The Bresnan Business Incubator is a partnership of Bresnan Communications, Montana's State Department of Commerce and the state's 10 regional Small Business Development Centers. This new program leverages the resources offered by the state agencies in conjunction with Bresnan's telecommunications and advertising infrastructure to increase the success rate of new and developing businesses in Montana.

The Bresnan Business Incubator will increase public awareness of and demand for economic development services already available for entrepreneurs in the state and at their regional SBDCs. This will be done through a series of public service announcements, created and cablecast by Bresnan, which will direct entrepreneurs to a website where they will be asked to complete a short questionnaire about their business proposals. The questionnaires will be forwarded automatically to the Small Business Development Center in their area, where skilled staff will review them and begin the process of advising and assisting their business development. The SBDC advisors will also recommend appropriate businesses for the Bresnan Business Incubator grant program where they will be eligible for Matching Grants of advertising time on Bresnan cable systems and Service Credit Grants for Bresnan Digital Phone and High-Speed Internet. 

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Public Service Announcements: Bresnan is producing and cablecasting $1 million worth of Public Service Announcements to promote the SBDC and Bresnan Business Incubator partnership.
• Advertising Grant: Up to 10 businesses from each of the 10 regions will be eligible for matching cable advertising grants worth up to $10,000 each for a total commitment of $1 million. Bresnan will match the cable advertising budget of each eligible business dollar-for-dollar up to that amount.
• Commercial Production: Bresnan's production staff will assist in developing advertising strategies and then produce television commercial spots at no cost.
• Broadband Services: Bresnan has committed a total of $100,000 in Service Credit Grants to participating businesses for Digital Phone and High-Speed Internet services. (Available in Bresnan service areas only.)

Apply for a Matching Grant