Two Montana Tribes Receive $240,000 for Tribal Business Development
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HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that two Montana tribes will share $240,000 of grant funding to support Indigenous entrepreneurship in Montana. The funding is through Commerce’s Tribal Business Development Grant program.
“Through TBDG funding, tribal businesses are empowered to drive innovation, create opportunities and shape a prosperous future for their communities,” said Paul Green, director of the Montana Department of Commerce.
The TBDG is a competitive grant program to connect participating tribes of Montana with the resources necessary to advance shovel-ready projects that will provide a measurable and beneficial economic impact for the community.
The following tribes will receive TBDG funding:
Mariah SoldierWolf, economic development planner for Northern Cheyenne Tribe, said, “The Tribe’s in-kind match completed the initial demolition phase and prepped the building for new construction. The building will serve as a gift shop and visitor center along busy Highway 212. The Craft Center will allow many local artists to display and sell their work within the community, and the tourists passing through will contribute to the local economy and help build social networks. Additionally, this will allow community members to host artistic and cultural classes, such as painting, drum making and beading. The project’s completion will contribute to the well-being of the Northern Cheyenne community.”
Eligible applicants for TBDG funding include governing bodies of Montana’s eight tribal governments or tribally owned businesses. These grants are intended to assist in deploying businesses for which planning is more or less complete, approval permits are in place and laborers can get to work once sufficient funding is secured.
For more information, visit commerce.mt.gov.
“Through TBDG funding, tribal businesses are empowered to drive innovation, create opportunities and shape a prosperous future for their communities,” said Paul Green, director of the Montana Department of Commerce.
The TBDG is a competitive grant program to connect participating tribes of Montana with the resources necessary to advance shovel-ready projects that will provide a measurable and beneficial economic impact for the community.
The following tribes will receive TBDG funding:
- The Blackfeet Tribe will receive $89,400 to enhance meat processing and product distribution associated with the Blackfeet Tribe Buffalo Program in Browning.
- The Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes will receive $150,600 for its meat processing office and retail modular unit in Ronan.
Mariah SoldierWolf, economic development planner for Northern Cheyenne Tribe, said, “The Tribe’s in-kind match completed the initial demolition phase and prepped the building for new construction. The building will serve as a gift shop and visitor center along busy Highway 212. The Craft Center will allow many local artists to display and sell their work within the community, and the tourists passing through will contribute to the local economy and help build social networks. Additionally, this will allow community members to host artistic and cultural classes, such as painting, drum making and beading. The project’s completion will contribute to the well-being of the Northern Cheyenne community.”
Eligible applicants for TBDG funding include governing bodies of Montana’s eight tribal governments or tribally owned businesses. These grants are intended to assist in deploying businesses for which planning is more or less complete, approval permits are in place and laborers can get to work once sufficient funding is secured.
For more information, visit commerce.mt.gov.
Tags: Business and Press Release
