Grant Kier provides executive leadership for the Missoula Economic Partnership, working for a diverse and resilient economy in the Missoula region. In his tenure, Grant has worked with the board, staff, and the community to redirect organizational goals, strategies, and programs toward accelerating solutions to the region’s most pressing economic challenges. In that time MEP has served as the community’s COVID economic relief and recovery lead, supported growing small businesses, and advanced efforts to understand and address a range of issues from housing affordability to childcare availability.

Prior to joining MEP as staff in 2018, Grant served as a board member of the organization for 7 years, or the latter half of his nearly 15 years working as the executive director of the Bitterroot Land Trust in Hamilton and later Five Valleys Land Trust in Missoula. Grant serves on a number of boards and advisory committees including the Montana Economic Developers Association, UM’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research, Montana’s Headwaters Tech Hub, Missoula Downtown Association, and Zero to Five Missoula. When not working, Grant is enjoying Montana’s great outdoors–most likely with his wife, Bex, daughter, Flynn, and dog, Tilly.

Kier briefed National Press Foundation fellows in October 2024: Covering Child Care’s Role in Community Development.