Small Business Loan Program at Commerce Sparks Growth in Rural Montana
In the heart of Musselshell County, family-owned and operated KJ Welding and Fabrication is forging a path toward growth and sustainability with the support of Montana’s State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0 Loan Participation Program and Snowy Mountain Development Corporation. The SSBCI 2.0 Program, administered by the Montana Department of Commerce, partners with lenders throughout Montana to help small businesses access capital — especially in rural and underserved areas.
Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio said, “All too often, rural and underserved are synonymous in a large state like Montana. Commerce’s SSBCI 2.0 Program helps remove a major barrier to rural entrepreneurs’ success: startup loans and growth capital.”
KJ Welding and Fabrication, founded in 2022 by U.S. military veteran Kyle Marshall and his wife, Justina, began as a modest side business welding irrigation pipe for local ranchers. As demand for skilled welding services surged in the region, Kyle saw the potential to turn his trade into a full-time enterprise. With grit, vision and commitment to quality, KJ Welding and Fabrication quickly expanded its offerings to include mobile repair and modification services as well as custom fabrication projects like its signature Double Diamond flatbeds.
Working out of a rented shop, the Marshalls were limited in their ability to expand and meet increasing customer demand. Working with participating lender Snowy Mountain Development Corporation, the Marshalls’ loan was enrolled in the SSBCI 2.0 Program in September 2025 and received participation support that same month.
KJ Welding and Fabrication is now operating in its own dedicated shop, which was completed in January of this year. Located near the family home, this investment will eliminate commute time and allow more hours for production and customer service. It will also provide space for inventory, enable business expansion and increase service capacity for customers across the region.
For KJ Welding and Fabrication, the investment represents more than just a new building; it’s a foundation for the future. As the business expands its footprint, it’s also strengthening the local economy, creating skilled jobs and keeping essential services close to home for rural Montanans.
The State Small Business Credit Initiative is a federal program administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. It was created to strengthen state programs that support private financing to small businesses to expand and create jobs. The MT SSBCI 2.0 LPP assists new and existing Montana businesses, in partnership with approved primary and participating lenders.
For more information, visit commerce.mt.gov.
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