Rural Development Provides over $400,000 in Grants to Promote Business Development in Rural Montana

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development acting State Director Robert Leigland announces $443,854 in Rural Business Enterprise Grants to 14 non-profit organizations or public bodies in Montana to promote business development. The grants are expected to assist in creating or saving nearly 800 rural jobs and supports 153 business ventures.

"The Business-Cooperative program area of Rural Development supports local community efforts to improve the quality of life and promote economic development," said Leigland. "The Rural Business Enterprise grant program is used as a source of funding for local development organizations to assist businesses in their communities to start up or expand".

The following 17 Rural Development grants were announced today:

Great Northern Development Corporation, Wolf Point, MT – $18,500 to determine project costs and mechanical and electrical design for a proposed new facility for the Lefse Shack in Opheim, MT.

Great Northern Development Corporation, Wolf Point, MT – $22,000 to assist a small manufacturing business market its products.

Southeastern MT Development Corporation, Colstrip, MT – $18,000 to determine the feasibility of an eight-unit assisted living facility in Hysham, MT.

Opportunities, Inc., Great Falls, MT – $16,545 to provide technical assistance in the form of online and classroom courses to microbusiness loan applicants.

Montana Cooperative Development Center, Inc., Great Falls, MT – $34,000 to provide technical assistance to the Great Northern Growers Cooperative.

Lake County Community Development Corp., Ronan, MT – $12,000 to provide technical assistance in attracting new businesses to Lake Lincoln, Mineral, and Sanders counties.

Kootenai River Development Council, Inc., Libby, MT – $44,341 for a plan to develop the former Stimson Plywood Plant site into a business and recreation park.

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The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Ronan, MT – $12,500 for a study to determine if it is feasible for the Tribe to purchase and run a hardware store through an Indian owned corporation.

Richland Development Corporation, Sidney, MT – $1,520 to provide employee training.

Montana Community Development Corporation, Missoula, MT – $18,750 to contract accounting, marketing and business development professionals for assistance to individuals and small businesses in Granite, Lake, Mineral, Sanders, Ravalli and rural Missoula counties.

Butte Local Development Corporation, Butte, MT – $15,050 for technical services to a number of small companies to determine the cost of installing fiber optic cable for communication needs.

Butte Local Development Corporation, Butte, MT – $15,188 for technical assistance to assist Big Sky Wireless solve technical problems that limit their growth.

Anaconda Local Development Corporation, Anaconda, MT – $25,000 to assist local sub-contractors market their services.

Fort Peck Community College, Poplar, MT – $58,000 to determine the feasibility of a pulse plant located on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.

Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, Poplar, MT – $22,520 to evaluate the potential for the development of a natural gas fired power plant on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.

Northern Cheyenne Social Preservation Project, Inc., Lame Deer, MT – $66,240 to develop and administer a revolving loan to the IGA store in Lame Deer.

Northern Cheyenne Social Preservation Project, Inc., Lame Deer, MT – $43,700 to establish a small business development incubator center on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.

USDA Rural Development’s mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. As a venture capital entity, Rural Development provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA’s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/mt

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CONTACT: John Guthmiller, Business Programs Director

Phone: (406) 585-2540; Email: [email protected]

Robert S. Leigland, Acting State Director

Committed to the future of rural communities.

“USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.”

To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD).