Headwaters RC&D
Headwaters RC&D is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development organization serving seven counties in Southwest Montana, delivering free small business counseling, revolving loan financing, agricultural development, HUD-certified homebuyer education, brownfields cleanup, and government contracting assistance to entrepreneurs, ranchers, and local property owners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersButte, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Headwaters RC&D does
Headwaters RC&D Area, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1973 and headquartered in Butte, Montana, that delivers economic and community development services across a seven-county region of Southwest Montana covering approximately 17,486 square miles and 80,000 residents. The organization was designated an Economic Development District (EDD) by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Agency in 1993, and operates programs through cooperative agreements and grants from the SBA, EPA, USDA, HUD, DLA, and the State of Montana. Its core service lines include the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) providing free counseling and training, a Revolving Loan Fund offering $5,000–$150,000 gap financing at 6%–8% interest with flexible 5–20 year terms, the Food & Agriculture Development Center (including the Meat and Poultry Lending Program at 3%–5% interest), HUD-certified Homebuyer Education ($60–$99 per participant), an EPA-funded Brownfields cleanup program with 1%–2% cleanup loans, and the Montana APEX Accelerator for government contracting assistance.
The business model is overwhelmingly grant- and fee-light rather than commercial: most direct services (SBDC counseling, APEX consulting, brownfields assessments, pop-up events) are delivered free to end users and underwritten by federal and state cooperative agreements. Revenue-generating streams are limited to revolving loan interest (6%–8%), loan origination and administrative fees (1%–2% plus $175), and modest tuition from in-person and online homebuyer classes. Distribution is community- and field-led: a single Butte headquarters paired with the traveling Boost Your Business Pop-Up Event circuit visiting ten or more Southwest Montana towns, plus statewide telephone and appointment-based delivery for APEX services. Governance is multi-stakeholder, drawing representatives from nine conservation districts, seven counties, fourteen municipalities, and at-large community sectors (lending, ranching, labor, tourism, minorities, small business). Customer segments are exclusively small businesses, ranchers/agricultural producers, first-time homebuyers, government contractors, and brownfields property owners — there is no enterprise or technology-product customer base.
In November 2020 the organization entered an 18-month joint venture with Butte Local Development Corp, consolidating offices on the fifth floor of the Thornton Building in Uptown Butte and exploring operation under a single umbrella, signaling a structural expansion of organizational scope. The technology stack is non-proprietary: the website is hosted on Wix, there is no mobile app, no public API, no SDK, and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities. The core competitive position rests on its federal EDD designation, multi-agency grant relationships, 52-year operating history, and embedded community-governance structure rather than on technology or product differentiation.
Headwaters RC&D firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Headwaters RC&D
- Legal name
- Headwaters RC&D Area, Inc.
- Website
- https://headwatersrcd.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Headwaters RC&D is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development organization serving seven counties in Southwest Montana, delivering free small business counseling, revolving loan financing, agricultural development, HUD-certified homebuyer education, brownfields cleanup, and government contracting assistance to entrepreneurs, ranchers, and local property owners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Headwaters RC&D industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Economic Development Services
- NAICS
- Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)
- akta.pro primary industry
- SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)
Keywords
Where Headwaters RC&D is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Butte
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Headwaters RC&D business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Loan Programs: Headwaters operates revolving loan funds providing financing to entrepreneurs who do not qualify for or cannot access traditional commercial bank funds. Loan amounts range from $5,000 to $150,000 with interest rates typically 6%-8%, plus origination fees of 1%-2% and $175 administrative fee.
- Homebuyer Education Classes: In-person homebuyer education classes offered at $60 per person or $95 per couple. Online options through eHome America ($99) and Framework ($75) provide additional revenue streams.
- Grant Administration: The organization administers various grant programs including Big Sky Trust Fund, Meat Poultry Intermediary Lending Program ($9,752,250 grant awarded to coalition), Brownfields cleanup funding from EPA, and various state agricultural grants.
