| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Lindra Davies |
| June 28, 2007 | (406) 444-2402 |
Council Selects Agriculture Development Projects
~ Next Application Deadline is July 31, 2007 ~
HELENA, Mont. — Six agricultural development projects will receive a total of $69,000 in Growth Through Agriculture funding in the latest round of awards approved by the Montana Agriculture Development Council, according to council Chair John Franklin.
The Agriculture Development Council oversees the Growth Through Agriculture program, the source of funding the council uses for project investments. The goal of the GTA program is to provide grants and return-on-investment loans to assist in developing new products or innovative ideas that enhance our state’s agricultural industry.
In June the council awarded investment funds to:
-- Glacier Valley Vineyard, Kalispell, $10,000 grant to assist with the purchase of grapevines for installation of a new vineyard.
-- Montana Premium Beef, Dutton, $10,000 grant and $24,000 loan to assist with expansion into retail sales and delivery market.
-- Vintage Cheese of Montana, Bozeman, $13,600 grant to assist with market research consulting services.
-- Randy Reed, Chinook, $5,400 grant to assist with the marketing of fresh carrots.
-- Polson Business Community, $1,000 grant to assist the association with costs of advertising a Polson Cherry Festival featuring Montana Flathead Cherries.
-- Gallatin Valley Land Trust -- $5,000 grant to assist with consultant costs in developing a network of landowners and small scale diversified agricultural producers.
Montana agricultural producers and industry representatives serve on the Agriculture Development Council. Council members are: John Franklin of Sidney, chair; David Tyler of Belgrade, vice-chair; Ervin Schlemmer of Joliet; Patricia Quisno of Harlem; Bill Koenig of Kalispell; Tony Preite, director of the Montana Department of Commerce; and the director of the Montana Department of Agriculture.
The next deadline for project applications to the Growth Through Agriculture program is July 31, 2007. The council plans to review the next round of project applications in early September.
For more information and application materials, contact Lindra Davies, Agriculture Development Division marketing technician at the Montana Department of Agriculture, at (406) 444-2402 or by e-mail at agr@mt.gov.
