COMMUNITIES
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!
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!
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...
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Krysko Park, Shelby, Toole County
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Meadowlark Park, Shelby, Toole County
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Roadrunner Recreation Trail, Shelby, Toole County
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Historic Town Hall, Shelby, Toole County
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Champions Park, Shelby, Toole County
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Sidewalks, Cascade, Cascade County
GRANT WATCH
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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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
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, 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, 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, 7:00:00 AM
Made in Montana Trade Show
Wholesale and retail made in Montana products
406 841 2757
May 16, 2022, 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, 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, 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, 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