- Government Contracting Assistance: Montana APEX Accelerator provides free confidential consulting and training for government contracting. Services are funded through a cooperative agreement with Defense Logistics Agency, making services free to Montana businesses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Revolving Loan Fund - Loan amounts $5,000 to $150,000 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | In-Person Homebuyer Education Class |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | eHome America Online Education |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Framework Online Education |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Boost Your Business Pop-Up Events |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Headwaters RC&D product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Headwaters RC&D is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides economic development services across a seven-county region of Southwest Montana. Its core offerings include small business counseling and training (SBDC), revolving loan funds ($5,000–$150,000), food and agriculture development support, a meat and poultry lending program, HUD-certified homebuyer education, brownfields environmental cleanup assistance, and government contracting consulting. Most services are offered free of charge through federal and state cooperative agreements.
Product overview
Headwaters RC&D is a 501(c)(3) non-profit economic development organization offering a comprehensive suite of business development programs serving Southwest Montana. The portfolio includes Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for business counseling and training, Business Loans & Grants providing gap financing ($5K-$150K), Food & Agriculture Development Center supporting agricultural value-added development, Meat and Poultry Lending Program (MPILP) for meat processing facilities (3-5% rates), Homebuyer Education with HUD-certified classes and online options (eHome America, Framework), Brownfields Program for environmental cleanup (1-2% loans), and Montana APEX Accelerator for government contracting support. Additional offerings include free business training workshops (Quickbooks, Cybersecurity, Canva, Wix) and Boost Your Business Pop-Up Events. The organization operates as a service-based nonprofit rather than a technology product company.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Free confidential business counseling, training, and information for small business owners and entrepreneurs, including business plan development, market assistance, financial technical assistance, low-cost training, and entrepreneurial development. Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
- Business Loans & Grants (Revolving Loan Fund) Gap financing product for entrepreneurs who do not qualify for or cannot access traditional commercial bank funds. Loans range from $5,000 to $150,000 with interest rates of 6%–8%, 1%–2% origination fee, $175 administrative fee, and flexible 5–20 year terms.
- Food & Agriculture Development Center (FADC) Educational workshops, business plan assistance, financial and market assistance, food system research, cooperative development, and access to revolving and micro loan funds for agricultural producers and food businesses.
- Meat and Poultry Lending Program (MPILP) Specialty lending product that finances the start-up, expansion, or operation of slaughter or other processing of meat and poultry, with interest rates of 3%–5%. Coalition awarded $9,752,250 to strengthen regional meat processing capacity.
- Homebuyer Education Taught by HUD-certified educators, covering budgeting, credit, mortgage process, down payment assistance, closing costs, homeowners insurance, and title insurance. Delivered as 8-hour in-person classes ($60/person, $95/couple) and online through eHome America ($99) and Framework ($75) platforms.
- Brownfields Program Assists with environmental assessments, navigation of DEQ/EPA processes, and 1%–2% cleanup loans for petroleum or hazardous substance contaminated properties to enable redevelopment.
- Montana APEX Accelerator Free confidential consulting and training for government contracting, including suitability examination, target market exploration, bid review, SAM registration assistance, and certification support (HUBZone, 8(a), SDVOSB, WOSB). Funded through a cooperative agreement with the Defense Logistics Agency.
- Business Training Workshops Low-cost in-person training including QuickBooks for Beginners, Cybersecurity for Small Business, Microsoft Excel courses, HR training, marketing workshops, HACCP food safety training, website building courses (Wix), and design/marketing using Canva.
Quantifiable outcome
- Educated homeowners stay in their homes longer, take pride in their properties, and have one-third less foreclosures
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Headwaters RC&D
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Headwaters RC&D technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Headwaters RC&D partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- JLDC (Jefferson Local Development Corporation)majorJoint partnership on meat processing feasibility study with $30,000 Big Sky Trust Fund grant for a possible meat co-op processing facility in Whitehall area.
- NeighborWorks MontanacorePartnership to provide comprehensive homebuyer education and counseling services. Headwaters offers HUD-certified in-person classes while utilizing NeighborWorks America's national standards and online platforms (eHome America and Framework).
- Butte Local Development CorpmajorSince November 2023, Headwaters and Butte Local Development Corp have been in an 18-month joint venture, consolidating offices on the fifth floor of Thornton Building. Organizations are exploring operating under one umbrella.
