History of the Coalition
According to the Center for Enterprise Development (CFED), a national leader in economic development and publisher of annual Assets & Opportunities Scorecards for the states, even the most basic necessities are currently out of reach for almost a third of Montanans who are deemed "asset impoverished." In an effort to help Montana transcend the C grade from its most recent Scorecard, CFED provided funding to create a statewide asset building coalition, as has been successfully accomplished in several states nationwide.
Over the course of several convenings held towards the end of 2009, all of which are summarized in our Montana Asset Building Coalition Reflection Piece, partners were identified and engaged in the objective of synchronizing asset building efforts through the formation of a coalition.
In the creation of what is now BEST Montana, we have effectively brought together the key players in asset building: those who are spearheading financial education in schools, growing awareness of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) eligibility, opening matched savings accounts (IDAs), encouraging workforce development and training opportunities, increasing access to health care and post-secondary education, protecting Montana consumers from predatory lending, and so forth.
Through our unity, we have strength. Our coalition members have a greater ability to share, learn, connect and mobilize in an effort to secure the BEST for Montanans.