Jon Tester, U.S. Senator

Senate President Carried Successful Bill to Restore Made in Montana Program

Jon Tester today attended the Made in Montana trade show in Great Falls and said that he was proud to carry the bill in the 2005 Montana Legislature that restored the program that promotes products, businesses and jobs in the state.

The Made in Montana program, which was created in 1984 to identify and promote products made and/or grown in Montana, was targeted for drastic budget cuts by the Martz administration.

But Tester and other leading lawmakers fought successfully to restore the program to boost small business and create jobs in Montana.

Tester was the primary sponsor of the bill (Senate Bill 329) in the 2005 Legislature that legally recognized the Made in Montana program as an important part of the Montana Department of Commerce.

“Getting rid of this program was just plain wrong,� Tester said. “Made in Montana helps small business, creates jobs and promotes the products we make and grow in this state. And as a farmer who grows and markets my products across the country and around the world, I’m glad I could play a part in bringing this program back to life in Montana.�

Tester’s bill, which was signed into law by Governor Schweitzer, institutionalized the Made in Montana program and helps protect it from future cuts or elimination.

Made in Montana program participants, such as small businesses, can use the popular round, blue label to mark their products as Montana made. Participants also have access to the Online Products Directory maintained by the state to increase market access.

“This is an important tool we can give to our small businesses—the backbone of Montana’s economy—to help them grow,� Tester said. “People are interested in Montana and we need to help our businesses capitalize on that interest.�

Tester’s bill online: http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/2005/billhtml/SB0329.htm

Made in Montana online: http://www.madeinmontanausa.com/

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Posted on Friday, March 10th, 2006 at 3:20 pm.