The grants were awarded through the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program, which provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements, business development, housing, community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care, and high-speed internet access in rural areas.

To learn more about the grant program, Montana USDA Rural Development staff will host an online RBDG workshop via Zoom from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21.