WASHINGTON - Montana's Congressman, Denny Rehberg, secured $150,000 in federal funds for MSU-Bozeman's Tech Ranch Technology Venture Center Incubator Program (TVC) as part of the 2008 Financial Services Appropriations Bill. Tech Ranch works with Montana entrepreneurs to increase business development opportunities.

"Small businesses are the engine that drives our state's economy," said Rehberg, a member of the Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittee. "And the entrepreneurs developing them are the ones behind the wheel. The Technology Venture Center has a proven track record of job creation and are responsible for more than 200 new jobs in Montana over the past several years. These funds will help drive future expansion and the creation of more good-paying jobs."

The Technology Venture Center (TVC), located at the Montana State University Advanced Technology Park, is Montana's leading non-profit business development organization for the high tech sector and provides a variety of services to MSU research scientists and technology transfer professionals; innovation entrepreneurs; and start-up companies in the tech sector throughout the state of Montana. The primary focus of operations is to assist start-up ventures in the technology sector get launched, funded, and develop support systems for long term sustainability and profitability.

"TechRanch and the entrepreneurs in Montana we serve are once again thankful for Congressman Rehberg's continued support of the state's entrepreneurial community," said John O'Donnell. "These funds will help TechRanch lead the effort to commercialize research discovered at Montana Universities and create Montana based jobs. This assistance will benefit the new developing businesses across the state and, in turn, help us to strengthen the state's economy."

"We need to do all that we can to make Montana competitive in the economy of the 21st century," added Rehberg. "By investing in Montana-based technology firms, we're investing in our economic future."