Nearly
13,000 small Montana businesses in every corner of the state have now received
support through Governor Steve Bullock’s Business Stabilization and Business Adaptation
grant
programs, he announced Thursday. These two targeted relief programs are among
more than 30 that were created in response to the pandemic.
“You
kept me in business,”
said Scott Buchholz who owns and operates Buchholz Custom Sawmilling in Dillon,
Mont.
“The Stabilization Grant filled in all the blanks – I didn’t have to
worry about where I’d get the money to repair tools or buy inventory. It gave
me a lot of peace of mind, and we are going to make it.”
Buchholz
said of the relief program that it’s a good example of government working for
Montanans. In fact, out of the 35 states for which
complete data is available, Montana ranks 8
th when it comes to
spending its share of Coronavirus Relief Funds.
“Montana
has been a leader in quickly and effectively deploying targeted support to the
businesses that need it most,”
said Governor Steve Bullock. “Businesses
in every Montana county and in virtually every industry
have accessed
grant dollars to help weather the economic impacts created by the pandemic and
emerge from it in a position that will allow them to continue serving their
communities across the state.”
The
Business Stabilization and Adaptability programs have now awarded almost $200
million to 12,944 small Montana businesses. The average grant awarded through
the Business Stabilization program is $16,500, the average Adaptability
reimbursement is $7,500. These dollars helped support professional service
businesses, restaurants, coffee shops, outfitters and guides, sole proprietors,
hotels, retail stores, manufacturers and more by providing working capital
allowing businesses to buy inventory, cover rent and pay for adaptations needed
to promote best public health practices.
“Receiving these funds assisted our small business in making
necessary environmental changes in order to keep our clients and practitioners
safer during these uncertain times,”
said Jonathan Baum of the
Business Adaptability Grant received by the Red Barn Wellness Collective in
Kalispell, Mont.
“On a larger scale these funds have allowed our doors to
remain open to our local Flathead Valley community.”
“It
helped smooth things out,”
said Rock Creek Coffee Roasters owner Joel Gargaro. “Our
business is in the middle of downtown Billings and COVID canceled everything
this summer. [These dollars] helped cover the impact of losing the summer. Now,
I think we’ll be fine.”
The
deadline to apply for the Business Adaptability Program is Nov. 15.
Applications are no longer being accepted for the Business Stabilization
Program.
To
date, more than $835 million has been awarded to businesses, nonprofits,
homeowners, renters, schools, local governments and child-care providers across
32 relief programs created by the governor. Find a complete list of relief
programs here:
https://commerce.mt.gov/Montana-Coronavirus-Relief/Resources.