Partners

Rural Dynamics Incorporated is a network of partners with shared values surrounding a vision.

Tax Help Montana

Providing free tax preparation to low-income individuals at 32 sites across Montana. Tax Help has prepared over 5,600 Federal returns in the last three years and is the only no-cost tax prep service to work in reservation communities.
Montana’s Credit Union Network including sites located at: 1st Liberty Federal Credit Union in Conrad, 1st Liberty Federal Credit Union in Cut Bank, Russell County Federal Credit Union in Fairfield, Russell County Federal Credit Union in Fort Benton, Fort Peck Community Federal Credit Union in Glasgow, Bear Paw Credit Union in Havre, Park Side Federal Credit Union in Kalispell; Other partners include: Montana Legal Services Association, The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program [RSVP], The Internal Revenue Service, The Attorney General’s Office, Blackfeet Community College, Fort Belknap Community College, Chief Dull Knife Community College, Rocky Mountain College, The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Stone Child College, The Great Falls Public Library, Browning Public Schools, The Great Falls Senior Center, The Billings Public Library, Great Falls Weed and Seed, The Montana State Governors Office, Little Big Horn College, Browning Community Development Corporation, Hope Center of Billings, Harvest Church of Billings, The Great Falls Community Recreation Center, Fort Belknap SBDC, Flathead Valley Community College, Northwest Montana Human Resources, Senator Max Baucus, The Montana Department of Revenue, The W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Head Start, Congressman Denny Rehberg, The Montana Community Foundation, Montana HomeOwnership Network, The Montana Association of Counties, Great Falls Public Schools, PPL of Montana, Opportunities, Inc.

Bridge to Benefits

We have partnered with the Otto Bremer Foundation and the Children’s Defense Fund and have developed an online tool that will allow people to determine their eligibility for services such as school lunches, energy assistance, or food support by answering as little as six simple questions.

Otto Bremer Foundation, Children’s Defense Fund of Minnesota

Youth Entrepreneurship Camp

RDI will hold a youth entrepreneurship camp this June for low-income American Indian children. The camp will help them develop the skills and confidence necessary for them to develop their own businesses along with providing them with the tools and mentoring to support their personal and business development.

Montana Indian Business Alliance, University of Great Falls, UGF Students in Free Enterprise

Alternative to Payday Lending

We are contracting with the Montana Credit Union Network to provide an alternative to payday loans. Participating credit union will provide affordable payday loans to clients. Those who are repeat borrowers will receive financial literacy classes and credit counseling if necessary.

Montana Credit Unions for Community Development

Native American Credit Counseling

We are training Native American credit counselors to provide credit counseling in underserved reservation communities. We are in the process of training and mentoring six counselors who will serve the Blackfeet, Northern Cheyenne, and Crow reservations.

Anti-Predatory Lending Ballot Initiative

We are part of the coalition of organizations pushing for the passage of the anti-predatory lending initiative that will cap payday lending interest rates at 36%

Other legislative issues include pushing for a statewide cap on refund anticipation loans, protections for those with mortgages, and providing people with the option to freeze their credit to prevent or halt identity theft.

Working for Equality and Economic Liberation (WEEL), HomeWORD, Montana Department of Justice, Montana Human Rights Network, Montana Legal Services Association, The Mitchell Group, State Employees International Union

IDA programs

We are facilitating or funding several IDA programs across the state including the Family Economic Security Program IDA for TANF families in Cascade and Lewis and Clark counties, the NeighborWorks IDA program in Great Falls, and the Chief Dull Knife College IDA program.

Family Economic Security Council, NeighborWorks, Chief Dull Knife College, First Interstate Bank, Stockman Bank

Northern Plains Action Lab

We are building regional business and nonprofit capacity by connecting volunteer professional consultants to small businesses and nonprofits in rural and reservation communities.

Financial Literacy

We are working with OPI on the development of a K-12 multidisciplinary financial literacy curriculum.

Montana Office of Public Instruction

Health Care Exploratory

We are exploring the health issues of rural and reservation communities to determine regional needs and help plot a course to healthier communities.

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