Commerce Awards Business Planning and Job Creation Grants to Four Montana Communities

February 14 2022

HELENA – The Montana Department of Commerce today announced nearly $168,000 in grants to help four Montana communities plan for future growth. The job creation and planning grant funding is provided by Commerce’s Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund (BSTF).

“One of our biggest priorities here at Commerce is to create good paying jobs for Montanans,” said Montana Department of Commerce Director Scott Osterman. “Grants like these will help generate jobs, enable businesses to plan for future growth, and enhance economic stability for communities across the state,” Osterman added.

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:

Butte - Butte-Silver Bow County received $14,000 of BSTF Job Creation funds to assist Montana Craft Malt Company with the creation of three jobs in the first year. Montana Craft Malt Company owns and operates a barley malting facility with the capacity to produce 10,000 metric tons of malt per year.
Hamilton - Ravalli County received $100,000 of BSTF Job Creation funds to assist Local Bounti Corporation with the creation of 20 jobs in the first year. Local Bounti Corporation is an indoor agricultural technology company that grows local, fresh, and sustainable lettuce and herbs.

BSTF Economic Development Planning grants are awarded to eligible Certified Regional Development Corporations (CRDCs), as well as tribal or local governments to assist with economic development planning efforts that promote long-term, stable economic growth in Montana. BSTF Economic Development Planning grant funding has been awarded to:

Billings - Big Sky Economic Development Authority received $20,000 of BSTF Planning funds to assist Yellowstone Industrial Development, LLC with surveying and wetland study. Yellowstone Industrial Development, LLC proposes building a railroad spur with a 164-acre transloading industrial park in Billings.
Butte - Headwaters RC&D Area, Inc. received $27,000 of BSTF Planning funds to assist M&M Bar and Café Properties, LLC with a building design. M&M Bar & Café Properties, LLC wants to reconstruct the M&M Bar & Café, which was destroyed by fire last spring.
Clancy - Headwaters RC&D Area, Inc. received $6,995 of BSTF Planning funds to assist Nature Story Montessori, LLC with conceptual design for a second exit at its Clancy facility. Nature Story Montessori offers full-day childcare and quality early childhood education using the Montessori philosophy.

“The foundation of our business is our team. Long-term business success is completely dependent on our ability to attract high-quality people at all levels of our business,” said Laura Hann, Government and Community Relations Manager at Local Bounti. “We are thankful for the support of the Montana Department of Commerce, Ravalli County Commissioners, and the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority as we bring new full-time, year-round jobs with position-specific training to the Bitterroot valley,” Hann added.

More funding opportunities are still available. The next application deadline for job creation projects is March 16, 2022. The next application deadline for planning projects is currently pending. For more information, contact Annmarie Robinson at the Montana Department of Commerce at 406.841.2250 or visit MARKETMT.COM.

Tags: Office of Tourism and Business Development and Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund and Business MT

Commerce Awards Business Planning and Job Creation Grants to Four Montana Communities

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