Helena, Mont. – The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced the recipients of nearly $50,000 in mini grant funding from the Growth Through Agriculture program. Grants support the diversification and expansion of 15 Montana Ag businesses from Dixon to Scobey.
“There was incredible interest in the mini grant funding opportunity and the award process was extremely competitive,” said Director Ben Thomas. “There are some great projects that will help these businesses expand their market opportunities, and others that will help build capacity of local food systems.”
These grants have traditionally gone to applicants who demonstrate how their request would expand Montana agriculture. However, given the current public health situation, MDA paid special attention to projects that strengthen and expand local food offerings, distribution, and infrastructure in order to increase community resiliency in this unprecedented time.
2020 Growth Through Agriculture Mini Grant Awards
Ag Processing Solutions – Great Falls
Grant for $5,000 to purchase equipment for research and development of specialty de-hulled Montana commodities including: hemp, oats, barley, pulses, and flax.
Awesome Acres – St. Ignatius
Grant for $4,857.50 to build a certified herb drying facility to enable online and wholesale sales to allow for business growth and adapt to the Coronavirus pandemic.
County Rail Farm – Huson
Grant for $3,750 to purchase a cooler for a farm stand that will make fresh produce available to a small, rural community.
Delpine Farms – Martinsdale
Grant for $5,000 to purchase equipment to build their mobile, cold-storage farmstand to safely, and efficiently provide fresh produce to surrounding communities.
Farver Farms – Scobey
Grant for $1399 to purchase an annual subscription to “Range Me” virtual marketing platform and enable connection with a broad variety of buyers.
Gally’s Brewing – Harlowton
Grant for $1,625 to purchase a grain mill, enabling the brewery to use more Montana grains in their beers
Glacier Tilth Farm – Dixon
Grant for $1675 to purchase equipment to expand their self-serve farm store, increase access to fresh produce, grow marketing efforts, and provide a safe food-shopping environment.
Lowdown Farm – Charlo
Grant for $493.49 to purchase produce packaging to adapt to COVID-19 affected markets and bring fresh basil to grocery stores and retail markets.
Lower Valley Farm – Kalispell
Grant for $4,500 to help adapt the farm and CSA program during the COVID-19 crisis.
Madison Farm to Fork – Ennis
Grant for $2,500 to purchase equipment, materials and supplies for potato gardening, beekeeping and food production at Ennis schools for student and community education.
Mill Crick Farm – Hamilton
Grant for $5,000 for construction of a pack shed for produce washing and storage that will increase production and create a year-round position on the farm.
Montana CiderWorks – Sula
Grant for $5,000 for web development to expand distribution to include online, direct-to customer sales in 42 states.
Mountain Meat Shares – Arlee
Grant for $1,460 to purchase a trailer for freezers to allow for an expanded delivery area.
Mountain View Growers – Kalispell
Grant for $4,500 to create an e-commerce website which will increase food access through online produce subscriptions.
Paradise Permaculture Institute – Livingston
Grant for $4,000 to purchase equipment for a produce washing and processing station to increase production of produce that supplies food stores, restaurants, and farm to school programs in the Livingston area.
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Montana Department of Agriculture
Northern Ag Network
