| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Matt McKamey |
| April 14, 2004 | (406) 444-2402 TTY (406) 444-4687 |
Ag Development Council Announces Awards
~ Next Application Deadline is April 30 ~
HELENA, Mont. — The Montana Agriculture Development Council has awarded more than $265,000 to nine projects for agricultural development in Montana, according to council Chair Earl Bricker.
Projects approved at a recent council meeting in Great Falls 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: 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:
- The Orchard at Flathead Lake, LLP - Expansion of Organic Cherry Processing and Marketing, Kalispell;
- Kimm Seed Potatoes - Integrated Manure Feasibility and Commercialization, Manhattan;
- Big Sky Quality Wool LLC - Expansion of Worsted Wool Mill and Marketing, Broadus;
- Mountain Lake Fisheries - development of marketing plan and marketing materials for whitefish caviar, Columbia Falls;
- Pintlar Peaks Seasoning and Dressing - consultant services and marketing material development, Butte;
- Montana Stockgrowers Association - cooperative beef promotion across Montana, Helena
- Accurate Freeze Branding LLC. - consultant services and marketing material development for the ACCUFreeze System, Anaconda;
- Wiota, LLC - business development plan for financing expansion of Wiota hay handling equipment, Nashua; and
- Hillside Farms Dairy - feasibility and expansion of Hillside Dairy Farms, Charlo.
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; Larry Barber of Coffee Creek; Ralph Peck, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture; and Mark Simonich, director of the Montana Department of Commerce.
