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COMMUNITIES

Wooden Hut

YOU HAVE A VISION FOR YOUR TOWN. WE HAVE THE EXPERIENCE.

Since 2004, a key part of our mission has been playing a supporting role as the cities and towns in our region realize their full potential. Our commitment has yielded experience in many kinds of activities, such as infrastructure grantwriting, letters of support, community town halls, and much more! We work closely with city councils and county commissioners across the region to shape our economic development strategy, also known as the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). If you have something you want to see in your town or city that will improve their economy and quality of life, we want to help!

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SNAPSHOTS OF OUR COMMUNITIES

We like to take pictures sometimes when we travel to meetings in Conrad, Shelby, Choteau, Valier, Dutton, Fairfield, Cut Bank, Browning, and the rest of the wonderful locations in our region. Enjoy what our communities have to offer!

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LETTERS OF SUPPORT

We want to help you succeed whether you are looking to repair a sidewalk or create a whole new attraction for your city or town. Talk to our staff today about your project so that we can write a letter of support for your grant! Here are just a few projects we have written in support of in years past...

  • Krysko Park, Shelby, Toole County

  • Meadowlark Park, Shelby, Toole County

  • Roadrunner Recreation Trail, Shelby, Toole County

  • Historic Town Hall, Shelby, Toole County

  • Champions Park, Shelby, Toole County

  • Sidewalks, Cascade, Cascade County

GrantsWatch

GRANT WATCH

Youth Loans

Funds used to start & operate income-producing projects connected with 4-H clubs, FFA, a Tribal youth group, or similar agricultural youth organization. Max is $5,000

contact county office

Youth connected to youth organization

Great Falls Area Community Foundation

$250 to $1,000

Lori Cereck

General operations, Projects/Programs Nonprofit, education

December 1, 2022 at 7:00:00 AM

Simperman Corette Foundation

$5,000 to $50,000 grants for nonprofits for education, education technology, food, housing, primarily education

Roy Simperman

Nonprofits

Otto Bremer Charitable Trust

Nonprofits for education, health, human services for general operations, capital campaign, projects, programs, capacity building, technical assistance, emergency funding

Lue Her

651 227 8036

Nonprofits

M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust

Grants over $50,000 that focus on arts, culture, humanities, education, environment, animals, health, human service, international and foreign affairs, public, social benefit, religion, mutual/membership benefit for capital campaigns, projects, programs, capacity building, technical assistance

Jason Lee

360 694 8415

nonprofits

April 1, 2022 at 6:00:00 AM

Greater Montana Foundation

$5,000 to $50,000 for arts, culture, humanities, education, health, public, social benefit. Emphasis on communication including radio, TV, film, websites, podcasts. Montana

Sidney Armstrong

406 443 5693

Nonprofits

Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation

Grants for general operations, projects and programs, capacity-building or technical assistance. Montana

406 523-1300

March 11, 2022 at 7:00:00 AM

Made in Montana Trade Show

Wholesale and retail made in Montana products

406 841 2757

May 16, 2022 at 6:00:00 AM

Montana State Parks Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grants

Grants for urban, backcountry, and basic front trails for new trails or maintenance. Also for educational and safety projects

Federal, tribal, state, county or city agencies, private associations and clubs

Irrigation Development Grants

Grants range from $300 to $20,000 for private, for profit, government and tribal entities

Ann Kulczyk

406 228 4129

February 28, 2022 at 7:00:00 AM

Rural Business Development Grants (RBDG)

Rural areas or towns with populations of 50,000 or less for training, technical assistance for business, project planning, market research, feasibility studies, product/service improvement, acqusition or development of land, easements, rights of way, construction, conversion, renovation, buildings, plants, machinery, equipment, access streets, roads, parking areas, utilties, pollution, start-up and working capital, distance learning, rural transportation, community economic development

Sarah Converse, Sweetgrass Economic Development

(406) 727-5173

Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant

Community facilities including healthcare, town halls, courthouses, airport hangars, streets, childcare centers, fairgrounds, transitional housing, safety services (police, fire), education, libraries, museums, private schools, telemedicine, distance learning

Sarah Converse, Sweetgrass Economic Development

(406) 727-5173

June 30, 2022 at 6:00:00 AM

Incumbent Worker Training (IWT)

Small business skills-based training. Funds available on first come, first serve basis

Gianforte Family Foundation

Support includes jobs, education, entrepreneurship; families and the vulnerable, Christian outreach,

Joy Churchill

Boe Brothers Foundation

This foundation supports nonprofits in north central Montana including community development; education; Lutheran church and social services for children and seniors. Supporting general operations, projects and scholarships.

