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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-02-26 Correspondence - MT Dept of Commerce - Commerce Weekly Roundup - Volume 3, Issue 4From:Montana Department of CommerceTo:Bozeman Public CommentSubject:[EXTERNAL]Commerce Weekly Roundup - Volume 3, Issue 4Date:Thursday, January 29, 2026 2:01:54 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Jan. 29, 2026 – News, events, grants, loans and other funding opportunities Montana Department of Commerce Weekly Roundup The Weekly Roundup is a summary of events, news and information important to Commerce's constituents this week. Click on any topic for more information. Infrastructure and Planning The Montana Emergency Tourism Assistance Program is accepting grant applications until Feb. 5 at 11:59 p.m. The METAP is a state-funded opportunity to distribute grant awards for tourism-related emergency service projects in rural areas. Visit the grants and loans portal to apply. The Montana Department of Commerce’s Community Development Block Grant Program will hold a virtual grant administration workshop on Feb. 10 and Feb. 11. This workshop will offer valuable insight into administering a CDBG project award and managing a successful project to completion. This workshop will be available virtually through Zoom. It will be recorded and available on our website afterward. Commerce is accepting applications for the Montana Historic Preservation Grant through 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 28. Application guidelines can be found on the MHPG web page; eligible parties should visit the grants and loans portal to apply. The Uniform Application for Montana Public Facility Projects, which is part of Commerce’s Montana Coal Endowment Program’s application, has been updated and is available for use. The updates include a preliminary engineering report outline with requirements for irrigation projects, an application that now requests information regarding short-lived assets and contact information including links and phone numbers. Business The Opportunities in Rural Economies Economic Development Organization Capacity Building Grant application window will close Jan. 28 and is available to EDOs enrolled in the ORE Program. This 10:1 match grant is designed to help enrolled EDOs increase their internal capacity to better assist underserved businesses, make technological improvements and innovations, expand staff training and professional development opportunities and support other activities that strengthen economic development in their regions. For more information about the grant or the ORE Program, contact Business Resource Partner Josh Bennett at 406-841-2748 or josh.bennett@mt.gov. The Wood Products Revolving Loan Fund is accepting new applications under updated program guidelines. The program has transitioned to a loan participation structure for funding requests of up to $2 million and will continue to offer direct loans for amounts under $1 million. The application portal will remain open until all available funding has been committed to eligible businesses. Currently, the WP RLF has $1.5 million available for lending. For more information, contact Program Specialist Chris Ryan at chris.ryan@mt.gov. The Montana State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0 Loan Participation Program application portal will temporarily close at midnight on Feb. 28 as the program explores increasing future product offerings. While funds remain available, all fully and properly completed applications submitted prior to the closure will be reviewed for eligibility. Updates on program offerings will be released as more information becomes available. Ongoing funding opportunities will be supported through the SSBCI 2.0 Recycled Funds application portal which will remain open for the duration of the program. The Montana State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0 Loan Participation Program-Recycled Funds application is open and will remain so for the duration of the program, with capital availability contingent on repayments from existing borrowers. A list of participating lenders with funds for recycling can be found on the SSBCI webpage. Native American Collateral Support Program funding is available. The NACS Program is now accepting applications online, which can be found on the website under “Application Process.” Currently, approximately $61,235 in cash funding is available. For more information, contact Program Specialist Chris Ryan at chris.ryan@mt.gov or 406-841-2594. The Big Sky Film Grant is open. This grant program aims to build and support partnerships with filmmakers and production companies to create Montana film industry jobs. The application deadline is Feb. 15 at 11:59 p.m. MST. For more information, contact Commerce's Film Office. Did you significantly grow your exports in 2025? You may be eligible to apply for an Exporter of the Year Award. Applications are due March 15. For more information, contact exportmontana@mt.gov or call 406-841-2783. Commerce’s Export team will submit applications to the Montana District Export Council’s review committee for consideration. Don't miss this opportunity to spread the word about your 2025 export success! Housing Montana Board of Housing public meeting: Feb. 9. Qualified Allocation Plan 2027 public hearing: Feb. 12. Montana Board of Housing public meeting: March 16. