Commerce Awards Business Planning, Job Creation, and Workforce Training Grants to Seven Montana Communities
HELENA – The Montana Department of Commerce today announced that more than $433,000 of grant funding has been awarded to grow and assist businesses in seven Montana communities. The job creation, planning, and workforce training grant funding is provided by Commerce’s Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund (BSTF).“We know that sustainable, good-paying jobs are at the core of creating financial resiliency for Montanans. That's why Commerce will continue to assist local Montana businesses in creating more good-paying jobs for Montana workers,” said Montana Department of Commerce Director Scott Osterman. “This BSTF grant funding will help these Montana businesses plan for future growth, generate new opportunities through workforce training, and create long-term employment for workers in these communities.”
BSTF Job Creation grants are awarded to local and Tribal governments to create good-paying jobs for residents. In addition to grants, BSTF also provides funding for loans. BSTF Job Creation grant funding has been awarded to:
- Billings - Big Sky Economic Development Authority received $20,000 of BSTF grant funding to assist Four Nine Design, LLC with wage reimbursement, lease reduction, and for purchasing computers, software, furniture, furnishings, and equipment that will enable it to create four new BSTF-eligible jobs over two years.
- Missoula - Missoula County received $55,000 of BSTF grant funding to assist Silixa, LLC with wage reimbursement, lease rate reduction, and for purchasing equipment, furniture, and software that will enable it to create 11 net new BSTF-eligible jobs over two years.
- Polson - Lake County received $202,500 of BSTF grant funding to assist Rocky Mountain Twist Corporation to purchase equipment that will enable the business to create 27 net new BSTF-eligible jobs within one year.
- Butte - Headwaters Resource Conservation and Development Area Inc. received $25,000 of BSTF grant funding to assist Terminus Distilling Company with a feasibility study.
- Helena - Montana Business Assistance Connection Inc. received $15,141 to assist Dee-O-Gee Helena with a feasibility study.
- Kalispell - Montana West Economic Development received $26,250 of BSTF grant funding to assist Meat Production Inc. with a feasibility study.
- Ronan - Rocky Mountain Twist Corporation received $90,000 of BSTF grant funding to train up to 18 new full-time jobs within two years.
“Over the past 20 years, Nomad GCS has desired to build partnerships with local organizations within Flathead County that help both the County and Nomad’s ability to grow. Our partnership with the Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund has been a resounding success in achieving that goal,” said Nomad GCS Chief of People and Development Clay Binford. “The BSTF program has helped Nomad GCS add jobs that would have otherwise been financially more difficult to do. We have been able to bring on employees with higher paying wages and promote internal candidates faster because we can backfill positions by utilizing the BSTF mechanism. As we continue to expand our team in the future, we are excited about our continued partnership with the BSTF program to build careers in Montana.”
For more information about BSTF programs, contact Annmarie Robinson at the Montana Department of Commerce at 406.841.2250 or visit BUSINESS.MT.GOV.
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