Commerce Announces $210,000 Awarded for Tribal Business Planning

“The Tribal Business Planning Grant at Commerce supports the economic planning and business growth priorities of tribal governments and organizations in Montana,” said Wayne Johnston, Business Assistance Bureau Chief at Commerce. “As tribes identify opportunities to strengthen their economies, these grants will help their plans come to fruition.”
The Tribal Business Planning Grant program assists tribal governments and organizations to deploy comprehensive business planning strategies. Funds can be used for activities such as business plan development, market analysis, feasibility studies, physical business infrastructure planning, such as zoning, and can be used to match other funding sources to accomplish business growth activities.
Tribal Business Planning Grants of $30,000 each will be awarded to:
- Blackfeet Tribe: To conduct a feasibility study for a bottled water company
- Chippewa Cree Tribe: To conduct a feasibility study and market analysis for a small-scale meat processing facility
- Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes: To conduct a feasibility study and market analysis for the purchase of the former Big Arm General Store
- Little Big Horn College on the Crow Reservation: To complete a preliminary engineering report to expand the trades building and programs at the Little Big Horn College
- Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes: To develop a contemporary zoning and development ordinance
- Little Shell Chippewa Tribe: To assist with business and operation plans for three businesses under Little Shell Tribal Enterprises, LLC.
- Northern Cheyenne Tribe: To assist with a business plan, preliminary engineering report and preliminary architectural report to develop a workforce training center
To learn more, visit MARKETMT.COM.
Tags: Indian Equity Fund Small Business Grant Program and Office of Tourism and Business Development