Interest-Free Loans available to Montana’s small businesses. BOOTSTRAP MONTANA LOAN PROGRAM

Greetings,

TechRanch, in partnership with the Gianforte Family Charitable Trust, announces that interest-free loans are still available for 2010. The program loans funds ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to Montana’s entrepreneurs who embrace the business development philosophy of ‘bootstrapping’—or growing a company without the aid of outside investment capital.

See below for full story. Contact [email protected] for loan questions. Contact [email protected] for media questions. Thank you.

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BOOTSTRAP MONTANA LOAN PROGRAM

Interest-free Funding Available for 2010

The Bootstrap Montana Loan Program, established in 2007, provides 0% loans ranging from $5,000 to
$20,000 to Montana entrepreneurs who embrace the business development philosophy of
‘bootstrapping’—or growing a company without the aid of outside (equity) investment capital.

The program has awarded 16 loans across Montana. Several first-round recipients were able to pay off
their loans and successfully apply for 2nd and, some companies, even 3rd loans.

Bootstrap Montana is a program administered by Montana’s
leading Economic Development Assistance Organization, TechRanch.

Visit http://www.bootstrapmontana.org for additional information.

Contact Gary Bloomer at 406.556.0272 or [email protected].

Greg Gianforte, CEO of Bozeman-based RightNow Technologies and head of the Gianforte Family Charitable Trust seeded
the Bootstrap Montana Loan Program. The program is sponsored in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"The folks at TechRanch in conjunction with Bootstrap
Montana have been great to work with and have really
helped us in our endeavors to make our
small business work in Montana.”

-Shane McClaflin, Sunrise Pack Station, Belgrade, MT
"Our Bootstrap Montana loan has allowed us to hire two
extremely experienced representatives that we would have
otherwise not been able to afford. The loan allows us to cover
the cost of the new hires until they ramp and generate
incremental revenue to offset their compensation plans."

-Daren Nordhagen, Foundant Technologies, Bozeman, MT
“Because of our confidence in the Billings business
community, we applied for and received one of the
"bootstrap" loans and are using the funds to expand our
local business along with our internet business.”

-KayDel Shelton, Myrtle Leaf, Billings, MT
Companies applying for funds under this loan program
must meet the following criteria:

* Company must be selling products or services primarily outside of Montana (and thus bringing net new money into the state).

* Company must be incorporated as either a C-Corporation,
S-Corporation, or Limited Liability Corporation.

* Company must be headquartered in rural Montana with more
than 50% of its employees located within Montana.

* Company must show revenue from its primary line of business
in the past year.

* Company must provide a letter of recommendation from
someone in the local community preferably the company’s banker,
legal counsel, or CPA.

* 51% of the ownership of the company must be in the hands of
legal US citizens.

* Applicant must be a Senior Company Official, be at least 18 years
of age, and have been a resident of Montana for the past 3 years.

* Company or Applicant must not have a history of bankruptcy.