Missoula Businesses Awarded $450K In Grants From The Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund (BSTF) To Create High Wage Jobs

Missoula County is slated to receive over $450,000 in grants on behalf of two Missoula businesses to support the creation of a combined 63 new jobs. Both businesses, Consumer Direct Management Solutions https://consumerdirectcare.com/ and LumenAd https://lumenad.com/ , are locally owned and headquartered in Missoula County. "Consumer Direct and LumenAd are both great examples of best-fit companies who serve our community by creating high wage job opportunities for Missoulians, and we’re thrilled that these grant awards will help them grow and thrive," said Grant Kier, Executive Director of Missoula Economic Partnership.

Consumer Direct, a human services agency that provides long-term care management solutions, has been awarded $255,300 to support the creation of 37 new jobs over the next two years. CEO Ben Bledsoe lauded the grant program, and shared that business assistance has enabled Consumer Direct to successfully expand in Missoula and nationwide. "Consumer Direct Care Network is proud and thankful for the financial support from the Big Sky Trust Fund. This grant ensures that our growing company can add the sustainable jobs in Montana that allow us to serve people with long-term care needs across the country."

LumenAd, a software company that offers a media management platform for brands and advertising agencies, has been awarded an additional $195,000 to support the creation of 26 new jobs over the next year. Ryan Hansen, CEO and Founder of LumenAd, cited assistance received through the BSTF program as a factor in LumenAd’s recent growth and success. "We see a huge opportunity to disrupt the digital advertising industry using our technology. With the assistance of the BSTF program, LumenAd is well positioned to capitalize on this opportunity. It has and will continue to help us develop existing talent in the community and bring in experts from across the country to help us grow to the next level."

The Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund (BSTF) Job Creation Grant program through the Montana Department of Commerce Office of Tourism and Business Development awards grant funds to assist basic sector businesses for creating good-paying jobs. Businesses must pay at least $18.99/hr to be eligible for the maximum BSTF Job Creation grant award, which is up to $7500 per full-time job created.

The Missoula Economic Partnership works to grow a sustainable, vibrant, and diversified regional economy. Many individuals and groups have been an integral part of this effort since our formation in 2011. We strive to be innovative, nimble, and inclusive in accomplishing our mission, and achieve success through collaboration and partnership with our community.