Terri Bowers

(406) 791-7324

Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

Disaster assistance for 2021 livestock forage losses

RCAC (Rural Community Assist. Corp)

Property acquisition, development, financing for public and non profit buildings, treatment centers, emergency & transitional housing, assisted living, human services, public safety, childcare, education, cultural

(916) 447-2854

Public & nonprofit

Community & Public Facility & Housing Block Grant

Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) for low to moderate households

Sarah Converse

(406) 727-5173

low to moderate income

March 31, 2022 at 6:00:00 AM

REAP (Rural Energy for America Program)

For renewable energy systems, energy efficiency improvements or equipment and new system loans for agricultural productions & processing. Such as biomass, wind, HVAC, insulation, lighting, cooling, doors & windows, solar.

Jack Ceartin, Acting State Director

(406) 585-2580

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Sweetgrass Cares Act Recovery Funding Program (SCARF)

Designed to address economic development resilience by assisting with funding match for public planning activities within the North Central Montana Economic Development District (NCMEDD)

Sarah Converse

(406) 727-5173

NCMEDD cities, counties, towns, water & sewer districts, Blackfeet Nation

The Steele-Reese Foundation

General operations, Capital Campaigns, Projects, Programs, Capacity-Building, Technical Assistance

Linda Tracy

406 207 7984

Rural Communities, nonprofit

March 31, 2022 at 6:00:00 AM

The Cinnabar Foundation

$1,000 to $15,000 for education, environmental, animals, Nonprofits, Montana

Gary Wolfe

406 240 7323

Nonprofits

August 1, 2022 at 6:00:00 AM

Sample Foundation

$6,000 to $10,000 grants for Montana nonprofits for equipment and small building. Education, health, human services, public, social benefit, arts, culture, humanities, environemental

Barbara Sample

406 259 5931

Nonprofits

September 1, 2022 at 6:00:00 AM

Margaret V. Ping Foundation

$250 to $10,000 grants for charitable, educational, religious related to peach and justice, hunger, environment to government entities, agencies, nonprofits, public charities

Candace Farrette

Government entities, agencies, nonprofits

High Stakes Foundation

$5,000 to $35,000 grants that support arts, culture, humanities, environment, animals, public and social benefit. Montana

Ann Quirk

406 969 5865

Nonprofits

First Interstate Bancsystem Foundation

Grants for general operations, capital funds, project and programs, capacity building, technical assistance, emergency funding. Montana

Stacey Black

Nonprofits

BNSF Railway Foundation

Openly to northern & eastern areas $1,000 to $10,000 grants for capital campaigns, emergency funding, projects and programs. Montana

Deanna Dugas

March 4, 2022 at 7:00:00 AM

Montana Women's Business Center Impact Grant

Funds to help Montana women business owners for anything that will enhance economic independence for women.

ARPA Workforce Training Grant

For businesses training of new and existing full-time workers. $3,000 per job for cost associated with education or skills-based training.

Community Connect Grants

Rural areas in need of broadband service

Sarah Converse, Sweetgrass Economic Development

(406) 727-5173

Water & Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program

Rural areas and towns with populations of 10,000 or less for drinking water, sewers, solid waste, storm water

Sarah Converse, Sweetgrass Economic Development

(406) 727-5173

June 1, 2022 at 6:00:00 AM

Montana Historic Preservation Grant

Private or public entities to preserve historic sites, societies, or museums.

Montana Department of Commerce

(406) 841-2770

Western Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE)

Farmers, ranchers, producers, professional development, research. See guidelines for specific November deadlines.

CHS Foundation

This Foundation supports development of future agricultural leaders including adult education; agricultural safety; rural youth leadership and university requests.

Blue Cross BlueShield of Montana Community Giving Program

Grants support nonprofit organizations and programs that promote health, wellness, and human services in the communities the company serves.

Farm & Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN)

Mental health resources for farmers and ranchers

Montana Dept. of Agriculture

406 444 9126

mental health for farmers & ranchers

EIDL Microloans

Small business and childcare facilities

MT SBA

(406) 441-1081

Small businesses

November 2, 2022 at 5:30:00 AM

Off-Farm Labor Housing Loans & Grants

New construction for domestic, retired & disabled farm laborers

Dennis McClure USDA Rural Development

202 482 5973

Farmers

March 31, 2022 at 6:00:00 AM

ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act Econ Adj Assistance)

Assist communities & regions impacted by COVID

Economic Development Administration

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Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) Program

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Transportation companies

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