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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Matt McKamey
December 13, 2004 (406) 444-2402
TTY (406) 444-4687

Agriculture Development Council Announces Awards

~ Next Application Deadline is January 31, 2005 ~

HELENA, Mont. -- The Montana Agriculture Development Council has awarded more than $145,000 to four projects for agricultural development in Montana, according to council Chair Cathy Cottom.

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 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:

  • Peaks and Prairies, LLC. -- Conduct product testing, marketing plan and marketing materials for oilseed based bio-lubricants, Malta;
  • Glacier Fresh Cherries. - Assist in the development and construction of a processing and packaging facility for fresh cherries in northwest Montana, Bigfork;
  • Paco Packers - Expand production capacity for the pre-baked Montana made Paco(r) meat product, Miles City; and
  • Bear Paw Development Corporation. -- Develop a pilot marketing program for a vertically integrated producer owned vegetable processing cooperative; Chester.

    • Agricultural producers and industry representatives serve on the Agriculture Development Council. Members are: Cathy Cottom of Dillon, chair; Earl Bricker of Moore, 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 January 31, 2005.

    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.

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