56STRONG

About the Program

56Strong connects women entrepreneurs and business leaders from all of Montana's 56 counties through a one-on-one mentorship program. This is a six-month program designed to:

Bridge the gap between the urban and rural divide
Support female entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses
Increase female businesses across the state of Montana
Help women gain access to capital
Support and build resiliency amongst female professionals

Expectations of Participants

Attend the MANDATORY Kick-Off and Closings of the Program
Meet with your partner (mentee or mentor) for one hour each month for the duration of the program (Jan-June)

Timeline

Applications Open Sept. 13th
Interviews begin the first week of November
Kick-Off will be held on Zoom on Wednesday, Jan. 25th from 4-5:30
Closing will be held on Zoom on Wednesday, June 28th from 4-5:30
Monthly networking and business discussions for the entire group on the last Wednesday of each month (not mandatory but recommended) Topics are TBD based on the needs of the participants
- February 22nd | 9-10 am
- March 29th | 11 am- 12 pm
- April 26th | 4-5 pm
- May 31st | 8:30-9:30 am

Price

$300 for mentee participation | Free for mentors

*Scholarships may be available to those demonstrating a need. If you need a scholarship you may apply here: https://www.prosperamt.org/sch... There will be no refunds for participants who quit or can't complete the program. Everyone who applies for the program is expected to be committed to it.

Selection Process

Application

Everyone must apply to participate. We are accepting applications until all eligible mentee and mentor spaces are filled.

Interview

Interviews will begin the first week of November and go through the end of the year. Interviews will be 30-minutes on Zoom and are imperative to the matching process.

Matching

All matched applicants will be notified by the first week of January. Those selected in the program will not know their partner's name or information until the kick-off. Payment for participation will be due by Jan. 10th.