Commerce announces grants to support job growth

Press release

HELENA — The Department of Commerce Wednesday announced grants to strengthen Montana’s economy by helping Main Street businesses across the state expand and create jobs.

The Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund is a competitive grant in which the recipient may be reimbursed for eligible business expansion costs if the expansion creates good-paying jobs. For this cycle, Commerce will reimburse up to $790,000 to create an estimated 134 jobs.

“The Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund is one of the best programs in our toolbox for supporting long-term, sustainable business growth by encouraging job creation and retention,” said Commerce Director Pam Haxby-Cote.

Full list of current grant recipients:

• The City of Cut Bank will receive a grant on behalf of Pardue Grain Inc., which estimates it will create eight jobs and will be reimbursed up to $60,000. Grant funds will be used for machinery and equipment purchases for a facility on the Blackfeet Reservation. Pardue Grain, Inc. has expanded into pulse crop processing.

• Gallatin County will receive a grant on behalf of Ascent Vision Technology LLC, which estimates it will create eight jobs and will be reimbursed up to $40,000. Ascent Vision Technology, which is located in Belgrade, provides precision optical payload technology for Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems and stabilized imagery to the manned and unmanned aerospace industries.

• The Little Shell Tribe will receive a grant on behalf of Sustainable Resource Concepts LLC, which estimates it will create 10 jobs and will be reimbursed up to $50,000. The Little Shell Tribe plans to purchase and begin harvesting stone from a travertine quarry near Gardiner.

• Ravalli County will receive a grant on behalf of Pioneer Log Company, which estimates it will create 10 jobs and will be reimbursed up to $50,000. Pioneer Log Company, which is located in Victor, produces custom log and timber homes and custom log commercial and timber structures.

• The Town of Stevensville will receive a grant on behalf of Montana Fabrication Works LLC, which estimates it will create 30 jobs and will be reimbursed up to $150,000. Montana Fabrication Works is an industrial manufacturer that provides services in bulk material handling, agricultural machinery and water technologies.

• Missoula County will receive a grant on behalf of ClassPass Inc., which estimates it will create 40 jobs and will be reimbursed up to $300,000. ClassPass Inc., which is located in Missoula, connects members to a variety of fitness experiences and is the leading membership to the world’s largest fitness network.

• The City of Bozeman will receive a grant on behalf of Profitable Ideas Inc., which estimates it will create eight jobs and will be reimbursed up to $40,000. Profitable Ideas Inc. is a fast-growing professional services firm specializing in bringing communities of Fortune 500 executives together from across the globe to connect, collaborate and learn.

• The City of Bozeman will receive a grant on behalf of FreeAgent Network Inc., which estimates it will create 10 jobs and will be reimbursed up to $50,000. FreeAgent Network Inc. is a startup software company, and its software is used by small businesses to manage their sales, marketing and customer service.

• The City of Bozeman will receive a grant on behalf of XY Planning Network LLC, which estimates it will create 10 jobs and will be reimbursed up to $50,000. XY Planning Network is the leading organization for fee-only financial advisors who want to serve their Gen X and Gen Y peers by providing comprehensive financial planning services.

Applications will be accepted quarterly and must be submitted through an eligible public organization, such as a city, county or tribal government. The deadline for the next quarter, in which at least $600,000 in grant funds will be available, is Oct. 3. Interested parties may learn more at http://www.bsft.mt.gov/.

Commerce recently updated the program to review applications and award grants faster. Successful applicants will now be notified within 30 days of the application deadline.