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Grant Opportunities
Purpose: The RFSI program will support middle of the supply chain projects that improve capacity for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced food products.
RFSI will award competitive grants for middle of the supply chain activities such as:
- processing capacity expansion,
- equipment and facilities modernization,
- worker safety,
- packaging and labeling, and
- storage space.
Montana agriculture industry partners and stakeholders are crucial to ensure RFSI delivers a significant impact for producers, businesses, consumers, and rural communities statewide. Stakeholders may include agricultural producers or processors, nonprofits, local and tribal governments, and institutions involved in middle of the supply chain activities.
Awards under this Request for Proposals are for Simplified Equipment-Only Projects. These projects offer a simplified application to fund grants between $10,000 and $100,000 for equipment purchases. The Simplified Equipment-Only option is a Fixed Price Grant, meaning it will fund only equipment purchases (and not associated facility upgrades, staffing, or other costs), and the amount awarded will be equal to the cost of the equipment up to $100,000. No match is required for this grant type. Read more here
Grant Amount: between $10,000-$100,000
Guidelines: Click HERE for the program guidelines.
Apply
Due June 3rd
Glacier Country Tourism Community Event Marketing Assistance Program
Purpose: The Community Event Marketing Assistance Program, offered through Glacier Country Regional Tourism Commission, assists communities within the Glacier Country region to promote out-of-area attendance and increase nonresident visitor commerce and community revenue. This program is for either 1) existing events that have been consistently held in a community and have a demonstrated history of economic impact for that community or for 2) new events that can demonstrate through the submission process the event will generate out-of-area revenue coming into the community. This program is paid for and managed by Glacier Country Tourism. Events, creative and target markets must align with Glacier Country Tourism’s brand and strategic plan. Funding is strictly used for paid promotions on Facebook and Instagram. The community event must be held in the Glacier Country region, which includes Flathead, Glacier, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli and Sanders counties.
Grant Amount: 30-day event package worth $700 in-kind value.
Guidelines: Click HERE for the program guidelines.
Due June 2024
Rural Energy for America Program
Purpose: The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing.
Grant Amount-
Renewable Energy System Grants:
$2,500 minimum.
$1 million maximum.
Energy Efficiency Grants:
$1,500 minimum.
$500,000 maximum.
Guidelines: Click HERE for the program guidelines
Due: June 30th, Sept 30th
Contact Grace to learn more!
DEQ Announces $1 Million For Water Quality Projects
DEQ announces $1 Million in funding available to help non-profit and governmental organizations implement nonpoint source pollution reduction projects. Examples of past projects include removing mine waste from streambanks, restoring wetlands and native vegetation, and working with farmers and ranchers to implement water quality best management practices. The recommended range for new applications is $10,000 to $250,000 per project, and 40 percent of the project cost must be matched with non-federal funds. Contact Mark Ockey (406-444-5351) for assistance.
Due: Oct 6th
Learn more Here
Apply
The Montana Department of Agriculture is excited to offer the GTA Business Acceleration and Marketing Program (BAM), to support businesses entering expansionary phases of growth and to aid in the access, development, and expansion of new markets. Funds are available now and are awarded on a quarterly basis, in the order the application is received, until funds are expended. These funds are to:
- Help businesses access and develop new and existing markets.
- Support businesses in overcoming market barriers
- Expand businesses' digital/web offerings, including e-commerce.
- Fund projects still in early expansionary phase of development
- Support startup businesses in minimizing time to profitability.
- Offer expanding businesses the ability to establish groundwork for capital expenditure.
- Accelerate new, innovative products up to commercialization.
Grant Amount: Grants up to $20,000 with $5,000 in equipment allowed, 50% cost-share over a one-year grant period
Guidelines: Click HERE for the program guidelines
Due: Rolling deadline, reviewed quarterly
Sentence Grants Available to 4-H Clubs
A mini-grant program available from Montana Farmers Union bolstered Montana 4-H club projects this past year, with applications now open for another $10,000 in funding in 2024.
The process is simple to encourage clubs to apply by submitting a sentence about how they would use $100.
Varied requests poured in last year for assistance with everything from barn tools to logo wear to healthier snacks to county fair requests to safety equipment to covering the costs of educational programs to funds to beautify communities to projects focused on aiding community members.
Grant recipients have the opportunity for an additional $50 if they publicly thank MFU for the $100 Sentence Grant. MFU offers the additional funds because an important part of receiving a grant is giving credit the funding organization. Publicly talking about the project is also an opportunity to share your work with the community.
MFU will continue the successful Sentence Grant program in 2024, with applications now open and another $10,000 in funding available. Let your local 4-H club know about this project and have them contact our office or your local ambassador for an application so as many clubs as possible can take advantage of this opportunity. Clubs can connect with their local ambassador at https://montanafarmersunion.com/education/scholarships-grants/.
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