| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Collin Watters |
| Jan. 3, 2008 | (406) 444-2402 |
Council Selects Growth Through Agriculture Projects
~ Next Application Deadline is January 31, 2008 ~
HELENA, Mont. — The Montana Agriculture Development Council has awarded $600,292 of funding to 16 Growth Through Agriculture projects for agricultural development, according to council Chair David Tyler.
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 financial assistance to develop
new products or innovative ideas that enhance our state’s agricultural
industry.
In the latest round, the council awarded investment funds to:
-- Glendive Community GATE, Glendive, $49,400 grant to assist with design and expansion development of a shared-use commercial kitchen.
-- Lake County Community Development Corporation, Ronan, $50,000 grant to assist with continuing operations maintenance of the Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center.
-- Bio-Energy Innovation and Testing Center, MSU-Northern, Havre, $48,000 grant to assist with a processor for testing and researching Montana grown oilseed crops for bio-diesel production.
-- Allied Bio Energies, LLC, Havre, $50,000 grant to assist with the engineering and design of a bio-diesel production facility.
-- Green Oil Company, New York, NY, $49,000 grant for a feasibility study
to determine the viability of a Canola-based bio-products plant in Montana.
-- North-West Pork Cooperative, Sun River, $50,000 grant to assist with
consultant services to develop a strategic and membership plan for the cooperative.
-- Montana Stockgrowers Association, Helena, $6,500 grant to assist with the organization’s Follow the Cattle Tour.
-- Bigfork Farmers’ Market Cooperative, Kalispell, $2,290 grant to assist with advertising and promotion of the Bigfork Farmers’ Market.
-- Dawson County Extension, Glendive, $29,800 grant to assist with a study for commercial vegetable production in Montana.
-- Trevino’s Tortillas, LLC, Billings, $10,000 deferred loan and $40,000 grant for equipment to expand tortilla production.
-- Great Northern Growers Cooperative, Sunburst, $13,000 deferred loan for equipment to expand production at the cooperative’s PrOatina-brand oat processing facility at Belgrade; and a $32,000 grant to assist with market development, advertising and promotion.
-- Country Classic Dairies, Inc., Belgrade, $40,000 deferred loan for dairy equipment to expand into a niche market; and a $10,000 grant to assist with increasing production.
-- Grains of Montana Bakery Operations, Inc., Billings, $50,000 grant to
assist with costs associated with establishing a bakery.
-- Midland Bull Test, Inc., Columbus, $47,588 grant to assist with advertising
and promotion of a feed conversion and feed efficiency test system for cattle.
-- GooseTender, LLC, Chester, $14,214 grant to assist with advertising
and promotion of a three-way air-drill loading system.
-- Ranchland Packing, Inc., Butte, $8,500 grant to assist with business
and strategic planning.
The Montana Agriculture Development Council heard presentations on 20 proposed
projects at a quarterly meeting held December 12-13 in Billings. Council
members are: David Tyler of Belgrade, chair; Patricia Quisno of Harlem,
vice-chair; Ervin Schlemmer of Joliet; Bill Koenig of Kalispell; Ron de
Yong, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture; and Tony Preite,
director of the Montana Department of Commerce.
The next deadline for project applications to the Growth Through Agriculture program is January 31, 2008. The council plans to review the next round of project applications in late February.
For more information and application materials, contact Collin Watters, Growth Through Agriculture program manager, at the Montana Department of Agriculture, at (406) 444-2402 or by e-mail at agr@mt.gov.
