Missoula SBDC Advisor Wins National Award for Excellence
Steve Clairmont, ASBC, EDFP, business advisor at the Missoula Small Business Development Center, was named the 2026 Montana State Star in May. This national honor recognizes exemplary performance, significant contributions to the program and a strong commitment to small businesses by outstanding performers at SBDCs around the country. Clairmont and his fellow State Stars will be honored at the America SBDC conference on Sept. 26-Oct. 4 in Atlanta.
“In just under two years with our network, Steve has become a trusted advisor for entrepreneurs and business owners in his region,” said SBDC State Director Chad Moore. “His ability to listen carefully, ask the right questions and turn small business challenges into clear next steps has quickly made him a go-to resource for both clients and colleagues as our SBDC State Star.”
The Missoula SBDC, where Clairmont has served as a business advisor since 2024, is hosted by the University of Montana. Clairmont provides confidential one-on-one consulting and training for entrepreneurs and small business owners across a four-county region: Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli and Sanders counties. Over the past two years, Clairmont has counseled 148 clients, helped create 21 jobs, supported 177 jobs and helped clients secure over $860,500 in funding.
“Being selected as Montana’s State Star is a tremendous honor. This recognition is especially important to me because I’ve been selected by my SBDC peers,” Clairmont said. “The most rewarding part of this work, though, is helping and supporting small business owners as they navigate growth, change and opportunity. I’m grateful to work alongside such a dedicated SBDC team and proud to be part of a network that makes a real difference for Montana businesses and communities.”
Over the last two years, Clairmont has embraced new tools, becoming a Certified America’s SBDC AI U Professional, which he has used to expand business plan writing services for SBDC clients, to augment resource research and to teach clients how to leverage AI. Clairmont is also a member of America’s SBDC Capital Access Interest Group.
The Montana SBDC Network, headquartered at the Montana Department of Commerce, is comprised of 10 statewide regional SBDC offices overseen by the lead center at Commerce. The SBDC Program is funded under a cooperative agreement between Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration in partnership with local host organizations.
For more information about the Montana SBDC, including where to find your regional SBDC office, visit sbdc.mt.gov.
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