EPEDC adds two team members

Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation is thrilled to announce two new positions who will be able to provide economic development assistance in Carter, Dawson, Fallon, Prairie and Wibaux Counties.

Alissa Miller will join the EPEDC team as the new Food and Agriculture Development Assistant. Before moving to Baker, Alissa attended Bitterroot Cosmetology, Montana State University in Bozeman and then in Billings. She has worked in many areas of business within Fallon County and is currently serving as Vice President of the Baker Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, a 4H Organizational Leader, and volunteer in many areas of need in Baker. Alissa runs a small trucking business with her husband, Jon. She has 4 children that are active in sports and community activities.

She is excited to work with EPEDC in assisting the growth of the Food and Ag Programs and businesses in our area. She is passionate about being given the opportunity to help rural communities thrive. Alissa will be working with the Eastern Montana Food & Ag Development Center, which is one of eight centers located inside of our state's borders. The Montana Food and Agricultural Development Center (FADC) Network helps Montanans innovate and grow businesses that produce and commercialize food, agricultural and renewable energy products, and processes, creating wealth and jobs in our communities and on our farms and ranches. The centers - located throughout Montana - operate as a statewide network serving community-based businesses.

The centers support economic development by ensuring that more of the state's food, agricultural and energy dollars circulate in Montana. The network provides training, coaching and technical assistance.

Melissa Higbee joins the EPEDC team as the new Downtown Development Specialist. Higbee will be actively assisting EPEDC alongside the EPEDC team in accomplishing tasks and projects throughout the five-county district.

She graduated from Casper College in Casper Wyoming with a certificate in Activities Coordinator Director in 2010. She has worked in activities in the senior care centers for a totally of 5 years where she implemented many programs to keep our seniors active and healthy. Higbee brings with her an extensive knowledge of event and organizational planning, as well as direct experience working with the federal government. She is originally from Georgia and moved out West 11 years ago, first to Buffalo, Wyoming then to Montana when she met her husband who is a native to Montana and has lived in Baker for 7 years now. She loves small towns and rural settings, which is something she did not have growing up, and wants to give her children a small-town upbringing, where the pace of life is just right.

She is excited to be part of a team here at EPEDC to help keep rural communities thriving and cannot wait to dive in and work alongside other passionate people trying to better southeastern Montana.

You can contact Alissa Miller, Food and Agriculture Development Assistant at fada@epedc.com and Melissa Higbee, Downtown Development Specialist at dds@epedc.com.