Making it in Big Sky: Prospera’s Shayna Blaser

EBS STAFF

Like many, Shayna Blaser ended up in southwest Montana because she fell in love—with both the beauty of the area, and her now-husband. Now married for over a decade, Blaser has made herself at home here and is working with Prospera, an economic development agency based in Bozeman, which helps businesses all across the valley, and now—thanks to a rather new partnership with the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce—all the way down Gallatin Canyon and to Big Sky. Explore Big Sky spoke to Blaser, now Prospera’s director of regional economic development, about this partnership and how it can bolster’s the work our chamber does, and how they help businesses both young and old succeed in unique climate of the Big Sky area.

This series is part of a paid partnership with the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce. The following answers have been edited for brevity.

Explore Big Sky: Shayna, first tell me a little about yourself—when did you move to the area and what brought you here?

Shayna Blaser: I moved to Bozeman in 2012 after graduating from college at the University of Alabama. I was born and raised in Colorado and while on break my sophomore year of college, I met my now husband who was a lifelong fly-fisherman. He started a fly fishing outfitter here in Bozeman back in 2010 so after I graduated from college, I moved up here to be with him. Long story short—I followed a fishing boy to the Montana waters, and it worked out, we’ve been married for over 10 years.

EBS: How did you get involved with Prospera?

SB: I had a background in business consulting and nonprofit work. In 2021, Prospera was hiring for a new women’s business center program director, and a friend that worked at Prospera at the time recommended me for the position. This role combined my knowledge of business ownership and operations as well as nonprofit program management. In the women’s business center role I helped women launch, scale and operate their Montana-based small business through no-cost business counseling and planning business technical trainings. In 2022, I helped to launch a statewide mentorship program for women called, 56Strong, where we aim to connect women owned businesses in all of Montana’s 56 counties. We are launching our third cohort of the program in January 2025.

EBS: Give me a little background of Prospera and how it got started in the Gallatin Valley area.

SB: Prospera is a nonprofit organization advancing community-centered business development in southwest Montana. Founded in 1985, Prospera emerged at the intersection of business and community, dedicated to fortifying businesses and the regional economy. In its early days, Prospera spearheaded initiatives to recruit new businesses to the area, initiated a community driven revolving loan fund, and garnered widespread backing for local industry. During this period, the economy faced slow growth, prompting a concerted effort to attract high-paying job opportunities.

Beginning in the early 2000s, Prospera gained momentum and broadened its influence, achieving new milestones in its endeavor to enhance businesses and stimulate regional economic growth. By 2006, the organization extended its services to Gallatin and Park counties, assumed management of local loan funds, and launched the Montana Women’s Business Center in 2010. In 2012, the Montana Department of Commerce designated Prospera as a Certified Regional Development Corporation, opening avenues for the organization to be the premier business and community development organization in southwest Montana. These milestones facilitated the establishment of future innovative programs and collaborations.

EBS: For those unfamiliar, what does Prospera do and what services do you offer?

Prospera helps businesses and communities find their pathway to success, acting as the navigator, problem solver and catalyst for a strong Montana economy. Prospera does this by offering access to capital, business advising and trainings, community development, and peer networking. Prospera is home to a regional Small Business Development Center, a Food and Agriculture Development Center, the Montana Women’s Business Center,  and the Prospera Loan Funds Program.

EBS: How has Prospera changed and adapted to need with the growth of the area?

SB: Prospera has adapted to the growth of the area by expanding its focus to meet the evolving needs of the community. This includes expanding our programs and services to support a broader range of entrepreneurs, in all types of industries including expanding our reach to our rural communities. The organization has also placed greater emphasis on collaboration with local partners to address economic challenges and seize new opportunities, ensuring that we remain responsive and relevant in a changing landscape. Examples of this include:

• Prospera providing a $250,000 loan to Human Resource Development Council for its Homeward Point emergency housing project in a collaborative effort with the Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce.
• A mobile home court in Belgrade is a new resident-owned-community with a $650,000 loan from Prospera, Gallatin County and the City of Belgrade—a first-time partnership project with NeighborWorks Montana.
• Prospera now has monthly business counseling office hours in Livingston in partnership with Explore Livingston
• Prospera is a consortium member of the Headwaters Tech Hub, which is an EDA designation that is advancing the photonics and remote sensory industries in Montana.

EBS: Tell me about the partnership between the Big Sky Chamber and Prospera? How do your strengths work together to help local businesses succeed?

SB: Brad Niva, CEO of the Big Sky Chamber, came to us with this idea to have a more formal process of supporting businesses in Big Sky. In 2023, seven businesses in Big Sky closed their doors due to challenges they faced from operating in Big Sky. The challenges that businesses face in Big Sky are unique, from being in two counties, a lack of workforce, transportation to Big Sky, child care expenses and shortage, strong tourism traffic and slow off-season sales, and the list goes on. Our partnership provides businesses with more support in overcoming these unique challenges. Prospera now has business counselors in Big Sky two times each month meeting with businesses through our no-cost business counseling and we are hosting a  Business Lunch and Learn Series where business owners are able to, for one hour a month come together and share resources, network and focus on specific challenges currently facing them and their businesses. Funding for this partnership came from Big Sky Resort Area District.

EBS: What has been your favorite aspect of working with local businesses?

SB: One of the most rewarding aspects of working with local businesses is seeing firsthand how passionate entrepreneurs transform their ideas into thriving enterprises. It’s incredibly fulfilling to help guide them through challenges and witness their growth, not just in terms of business success, but also in their personal development as leaders and community contributors. Building strong, lasting relationships with these business owners and knowing that our support has a tangible impact on their lives and the local economy makes the work deeply meaningful. No two days or two conversations are the same. We have some incredible business owners and innovative residents in Montana and it’s great to watch them succeed and have lasting impacts in our communities and even sometimes impact on a global scale.

EBS: Anything else you think the Big Sky and surrounding community should know about Prospera and the work you do?

SB: We’re not just about helping businesses succeed; we’re committed to building a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous community where everyone has the chance to thrive. Our work is driven by the needs of the community, and we continually adapt to ensure we’re providing the most relevant and impactful support. To get connected with us simply call at 406-587-3113 or reach us online at prosperamt.org.