- Montana State University Extension OfficeminorPartner providing grant opportunity resources and agricultural extension services.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Headwaters RC&D competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- USDA Rural Development - Montana: Federal funder behind several Headwaters programs including MPILP and Specialty Crops grants. Listed as an OTHERS rather than peer because USDA RD is the funding source and capacity-building counterpart, not a competing service provider.
Direct peers
- Montana APEX Accelerator (statewide program): Statewide Procurement Technical Assistance Center funded by DLA, of which Headwaters hosts a regional node. Same government contracting counseling, SAM registration, and certification support for Montana businesses.
- NeighborWorks Montana: Headwaters' direct partner for HUD-certified homebuyer education; operates the same homeownership counseling, financial education, and down payment assistance programs Headwaters co-delivers across Montana.
- Big Sky Economic Development Authority: EDA-designated Economic Development District serving a different region of Montana. Headwaters staff (e.g., Lynnette Engelhardt) email from @bigskyeda.org, indicating direct programmatic collaboration; both entities administer overlapping federal economic development programs in Montana.
- Montana Food and Agriculture Development Center Network: Statewide network of Food & Agriculture Development Centers under Montana Department of Agriculture, of which Headwaters' FADC is one node. Peer centers offer the same business assistance, value-added ag development, and cooperative development services in other Montana regions.
- Bear Paw Development Corporation: Northeast Montana nonprofit community development corporation offering small business lending, business development, and revolving loan funds across multiple rural counties. Closely comparable rural Montana CDC/EEDA model with similar federal funding mix.
- Action Inc. Park County, Montana community action agency operating housing, weatherization, and small business support programs. Comparable rural Montana community development nonprofit delivering multi-program federal-funded services.
- Montana SBDC Lead Center: Statewide SBDC program coordinator funded by the SBA, under which Headwaters' regional SBDC operates. Same confidential counseling, training, and technical assistance model serving Montana entrepreneurs.
- Southeastern Montana Development Corporation: EDA-designated Economic Development District serving southeastern Montana with revolving loan funds, SBDC services, and business development programs. Functionally identical nonprofit EDD structure covering a different multi-county rural region.
Regional players
- Yellowstone County Economic Development: Billings/Yellowstone County-focused economic development nonprofit with similar SBDC, lending, and business attraction services. Comparable model but anchored on a larger urban core rather than dispersed rural counties.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Headwaters RC&D social profiles
Digital presenceHeadwaters RC&D financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Headwaters RC&D leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Headwaters RC&D funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Headwaters RC&D M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Headwaters RC&D
What does Headwaters RC&D do?
Headwaters RC&D is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides economic development services across a seven-county region of Southwest Montana. Its core offerings include small business counseling and training (SBDC), revolving loan funds ($5,000–$150,000), food and agriculture development support, a meat and poultry lending program, HUD-certified homebuyer education, brownfields environmental cleanup assistance, and government contracting consulting. Most services are offered free of charge through federal and state cooperative agreements.
Is Headwaters RC&D a public or private company?
Headwaters RC&D is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Headwaters RC&D founded?
Headwaters RC&D was founded in 1973. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Headwaters RC&D based?
Headwaters RC&D is headquartered in Butte, United States, in the North America region.
How does Headwaters RC&D make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Loan Programs are the primary driver. The others are homebuyer Education Classes, grant Administration and government Contracting Assistance.
Who are Headwaters RC&D's main competitors?
USDA Rural Development - Montana is listed as an others. Direct peers are Montana APEX Accelerator (statewide program), NeighborWorks Montana, Big Sky Economic Development Authority, Montana Food and Agriculture Development Center Network, Bear Paw Development Corporation, Action Inc., Montana SBDC Lead Center and Southeastern Montana Development Corporation. Yellowstone County Economic Development is listed as a regional player.
Does Headwaters RC&D have an API?
No public API is recorded for Headwaters RC&D.
What industry is Headwaters RC&D in?
Headwaters RC&D's product category is Community Economic Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKAGAI, SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans, with a secondary code of BPADAOAB, Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors). Its NAICS code is 92512 and its SIC code is 8744.