News this month
What we know about ARPA funding

The State of Montana has released new details about funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), guided by federal rules as well as House Bill 632. Here's what we know so far...

  1. A new application platform will be on the State of Montana's website. We recommend bookmarking arpa.mt.gov right now to get ready for when it goes live.
  2. There will be a competitive grant program for water & sewer infrastructure funds called the Minimum Allocation Grant. There are very specific requirements that must be used in order to apply.
  3. There will be a separate competitive grant program called the ARPA Competitive Grant program, also for water & sewer infrastructure.
  4. Four commissions have been formed to request and review applications for ARPA funding from the State of Montana: the Infrastructure Advisory Commission, the Communications Advisory Commission, the Health Advisor Commission, and the Economic Transformation and Stabilization, and Workforce Development Advisory Commission.

We will continue to provide updates as details are released.
Meat processing training tomorrow

We are holding this training twice: once from 10 am-12 pm and once from 4 pm-6 pm, both on Tuesday, May 25. Online RSVPs are required in order to attend. Please spread the word!
Last week to take survey

You have until this Friday, May 28th, to take our 2021 needs assessment survey. We have $1,000 in project funding that will be awarded to the community with the most responses by May 28. If you own, operate, or represent a business, nonprofit, or government entity in the Blackfeet Nation or the counties of Cascade, Glacier, Pondera, Teton, or Toole, we want your feedback. Take the survey today and share it with your friends and colleagues in the region.
COVID funding updates
Funding cycle for tribal business grants coming soon

Applications for the Native American Business Advisory grant will be accepted starting June 1. "A total of $20,000 per year is available" for up to eight "Native American community-based organizations, tribal colleges, and tribal government organizations that support private sector business development on reservations and in tribal communities."

Applications can be submitted for both the Indian Equity Fund Small Business Grant (IEF) and the Tribal Business Planning Grant (TBPG) starting July 1. For the IEF, "[a]wards for individual businesses can be up to $14,000 with a minimum dollar to dollar cash or in-kind match ($1:$1) and must be firmly committed and documented in the application." For the TBPG, which is specific for tribal governments, "A maximum of $30,000 per governing body per fiscal year will be available in fiscal year 2022."
Workforce training funds still available

If you are looking for opportunities to train your employees, the MT Department of Labor & Industry still has Incumbent Worker Training Program funds available. The current grant cycle will end with the state's fiscal year; you have until June 20th, 2021 to apply and the training for which you are applying must begin before June 30th, 2021. If your training begins after June 30th, you must wait until the next grant cycle to apply for funds. Click here if you want to see a playlist of instructional videos about the program.
Do you sell snacks?

"The Montana Film Office wants to put Made in Montana products on the table - the craft services snack table!  If you produce individually packaged snacks and would like to supply samples to a production location, please email Allison Whitmer, Montana Film Commissioner."
What's happening in May?
What's happening in June and beyond?
Are you starting a new business? Are you expanding a current business? Do you need help with funding? Do you want more updates like this one?