Development Council selects Montana Growth Through Agriculture projects ~ Next Application Deadline is December 31, 2009 ~

The Montana Agriculture Development Council has offered a total of $316,599 in grants and loans to nine 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 financial assistance to develop new products or innovative ideas that enhance our state’s agricultural industry.

In the latest round, the council offered funding to:

— Fort Peck Landowners Association, Wolf Point, $50,000 grant to assist with engineering costs for land improvement and irrigation development.

— Dr. Stacy Wetherelt, Joliet, $32,000 grant for animal service and surgical supplies, general veterinary equipment, and licensing and certification for a mobile veterinary clinic.

— Vintage Cheese of Montana LLC, Bozeman, $50,000 loan to assist with the purchase of cheese-making equipment.

— Local Livestock Media Group LLC, Billings, $30,000 grant for the development of a Web site providing local livestock auction sales and trends information to livestock producers and for marketing and promotion of the Web site resource.

— Mountain View Colony, Broadview, $38,000 grant for business expansion with equipment and supply upgrades for the company’s egg production and delivery business.

— BrenTari Foods LLC, Missoula, $33,399 grant to purchase equipment for the processing of local agriculture products for sale at the company’s new grocery store.

— Montana Brewers Association, Helena, $30,000 grant to develop a business plan and a Montana Brewers Association Web site to promote Montana brewers and the use of Montana agriculture products, and to assist with costs to attend and promote Montana brewers at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver and the annual National Brewers Association meeting.

— Lifeline Farm Inc., Victor, $3,200 grant for a business plan to analyze future possibilities for the dairy and creamery business.

— Kalispell Kreamery, Kalispell, $50,000 grant to assist with building costs to develop the business’s on-site creamery facility, refrigerated truck upgrades, lab certification, and marketing and educational material development.

The Montana Agriculture Development Council heard presentations on 13 proposed projects at a quarterly meeting September 10-11 in Helena. Council members are: David Tyler of Belgrade, chair; Patricia Quisno of Harlem, vice-chair; Ervin Schlemmer of Joliet; Verges Aageson of Gildford; 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 December 31, 2009.

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].