Governor Steve Bullock today announced that families, small
businesses, non-profits, health services centers and individuals across Montana
hardest-hit by impacts of COVID-19 will be eligible to apply for grants through
nine new programs created in response to the emergency.
Guided by more than 1,400 public comments and his
Coronavirus Relief Fund Advisory Council, Governor Bullock is making
$123,550,000 available in the first round of emergency grants funded through
the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
“Montanans have made it clear it’s imperative that we
step in and do everything possible to ensure small businesses can responsibly
reopen, non-profits continue to serve our vibrant communities, homeowners can
stay in their homes, and Montanans most in-need have access to services,”
Governor Bullock said. “We’re all in this together and I know Montana will
emerge from this challenge even stronger than before.”
Beginning Thursday, May 7, Montanans out of work, families
with limited resources, small businesses, non-profits and others can apply for
financial relief for things like rental and mortgage assistance, business and
non-profit grants, grants to serve seniors and those living with a disability,
food banks and local food producers.
The following new programs join the state’s suite of
existing support services and direct federal appropriations:
- The Montana Business Stabilization Grant
program
will provide working capital for Montana-owned small businesses
with 50 or fewer employees that have sustained a loss of revenue due to
COVID 19. Current funding available is $50 million, the maximum award
amount per business is $10,000.
- The Montana
Innovation Grant program is
intended to help companies scale up, improve
capabilities, or drive expanded distribution of products or services
developed in response to COVID-19. Non-profit and for-profit businesses of
less than 150 employees with primary operations in Montana that have
created an innovative product or service intended to directly confront the
COVID-19 emergency can apply for grants of up to $25,000. Current funding
available is $5 million.
- Montana
Food and Agriculture Adaptability Program
grants are available to
food and agriculture businesses to help increase community resilience amid
the COVID-19 pandemic and other economic disruptions. Examples of eligible
projects include those focused on accessing new markets, projects which
strengthen and expand local food systems, and other business adaptations
that decrease food and agricultural waste. Current funding available is
$500,000, with a maximum grant award of $10,000.
- Emergency
Housing Assistance Program
will provide rent, security deposit, mortgage payment,
and/or hazard insurance assistance as-needed for Montanans who have lost a
job or substantial income loss as a result of COVID-19. Initial payments may include up to three months
assistance where the eligible household can demonstrate arrears for April
and May, with continuable inability to make their June payment.
Montana Housing will pay the difference between
30 percent of the household’s current gross monthly income and
their eligible housing assistance costs
, up to $2,000 a month.
Household income limits range from $75,000-$125,000 based on family
size. Montanans receiving other forms of housing assistance are not
eligible. Total funding available is $50 million.
- Public
Health Grants
are
available to local and tribal health departments and urban tribal clinics
to help in the response to COVID-19 and to meet the needs of their
communities. Each organization is eligible to apply for funding. Current
funding available is $5 million.
- Stay
Connected Grants
ranging
from $500-$2,000 per applicant are available to reduce social isolation
among Montana’s seniors. Eligible applicants include area agencies on
aging, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and tribal elder
services. Grant funds can be used to fund technologies and other efforts
to encourage physically distant forms of social interaction for elderly
Montanans during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Current funding
available is $400,000.
- Food
Bank and Food Pantry Assistance
of up to $50,000 per applicant are available to
increase food security for Montanans hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligible applicants include community organizations providing food
assistance to Montanans with limited resources, food banks, food pantries,
community cupboards, and entities with infrastructures already in place to
begin new food distribution programs. Current funding available is $2
million.
- Social Services Nonprofit Grants of up to $10,000 per applicant are available for
nonprofit organizations impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency
to retain existing programs
and services, employees, or organizational viability for provision of
future services and operations. Eligible applicants are registered,
Montana-based social service nonprofits that were operating prior to
February 15, 2020. Current funding available is $10 million.
- Telework
Assistance Grants
of
up to $1,000 per individual will go towards purchasing equipment to assist
Montanans with disabilities access telework equipment. DPHHS will partner
with a local non-profit organization to assess and support assistive
technology needs of individuals with disabilities during
COVID-19. This assistance will help ensure people with disabilities
have the equipment needed to adapt to the change in working environment
due to COVID-19. Current funding available is $650,000.
A comprehensive information resource and application portal
is available at
COVIDRELIEF.MT.GOV.
The application portion of the website will go live at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday,
May 7. To prepare for the application, businesses and non-profits should have
their tax ID, proof of business registration, a brief description of how the
grant will be spent, and a brief description of how COVID-19 has impacted
operations. Homeowners and renters should have bank account information
available and verification of job or income loss.