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality is launching the Multifamily Energy Retrofit Loan Program to provide low-interest loans to existing multifamily affordable housing facilities for energy efficiency improvements. The MERL Program aims to lower energy costs of multifamily housing facilities and improve comfort and energy performance of buildings. Some examples of eligible measures funded under the program include air sealing, insulation, windows and efficient heating and cooling systems. All measures must be recommended via a qualifying energy audit and must be life-cycle cost effective. Loan Terms: No application fee. 2026 interest rate: 2%, fixed for the term of the loan, 2.055% APR. APR based on an $800,000 loan, 2% interest rate, 15-year term and $3,142 in closing costs. Loan amount: $100,000 to $1,000,000. Loan term: 15 years or useful life of the measure(s), whichever comes first. The MERL Program was established with federal funds and all projects are subject to federal requirements including Davis-Bacon Act prevailing wage, Build America Buy America for publicly owned facilities, the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act. MERL projects are also subject to state requirements. For more information, visit the MERL Program web page or contact MERL Program Manager Meranda Bass at msikes@mt.gov or 406-444-6586. Commerce News/Upcoming Events Commerce Awards Grant Funding to 11 Montana Main Street Communities The Montana Outfitters and Guides Association announced today a new technology pilot designed to support Montana outfitters by modernizing core business operations while preserving the independence, tradition and local ownership that define the state’s outdoor recreation economy. The Montana Heritage Commission is looking for concessionaires interested in running business operations in historic Virginia City, Nevada City and Reeder's Alley in Helena. A list of currently available opportunities can be found at commerce.mt.gov. Please email mhc@mt.gov with any questions. The Montana Departments of Commerce and Public Health and Human Services are collaborating on various housing and service programs administered by their respective agencies. One of these programs is Money Follows the Person, administered by DPHHS. The MFP Program provides a smooth transition for individuals moving from an institutional setting back into the community for people who: Resided in an institutional care setting for 60 days at the time of transition; Medicaid must pay for one of the days that the individual is in the institutional setting. A person can be eligible for Medicaid and Medicaid to not pay for one of those days; and Are eligible for a Montana waiver program. State plan eligibility is not sufficient for MFP purposes. If you know a person who may benefit from this support, please consider making a referral to DPHHS. For more information about the MFP Program, visit dphhs.mt.gov. Commerce invites economic development organizations to the SelectUSA Investment Summit in National Harbor, Maryland on May 3-6. This summit is the largest international business attraction event in the country. Partner with Commerce at no additional cost beyond travel and hotel expenses. To be a part of Commerce's booth, send an email to Business Attraction Coordinator Cameron Johnson at camjohnson@mt.gov by Jan. 31. Mark your calendar for the 2026 Made in Montana Trade Show for Food and Gifts, March 14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds in Helena. This is the premier statewide event to see, sample and purchase the newest products and developments in the Made in Montana food and gift industry. Businesses interested in attending wholesale buyer day on March 13 must register here. Save the date for the 2026 Housing Partnership Conference, May 18-20 at Fairmont Hot Springs. Registration will open in late February. This conference brings together housing professionals, policymakers, developers and advocates from across the state and nation to explore innovative solutions, share expertise and collaborate on the future of affordable housing in Montana. Sponsoring the Montana Housing Partnership Conference puts your organization in front of housing leaders and decision makers from across the state before, during and after the event. More sponsorship information is available here. Save the date for the 2026 Montana Department of Commerce Governor’s Conference on Tourism. This year’s conference will be held Sept. 16-18 in Great Falls. The event brings together more than 350 tourism and business professionals to educate, network and inspire one another. More information will be available on the conference website when registration opens in March. UPDATE SUBSCRIBER PREFERENCES Montana Department of Commerce 301 S Park Ave, Helena, MT 59620 Contact Us: 406-841-2700 commerce.mt.gov This email was sent to comments@bozeman.net using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: MontanaDepartment of Commerce · P.O. Box 200501 · Helena, MT 59620-0501 View as a webpage Unsubscribe Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on yourSubscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. Discover information about additional topics at Commerce. Sign up for more topics. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. Montana Department of Commerce 301 S Park Ave, Helena, MT 59620 406-841-2700