Montana Development Council selects Growth Through Agriculture projects

The Montana Agriculture Development Council has offered funding totaling $401,167 to 13 agricultural development projects under the state’s Growth Through Agriculture program, according to council Chair David Tyler.

The Agriculture Development Council oversees the program, which provides 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:

— Community Giving Assistance Toward Employment, Glendive, $42,850 grant to assist with facility and equipment improvements and to develop a store to market locally produced products.

— Field Day Farms LLC, Bozeman, $15,000 grant and $15,000 loan for high tunnels, a refrigerated truck, and a root crop harvester or washer to assist with the business’s fresh produce expansion.

— Flathead Lake Cheese Co. LLC, Polson, $38,386 grant to assist with the purchase of cheese-making equipment, promotion and advertising materials, and educational and advertising activities.

— Flathead Lake Cherry Growers Inc., Bigfork, $20,000 grant to develop a marketing and implementation plan for distribution of Montana Flathead Cherries in the Rocky Mountain Region.

— Goddard Land and Cattle, Reedpoint, $24,000 grant and $24,000 loan to assist with the purchase of compost management equipment.
— Hidden Legend Winery, Victor, $41,369 grant to purchase supplies and equipment for business expansion and assistance toward developing out-of-state markets.

— Montana Microbial Products, LLC, Missoula, $50,000 grant to develop a feasibility study to develop a barley protein concentrate and ethanol manufacturing plant in Montana.

— Flathead County Extension, Kalispell, $9,912 grant to assist with the purchase of field supplies and cherry trees to help identify more marketable cherry varieties.

— Mountainview Gardens, Kalispell, $46,200 grant to assist in developing the business’s geothermal heating system.

— Bio-Energy Innovation and Testing Center, MSU-Northern, Havre, $13,400 grant to purchase oilseeds and equipment to test and establish the viability of pure plant oils as an alternative fuel in diesel engines.

— RoughStock Distillery Inc., Bozeman, $15,000 grant to assist with marketing activities to enter out-of-state markets.

— Silent Creations Buffalo Products LLC, Ronan, $21,050 grant for website development and a promotional campaign.

— Woolly Bugger Studios Inc., dba Laurin School House Creamery, Sheridan, $25,000 grant to purchase construction materials for the development of an artisan cheese making plant.

The Montana Agriculture Development Council heard presentations on 26 proposed projects at a meeting February 10-11 in Helena. Council members are: David Tyler of Belgrade, chair; Ervin Schlemmer of Joliet, vice-chair; Patricia Quisno of Harlem; Verges Aageson of Gildford; Bill Koenig of Kalispell; Ron de Yong, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture; Tony Preite, director of the Montana Department of Commerce.

The next deadline for project applications to the Growth Through Agriculture program will soon be posted on the website at http://agr.mt.gov/business/GTA.asp.

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].