Bear Paw touts $19.2 million brought to area in 2009

Bear Paw Development Corp. had a record year, despite an economic downturn, with $19.2 million brought into a five-county region, which encompasses Rocky Boy's and Fort Belknap Indian reservations. Bear Paw received $90,000 in total from the region's governments. For each dollar of that local investment, Bear Paw leveraged $214, Paul Tuss, the economic development agency's executive director, told Havre City Council members Monday evening. "In my perspective, a very good return on investment," he said. In 2008, the return was $99 per $1 from the $8.9 million total. Stimulus funding was one...