Missoula Development Authority (MDA)

In 1997, the Board of County Commissioners appointed the Missoula Development Authority to maintain oversight of the development, management, and marketing in and for tax increment districts in Missoula County. The Authority is a seven-member board. 

The Missoula Development Authority exists to promote, stimulate, develop and advance the general welfare, commerce, economic development and prosperity of Missoula County and its residents as well as to advise the Missoula Board of County Commissioners on the development of infrastructure to encourage the location and retention of value-adding projects using Tax Increment Financing.

They do this by advising the Board of County Commissioners on TEDD- and TIF-related matters pursuant to MCA 7-1-201 and overseeing the Missoula Port Authority pursuant to MCA 7-14-11. See the Missoula Development Authority Bylaws here.

The Board consists of seven regular members and two alternate members who vote in the absence of a regular member. The Missoula County commissioners appoint board members.

In 2023 the following boards were consolidated into the Missoula Development Authority and no longer exist as stand-alone boards:

• Technology District Advisory Board
• Bonner Mill Industrial District Advisory Board
• Bonner West Log Yard Advisory Board

Specific Powers of the MDA:

Review the financial position of the Development Authority at any time and receive quarterly financial statements.
• Subject to approval by the Board of County Commissioners, enter intoformal and informal arrangements, agreements or partnerships with other agencies or entities who can assist in the accomplishment of the purpose, goals and objects of the Development Authority.
• Establish the goals and work plans of the Development Authority staff and review the annual progress toward these ends.
• Recommend an annual budget of the Development Authority to the Board of County Commissioners for their approval.
• Recommend specific projects to the Commission for their approval.
• Serve as an ambassador for the Development Authority to the Missoula community.
• Recommend contracts to BCC for purchases required by the County’s purchasing policy. Purchases of less than the amount required to enter a contract may be approved by the Director per Missoula County policy.

Board Meetings

MDA board meetings are held at 3:15 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday quarterly Jan., March, June, Sept., in the Sophie Moiese Room of the Missoula County Courthouse Annex. The meetings are open to the public and last approximately two hours. 
Visit the Missoula County board portal for updated agendas and meetings.

Timeline

 •1991: Airport Tax Increment Financing Industrial Development District (TIFID) created by resolution.

• 1996: Port Authority created by resolution.

• 1997: New Port Authority resolution passed, superseding 1996 resolution.

• 1997: I-90 Interchange Project is the first and only time that both Port Authority mills and tax increment are used together.

• 2005: Technology District created by resolution.

• 2006: I-90 Interchange Project bonds rolled into new TIF-only bonding. County reimburses itself for Port Authority mills, never using the Port Authority again.

• 2013: Bonner Mill TEDD is created by resolution.

• 2014: Bonner Log Yard TEDD created by resolution.

• 2016: Airport Industrial Development District sunsets after 25 years, having created substantial new tax base. Taxing jurisdictions, including schools and rural fire, receive a windfall in tax revenue that would not have existed without the district.

• 2017: City of Missoula annexes the Airport Industrial Development Park, creating additional tax revenue for the City of Missoula.

• 2019: The Wye TEDD was created by resolution.

• 2023: Missoula Development Authority delegated by resolution to advise the Board of County Commissioners for all TEDD and TIF related matters by resolution, mooting all previous TEDD boards. New bylaws adopted to affirm role of Port Authority, accommodate modern communication and meeting options, and oversee all TEDD districts. The Wye 2 TEDD proposed, workforce housing listed as an infrastructure deficiency for the first time.