Ag Development Council selects Growth Through Agriculture projects – Next Application Deadline is April 30, 2008

The Montana Agriculture Development Council has awarded $194,480 to 12 Growth Through Agriculture projects for agricultural development, 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 goal of the GTA program is to provide grants and loans to develop new products or innovative ideas that enhance our state’s agricultural industry.

In the latest round, the council awarded investment funds to:

— Gold Country Mushrooms Inc., Clancy, $11,008 grant to assist with the expansion of their mushroom production facility.

— Kettlehouse Brewing Co., LLC, Missoula, $25,000 grant to assist with website redesign, 8-pack carriers and neon signs.

— Prairie Winds Homemade Goat Milk Soap and Ewenique Wool and Fiber, Valier, $2,000 grant to assist with the purchase of an electric carder, commercial mixer and development for website.

— Crossbow Corporation, LLC, Bigfork, $11,600 loan for the purchase of a laboratory scale tablet press for the company’s camelina meal supplement venture.

— Yourganic Farm, Hamilton, $6,550 grant for the purchase of equipment, supplies and materials for the expansion of the farm’s pastured hog operation.

— MSU Towne’s Harvest Garden, Bozeman, $12,000 grant for the production of a documentary and the installation of a new well, drip lines and filtration system.

— Montana Organic Association, Helena, $1,750 grant for facilitator expenses and travel involved with the association’s strategic planning process.

— Stillwater Packing Company, Columbus, $50,000 grant for equipment and construction costs associated with the expansion of the company’s meat processing facility.

— Timeless Seeds, Inc., Conrad, $30,000 grant for professional marketing services for the company’s retail line.

— Gallatin Valley Agriculture Committee, Belgrade, $3,000 grant for the purchase of two tents, accessories, supplies and materials for the Gallatin Valley Farm Fair.

— BVS, Inc., Stevensville, $20,000 grant for demonstrations of the company’s virus identification technology and dissemination of data for Montana beekeepers.

— Trapper Creek Winery, Hamilton, $21,572 grant for advertising and promotion and the purchase of equipment, supplies and materials for the company’s national sales expansion.

The Montana Agriculture Development Council heard presentations on 16 proposed projects at a quarterly meeting held February 27-28 in Great Falls. Council members are: David Tyler of Belgrade, chair; Patricia Quisno of Harlem, vice-chair; Ervin Schlemmer of Joliet; Verges Aageson of Gilford; Bill Koenig of Kalispell; 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 April 30, 2008.

For more information and application materials, contact Collin Watters, Growth Through Agriculture program manager, at the Montana Department of Agriculture, at (406) 444-2402 or by e-mail at [email protected].