ranch Recreation Business
A growing number of farmers and ranchers are adding recreational activities as a way to diversify their income. Video includes interviews with Montanans who operate bed and breakfasts, dude ranches, working guest ranches and cattle drives. Also addresses licensing and health requirements. (1995) VIDEO036 $14.95
Effective Communication (HTML)
Effective communication is crucial for working successfully with others. It enables us to maintain relationships and accomplish tasks with both individuals and groups. (1991) Circular 1291 Free
Group Communication (HTML)
We belong to groups to satisfy needs that we cannot meet on our own. By coming together with others, we pool our knowledge and experience to make decisions and accomplish tasks more efficiently than we could individually. We consider groups so important that the average person will spend one year of his or her life in group meetings! Clearly, the more effectively we operate in groups, the greater the return on the investment of our time. (1991) Circular 1291 Free
Community Action Process
Most community projects are initiated to deal with a particular problem or opportunity. The problem/opportunity may involve only a few members of the community or it may affect nearly all of them. In either case, it will have a history, a prior situation that leads some community members to respond. (1987) EB 0015 Free
Conflict Management
We tend to think that harmony is normal, that conflict is abnormal, something we should try to manage in some fashion and eliminate as quickly as possible. Yet, conflict is a natural part of relationships. It will normally emerge, subside and re-emerge in ongoing relationships between individuals, group members or between different groups. (1987) MT198515HR Free
Motivating Member Participation (HTML)
Most leaders are concerned about participation in their groups. Leaders want to know why some members exert more effort than others, why their own levels of motivation vary from time to time and what they can do to influence the level of participation. (1987) EB 0017 Free
The Individual and the Group
Individuals participate in groups to satisfy a variety of individual needs. In so doing, they play a number of different roles. Some roles help the group accomplish its tasks. Others help maintain the group, and still others are disruptive to the group and impede its pr ogress. A knowledge of group members' major needs and some of the predominant roles played will help leaders understand what's going on in their group. (1986) MT198402HR Free
Group Communication
By coming together with others, we pool our knowledge and experience to make decisions and accomplish tasks more efficiently than we could individually. We consider groups so important that the average person will spend one year of his or her life in group meetings! Clearly , the more effectively we operate in groups, the greater the return on the investment of our time. (1985) 2C1292 Free
Choosing Leadership Styles (HTML)
The leadership style you adopt in different situations can influence both how well your group accomplishes its goals and how well it maintains itself. Your leadership style in a given situation consists of your behavior patterns as you deal with the group. These patterns emerge as you succeed or fail in confronting group events. (1984) Montguide 8404 Free
How to Make Your Views Known as Citizens of Montana(1984) MT198422HR Free
Setting Group Goals (HTML)
Setting group goals also helps a group determine which activities to conduct. Goals are the ends group members hope to accomplish, and activities are the means to those ends. Thus a good measure of the worth of any activity is the extent to which it helps a group reach its goals. (1984) Montguide 8401 Free
The Contribution of Rural Hospitals to the Local Economies
The purpose of this paper is to present estimates of the contributions which hospitals make to the incomes of rural communities, and to discuss the implications of these calculations for recent health policy initiatives. (1980) 1B724 Free
Basic Quality of Secondary Education in Rural Montana
This report describes the economics of what is put into Montana schools (resources) compared to what comes out (educational achievement). (1976) 1B685 Free
An Assessment of Public Services in Selected Eastern Montana Counties
The purpose of this report is to examine the types and quality of public services available in sparsely settled rural areas of eastern Montana. (1975) 1RR085 Free
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