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Agriculture Development Council selects Growth Through Agriculture projects ~ Next Application Deadline is October 31, 2008 ~

The Montana Agriculture Development Council has offered $338,154 in funding to 12 Growth Through Agriculture http://agr.mt.gov/business/GTA.asp projects, according to council Chair David Tyler.

The Agriculture Development Council oversees the Growth Through Agriculture program, the source of funding the council uses for project investments. The GTA program provides financial assistance to develop new products or innovative ideas that enhance Montana’s agricultural industry.

In the latest round, the council offered Growth Through Agriculture program funds to:

— On Thyme Gourmet, Inc. http://www.onthymegourmet.net/ , Bridger, $19,000 grant to assist with development and promotion of the business’s new herbed tea.

— Great Bear Restoration http://www.great-bear.biz/ , Hamilton, $18,780 deferred loan for equipment upgrades to increase production of the business’s plant material products.

— Montana Cooperative Development Center http://www.mcdc.coop/ , Great Falls, $50,000 grant to provide technical assistance to individuals and organizations involved in agriculture-related cooperative development projects.

— Lake County Community Development Center/Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center, Inc. http://www.mtmountainmarket.org/ , Ronan, $50,000 grant to continue operations that provide value added food processing education to Montana producers.

— Wildwood Brewing, Inc., Victor, $50,000 grant for construction of an aquaculture system in conjunction with a multi-faceted, zero-waste brewing facility.

— Yellowstone Distribution, LLC http://yellowstonedistribution.com/ , Bozeman, $19,000 grant to develop a strategic plan for implementing a collection and distribution route for local food products.

— Western Montana Growers Cooperative http://www.wmgcoop.com/ , Arlee, $17,883 grant for consulting services to analyze existing operations and implement an effective business model for further developing local markets.

— Silent Creations, Ronan, $28,597 grant to launch the business’s buffalo jerky product.

— Great Plains-The Camelina Company http://www.camelinacompany.com/ , Bigfork, $50,000 grant for consulting services to develop a feasibility study, technical report and logistics preparation to determine locales for a camelina crushing facility in Montana.

— Ethanol Producers and Consumer http://www.ethanolmt.org/ (EPAC), Nashua, $19,900 grant to assist with a state-wide ethanol/biofuels education media campaign.

— Midland Bull Test, Inc. http://www.midlandbulltest.com/ , Columbus, $10,000 to assist with the design, print and distribution of an educational flyer to describe the business’s testing capability for beef animal feed efficiency.

— Becky’s Berries, Columbus, $4,994 grant to assist with the expansion of the business’s products into larger markets.

The Montana Agriculture Development Council heard presentations on 25 proposed projects at a quarterly meeting held September 10-11 in Helena. Council members are: David Tyler of Belgrade, chair; Patricia Quisno of Harlem, vice-chair; Ervin Schlemmer of Joliet; Bill Koenig of Kalispell; Verges Aageson of Gildford; Ron de Yong, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture; and Tony Preite, director of the Montana Department of Commerce.

The next deadline for project applications to the Growth Through Agriculture program is October 31, 2008. The council plans to review the next round of project applications in early December.

For more information and application materials, contact Collin Watters, Growth Through Agriculture http://agr.mt.gov/business/GTA.asp program manager, at the Montana Department of Agriculture, at (406) 444-2402 or by e-mail at [email protected].

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