As Montana struggles to reboot its economy from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is stronger statewide appreciation that local businesses and local economies matter. Entrepreneurs shape the identity of a place. And when disaster strikes, our local businesses are the ones we rely on.
Having seen small businesses struggle over the course of the pandemic, many Montanans wonder what they can do to help their communities thrive, keep their downtowns vibrant, and strengthen their local economies.
The answer is simple: Invest in Montana, not Wall Street.
But how?
Nationally acclaimed local investing expert, Michael Shuman, will answer that question and others in a free one-hour educational webinar on "Local Investing in Montana". Shuman will share a range of strategies for how all Montanans - regardless of their wealth or income levels - can be local investors in business, real estate, energy projects, their community, their neighbors and themselves.
Shuman is one of the pioneers of investment crowdfunding and also authored the recent book, Put Your Money Where Your Life Is. In this free webinar he will review why local investment matters, what kinds of local investments to look for, how to find and evaluate them, and where to find the financial resources to support them.
"Having worked with a half dozen communities in Montana,” Shuman says, “I’m impressed with residents’ love of their community businesses and their capacity to innovate. This event will give attendees the tools they need to translate that passion in much needed capital for struggling local businesses.”
"Local Investing in Montana" will take place online from Noon-1:30 PM MT on Tuesday, December 14th. This webinar is provided free of charge and attendees can register here: https://forms.gle/JXHdb3oadD5VGUZq5
Michael H. Shuman is an economist, attorney, author, and entrepreneur, and a leading visionary on community economics. He is an Adjunct Professor at Bard Business School in New York City. He is also a Senior Researcher for Council Fire, where he performs economic-development analyses for states, local governments, and businesses around North America. He is credited with being one of the architects of the 2012 JOBS Act and dozens of state laws overhauling securities regulation of crowdfunding. He has authored, coauthored, or edited ten books. His two most recent books are Put Your Money Where Your Life Is: How to Invest Locally Using Solo 401ks and Self-Directed IRAs and The Local Economy Solution: How Innovative, Self-Financing Pollinator Enterprises Can Grow Jobs and Prosperity and Local Dollars, Local Sense: How to Shift Your Money from Wall Street to Main Street. One of his previous books, The Small Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global Competition (Berrett-Koehler, 2006), received as bronze prize from the Independent Publishers Association for best business book of 2006.