Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Notice of Available Funding – Deadline September 30th

Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund (BSTF) Program Funding Available:
Approximately $700,000 will be Available for Category I – Economic Development Projects: 75% of BSTF earnings will be awarded to local governments in the form of grants and loans for economic development projects that create new qualifying jobs for Montana residents.

Approximately $200,000 will be available for Category II – Planning: 25% of BSTF earnings will be awarded to Certified Regional Development Corporations and other qualified economic development organizations in areas not covered by a CRDC in the form of a grant for planning activities like feasibility studies, business plans and preliminary architectural reports.

The Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund (BSTF) Program with the Montana Department of Commerce will accept applications through September 30, 2007 to be considered in the next quarterly application cycle.

To review the application requirements and obtain application forms, you may visit the BSTF Web site at: http://www.businessresources.mt.gov/BRD_Trustfund.asp

New! Changes to the BSTF Program:
Due to recent legislative changes, effective July 1, 2007, the BSTF program allows higher financial assistance per job for Category I projects in higher poverty counties, as defined by the US Census Bureau:

Up to $7,500 per eligible job (Up to $7,125 in business assistance and $375 in grant administration)
50% match requirement
**All other program requirements and eligibility requirements still apply, see the BSTF web site for a copy of the Application Guidelines and the Map of eligible high poverty counties at: http://www.businessresources.mt.gov/BRD_Trustfund.asp **

Questions?

Contact Angela Nelson, BSTF Program Manager at [email protected] or by phone at (406) 841-2792.