The Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center (MMFEC), located in Ronan, Montana, supports local food production and agricultural projects. Established in 2000, the center serves as a business incubator for small and medium-sized enterprises specializing in food processing and value-added products.
MMFEC is one of four official Food and Agriculture Development Centers in the state of Montana. Its mission includes assisting producers with food safety compliance, fostering local production, and supporting entrepreneurs working in agriculture and the food industry.
The center was created as part of the work of the Lake County Community Development Corporation (LCCDC), a regional organization founded in 1995 to promote economic development in Lake, Mineral, and Sanders Counties, as well as on the Flathead Reservation.
History of the organization
Since 1993, and prior to incorporating as LCCDC, founder Billie Lee actively supported the development of affordable housing programs in Lake County, incubating and helping staff both the City of Ronan Housing Authority and the Lake County Community Housing Organization. Those organizations have since spun-off as independent entities located in Ronan, MT.
LCCDC operates a Business Development Center revolving loan fund which provides capital to new or expanding businesses, creating new jobs in the region. The organization also provides a full range of business services, including technical assistance and education.
In 1999, LCCDC, with help from the USDA Rural Cooperative Service program, established a regional Cooperative Development Center to provide technical assistance to businesses and individuals desiring to establish collaborative business ventures.
In 2000, LCCDC developed the Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center, a food business incubator and processing center located in Ronan, which assists in the development and batch processing for specialty foods and value-added agriculture enterprises as well as regulatory requirements related to food processing. This center is one of four Food and Agriculture Development Centers in the State of Montana.
In 2004, LCCDC was first recognized by the State of Montana as meeting the qualifications for contracting as a Certified Regional Development Corporation (CRDC.) As such, LCCDC also provides outreach services in community and economic development in partnership with other local governments and local development corporations in Mineral and Sanders Counties and the Flathead Indian Reservation known as the Western Rural Development Region.
In 2014, LCDDC was recognized by the US Department of Treasury as a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI). Certification recognizes specialized financial institutions serving low-income communities.
