| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Matt McKamey |
| September 1, 2004 | (406) 444-2402
TTY (406) 444-4687 |
Ag Development Council Announces Projects
~ Next Application Deadline is October 31, 2004 ~
HELENA, Mont. — The Montana Agriculture Development Council has awarded more than $140,000 to four projects for agricultural development in Montana, according to council Chair Earl Bricker.
Projects approved at a recent council meeting in Helena included both marketing and business development proposals. The Agriculture Development Council oversees the Montana Growth Through Agriculture program, which is the source of funding that the council uses to make investments in appropriate projects. Investments are offered in three forms including investments without repayment, investments with deferred repayment and seed capital loans.
"The Growth Through Agriculture program provides investments to enhance the marketing of innovative Montana agricultural products and services," says Ralph Peck, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture and a member of the Montana Agriculture Development Council. "The program also helps Montana entrepreneurs develop new products and agri-business ideas to enhance our state's agricultural industry."
At the meeting, investment funds were awarded to:
-- Agriculture in Montana Schools, Inc. - Publish and distribute an agricultural resource guide for teachers in Montana, Helena;
-- Teton County Development Corp. - Potential expansion of malt barley storage and handling infrastructure in North Central Montana, Choteau;
-- Mexican Wontons, LLC - Market planning and the development of marketing materials, Loring; and
-- Martinson's Ranch Chocolates of Montana, LLC. - Expand production and sales through enhanced marketing materials, packaging and equipment upgrades; Huntley
Montana agricultural producers and industry representatives serve on the Agriculture Development Council. Members are: Earl Bricker of Moore, chair; Cathy Cottom of Dillon, vice-chair; John Franklin of Sidney; Robert Hanson of White Sulphur Springs; Ervin Schlemmer of Joliet; Ralph Peck, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture; and Mark Simonich, director of the Montana Department of Commerce.
The next deadline for project applications to the Montana Growth Through Agriculture program is October 31, 2004. The council will make award decisions for the next round of project applications at its meeting in late November.
For more information and application materials, contact Matt McKamey, Growth Through Agriculture Program Manager at the Montana Department of Agriculture, at (406) 444-2402 or by e-mail at agr@mt.gov.
