Video by Meadowlark Drones, LLC
About us
In 2001, a group of community-minded volunteers founded Snowy Mountain Development Corporation (SMDC) as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to build community and economic capital in a six-county area comprised of Fergus, Judith Basin, Wheatland, Petroleum, Musselshell and Golden Valley Counties situated at the geographical heart of the State of Montana.
Local, state, and federal governments provide funding for SMDC to carry out this mission. Notably, the US Economic Development Administration recognizes SMDC as an Economic Development District and the State of Montana recognizes SMDC as a Certified Regional Development Corporation. With these designations is funding to support SMDC's partnerships with local governments, community organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs to implement key community and economic development projects.
SMDC is a Montana Economic Developer's Association (MEDA) member organization. SMDC's central office is located in Lewistown, Montana.
SMDC is an equal opportunity provider, lender, and employer.
_edited_edited.png)
Our Region
Snowy Mountain Development Corporation serves six counties in Central Montana: Fergus, Judith Basin, Wheatland,
Petroleum, Musselshell, and Golden Valley.
Home to nearly 22,000 people, the 12,328-square-mile area features a breathtaking mixture of plains and island mountain ranges, punctuated by rural communities. Agriculture, manufacturing, and construction industries anchor the region's economy.
The region's strengths are its historic structures and landmarks, industry diversification, recreational assets, natural resources, very low crime rates, and high-quality educational opportunities.
Additional programs and critical partnership extend SMDCs service area. The Brownfields Coalition through a partnership with the City of Lewistown and Montana Business Assistance Connection (Helena, MT) extends services to Meagher, Park, Gallatin, Broadwater and Lewis & Clark counties.
The APEX Accelerator network, connecting small businesses with government contract opportunities extends north and east including Blaine, Phillips, Valley and Garfield counties.
Our Team
Kathie Bailey
In Memoriam
Snowy Mountain Development Corporation
2001-2021
In May 2001, Kathie Ann Bailey founded Snowy Mountain Development Corporation and served as its first executive director until her passing in May 2021. She designed the organization’s services to provide business, economic and community consulting services to an all-rural six-county area of Central Montana. As a result of her efforts, she built SMDC into a multimillion-dollar organization sanctioned by the State of Montana as a Certified Regional Development Corporation and the U.S Economic Development Administration as a Federal Economic Development District. She assembled a highly proficient team of professional women that she handpicked and mentored to carry forth her legacy. To be sure, Central Montana’s landscape reflects the thousands of hours and millions of dollars that she invested passionately, selflessly, and honorably in the community she loved so deeply. More than anything, Kathie exemplified Montana’s stalwart spirit of grit, guts and glory. Rest in peace, our brilliant "Barracuda" Bailey.
Board of Directors
The Snowy Mountain Development Board of Directors drives strategic initiatives for sustainable growth and community engagement, leveraging diverse expertise to preserve our region's natural beauty and enhance quality of life.
Fergus County
Ross Butcher, Fergus County Commissioner
Katie Spika, Lewistown City Commissioner
Gary Barta, Business At-Large Representative
Judith Basin County
Cody McDonald, Judith Basin County Commissioner
Kent Ridgeway, Former Stanford Mayor
Golden Valley County
Allen Davis, Ryegate Mayor
Vicki Berger, Business At-Large Representative
Wheatland County
Jeff Sell, Wheatland County Commissioner
Paul Otten, Judith Gap City Mayor
Jace Barrett, Business At-Large Business Representative
Musselshell County
Robert Pancratz, Musselshell County Commissione
Sandra Jones, Roundup City Mayor
Petroleum County
Paul Mckenna, Petroleum County Commissioner
Carol Schaeffer, Petroleum County
Kathleen Johnson, Petroleum County