| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Collin Watters |
| June 13, 2008 | (406) 444-2402 |
Council selects Growth Through Agriculture projects
HELENA, Mont. — The Montana Agriculture Development Council has offered a total of $223,994 in Growth Through Agriculture funding to 10 agriculture development projects, according to council Chair David Tyler.
The Agriculture Development Council oversees the Growth Through Agriculture
program, the source of funding the council uses for project investments.
The goal of the GTA program is to provide financial assistance to develop
new products or innovative ideas that enhance our state’s agricultural
industry.
In the latest round, the council offered funding to:
-- Bear Paw Development Corporation, Havre, $42,800 grant to assist with the development of a preliminary site plan for an industrial park dedicated to agricultural processing.
-- The Camelina Coalition, Sunburst, $50,000 grant to assist with help to fund research necessary to acquire an AAFCO definition and approval for camelina meal in animal feeds.
-- Native American Beef Project, Valier, $20,000 grant to perform a comprehensive market analysis to determine the feasibility of marketing natural beef produced by Native American ranchers.
-- Midway Colony, Conrad, $50,000 loan to assist with the design, fabrication and installation of the company's waste storage pond cover and flare assembly.
-- Vintage Cheese of Montana, LLC, Bozeman, $19,000 grant for Consultant
Services to include the development of marketing materials, website maintenance
and updates and cheese making and facilities design consultation.
-- Sleeping Child Farms, Hamilton, $7,500 grant to assist with efforts to
expand the production of organic foods and agri-tourism opportunities at
the company's farm.
-- Montana Gourmet Garlic, Stevensville, $6,250 loan to assist with the expansion of the company's production capabilities.
-- BrenTari Foods, LLC, $13,444 grant to assist the company with redesigning its brand and image as a natural and healthy food.
-- Montana Branded Beef Association, Helena, $10,000 grant to assist with help to develop national markets for the company's products.
-- Ethanol Producers and Consumers (EPAC), Nashua, $5,000 grant to assist with the company's media campaign aimed at addressing misinformation about ethanol.
The Montana Agriculture Development Council heard presentations on 16 proposed projects at a quarterly meeting held June 2-3 in Hamilton. Council members are: David Tyler of Belgrade, chair; Patricia Quisno of Harlem, vice-chair; Ervin Schlemmer of Joliet; Verges Aageson of Gilford; Bill Koenig of Kalispell; Ron de Yong, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture; Tony Preite, director of the Montana Department of Commerce.
The next deadline for project applications to the Growth Through Agriculture program is July 31, 2008.
For more information and application materials, contact Collin Watters, Growth Through Agriculture program manager, at the Montana Department of Agriculture at (406) 444-2402 or by email at agr@mt.gov.
