Commerce Awards Matching Grants to 17 Economic Development Organizations
Photo Information
HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that 17 economic development organizations will share over $700,000 in grant funding through the ORE Economic Development Organization Capacity Building Grant Program. These EDOs, which are actively engaged in economic development and business assistance in rural areas, will use the funds to purchase and install software and hardware, offer trainings and workshops, improve their websites and cover marketing costs.
“Through the ORE Capacity Building Grant, we are investing in the organizations that communities trust to lead economic growth from the ground up,” said Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio. “By strengthening our economic development organizations, we’re ensuring rural Montana has the capacity, expertise and momentum to turn opportunity into lasting impact.”
The following EDOs will receive ORE funding:
Commerce’s ORE EDO Capacity Building Grant Program targets funding to enrolled EDOs to strengthen their ability to reach underserved rural businesses, facilitate loan applications and deliver technical assistance that advances economic development in their regions. For more information, visit commerce.mt.gov.
“Through the ORE Capacity Building Grant, we are investing in the organizations that communities trust to lead economic growth from the ground up,” said Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio. “By strengthening our economic development organizations, we’re ensuring rural Montana has the capacity, expertise and momentum to turn opportunity into lasting impact.”
The following EDOs will receive ORE funding:
- Bear Paw Development Corporation in Havre will receive $62,380 for technology upgrades, equipment purchases and staff training.
- Beartooth Resource Conservation and Development in Joliet will receive $58,636.36 for technology upgrades, a client management system and website improvements.
- Big Sky Economic Development in Billings will receive $14,000 for software upgrades and installation.
- Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation in Baker will receive $22,000 for website development, training and hardware upgrades.
- Great Falls Development Authority, Inc. in Great Falls will receive $65,000 for marketing to rural businesses, destination workshops and hosting economic development events.
- Great Northern Development Corporation in Wolf Point will receive $65,000 for upgrades to software and hardware, a cybersecurity assessment, staff training and marketing costs.
- Headwaters Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc. in Butte will receive $65,000 for hardware upgrades, staff training and marketing costs.
- HWY 10 Synergies in Miles City will receive $30,000 for a loan readiness toolkit, marketing costs and staff training.
- Montana Business Assistance Connection in Helena will receive $60,500 for staff training, marketing costs and software upgrades.
- Mission West Community Development Partners in Ronan will receive $65,000 for hardware and software upgrades and a new file management system.
- Montana Cooperative Development Center in Great Falls will receive $25,000 for cooperative development training and marketing costs.
- Montana West Economic Development in Kalispell will receive $24,546 for loan management software and staff training.
- Ravalli County Economic Development Authority in Hamilton will receive $38,411 for hardware upgrades, marketing costs and hosting training events.
- Sanders County Community Development Corporation in Thompson Falls will receive $40,000 for marketing, offering workshops and hosting small business events.
- Southeastern Montana Development Corporation in Colstrip will receive $60,000 for improvements to technological infrastructure and equipment purchase.
- Snowy Mountain Development Corporation in Lewistown will receive $65,000 to support implementation of a customer relationship management system, lending platform software and staff training.
- Sweetgrass Development in Great Falls will receive $16,000 for marketing and outreach costs and technology upgrades.
Commerce’s ORE EDO Capacity Building Grant Program targets funding to enrolled EDOs to strengthen their ability to reach underserved rural businesses, facilitate loan applications and deliver technical assistance that advances economic development in their regions. For more information, visit commerce.mt.gov.
Tags: Business and press release