Governor
Steve Bullock today announced $1,050,260 in business development funding
through the Montana Department of Commerce to support the creation of up to 136
jobs and train new workers at eight growing businesses in Montana.
“It’s a
testament to our state’s strong economic climate heading into the COVID-19
pandemic and the grit and resourcefulness of Montanans that some Montana
businesses are growing and creating new jobs even in these challenges economic
times,”
Governor
Bullock said.
“When Montana businesses grow, our communities and the
hardworking Montanans who live and work here have new opportunities to grow as
well. These funds will invest in our state’s economy by expanding businesses
and creating good-paying jobs to support those businesses.”
Funds will
be awarded through two reimbursement programs at the Department of Commerce:
The Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund (BSTF) and the Primary Sector
Workforce Training Grant (WTG). The two grant programs provide reimbursements
to local and county governments and economic development organizations on
behalf of businesses for creating good-paying jobs in Montana and training
Montanans to fill those jobs.
The
following organizations will receive funding for creating jobs and training new
workers:
- Big Sky
Economic Development Authority will receive up to $66,600 on behalf of
Belle
Chemical, LLC
in Billings, which estimates it will create 18
jobs. Funds will be used to purchase construction materials, equipment and
for wage reimbursement. Belle Chemical also will also receive $90,000 from
the Primary Sector Workforce Training Grant
program to train
workers to fill the newly created jobs. Belle Chemical LLC is a chemical
manufacturer and packager of consumer products intended for sale online.
- Big Sky
Economic Development Authority will receive up to $49,000 on behalf of
Wyo-Ben,
Inc.
in Billings, which estimates it will create 10 jobs. Funds will
be used to purchase construction materials, equipment, furniture,
fixtures, for lease rate reduction and for wage reimbursement. Wyo-Ben,
Inc. is leading producer of Wyoming bentonite clay-based products. The
company will be creating another division for bulk commodity cat litter.
- City of
Bozeman will receive up to $170,000 to assist
XY Planning Networking
LLC
, which estimates it will create 34 jobs. The grant funds will be
used to purchase equipment and for wage reimbursement. XY Planning Network
LLC is the leading organization of fee-only financial advisors who
specialize in working with Gen X and Gen Y clients, offering comprehensive
resources to help financial planners run better and more successful
businesses.
- Fergus
County will receive up to $70,500 on behalf of
Big Sky Processing, LLC in
Lewistown, which estimates it will create 15 jobs. Funds will be used to
purchase of equipment and for wage reimbursement. Big Sky Processing, LLC
will also receive $75,000 from the Primary Sector Workforce Training Grant
program to train workers to fill the newly created jobs. Big Sky
Processing, LLC will be establishing a U.S. Department of
Agriculture-inspected mobile meat processing unit in Fergus County.
- Lake
County will receive up to $150,000 on behalf of
Rocky Mountain Twist
Corporation
in Ronan, which estimates it will create 20 jobs. Funds
will be used to purchase equipment. Rocky Mountain Twist Corporation will
also receive $95,480 from the Primary Sector Workforce Training Grant
program to train workers to fill the newly created jobs. Rocky Mountain
Twist Corporation is a manufacturer of power tool accessories, primarily
drill bits, for the retail and industrial markets.
- Missoula
County will receive up to $95,000 on behalf of
UNAVCO, Inc. in
Missoula, which estimates it will create 19 jobs. Funds will be used to
purchase equipment and furniture, for lease rate reduction, for wage
reimbursement and for equipment relocation. UNAVCO, Inc is a global leader
in engineering and data handling for geophysical and environmental
sensors.
- Sanders
County will receive up to $88,800 on behalf of
Agriculture Resource
Management, Inc. dba AquaPrawnics, Inc.
in Noxon, which estimates it
will create 12 jobs. Funds will be used for wage reimbursement.
Agriculture Resource Management, Inc. dba AquaPrawnics, Inc. will also
receive a $53,030 grant from the Primary Sector Workforce Training Grant
program to train workers to fill the newly created jobs. Agriculture
Resource Management Inc. dba AquaPrawnics is positioned to become the
largest indoor shrimp farm producer.
- Wausau
Supply Company
will receive up to $46,850
through the Primary Sector Workforce Training Grant Program to train eight
new workers. Wausau Supply Company distributes building materials for the
industry’s leading manufacturers to authorized retailers from the Great
Lakes to the West Coast and is looking to establish a distribution center
in Butte.
The next
application deadline for the Big Sky Trust Fund Grant Programs is December 16,
2020. In addition, Montana businesses are now eligible to apply directly for
workforce recovery grant dollars to help companies refill jobs that were lost
due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Montana Department of
Commerce has launched a temporary Workforce Recovery grant program as part of
the Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund (BSTF). The deadline to apply to
this temporary program is December 31, 2020. Learn more at
BSTF.MT.GOV.