HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-07-26 Correspondence - MT Dept of Commerce - Commerce Weekly Roundup - Volume 3, Issue 18From:Montana Department of CommerceTo:Bozeman Public CommentSubject:[EXTERNAL]Commerce Weekly Roundup - Volume 3, Issue 18Date:Thursday, May 7, 2026 2:01:38 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.
May 7, 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.
Housing
Montana Board of Housing Public Meeting: May 11-12. Interested individuals may
attend via Zoom or in person at the Best Western Premier Helena Great Northern
Hotel, 834 Great Northern Blvd. in Helena. Registration is required to attend via Zoom.
Montana Board of Housing Public Meeting: June 8.
The Montana Department of Commerce works together with the Montana Department
of Public Health and Human Services on the intersection of housing and healthcare. As
part of the collaborative efforts, Commerce is amplifying the following Rural Health
Transformation opportunity for vendors and subcontractors, recently released by
DPHHS.
DPHHS is offering a networking opportunity for vendors to explore potential
partnerships before submitting their responses to the Rural Health Transformation
Program solicitations. DPHHS is developing a shared directory to aid communication
among potential collaborators. If your organization is interested in connecting with
others who may wish to participate in RHTP initiatives, complete the Contact
Information for Vendors and Subcontractors Form to be included in the directory. The
information that is collected will be shared on the DPHHS RHTP website.
Participation is intended to support networking and the exchange of information related
to the upcoming RHTP solicitations. Organizations that intend to submit as primary
vendors may find potential subcontractors through this list; others may find value in
exploring potential collaborations for joint submissions through this resource.
The directory will remain up through the end of this calendar year and possibly into the
future. Participation in this form is entirely voluntary and optional. Submission does not
guarantee a partnership, subcontracting opportunity or contract award. For more
information about becoming a vendor with RHTP, visit the Information for
Vendors page.
Infrastructure and Planning
The Lead Service Line Technical Assistance Program will transition to the Montana
Department of Environmental Quality effective May 9, 2026. Contact Jayde Duysen at
DEQ at jayde.duysen@mt.gov or 406-444-0917 for more information or help regarding
lead service lines.
Commerce is hosting a preapplication workshop for the upcoming Community
Development Block Grant Program Planning Grant application. The workshop will
be held via Zoom on May 13 at 10 a.m.
The Montana Main Street Program seeks additions to its MMS murals catalog. MMS
members may submit a mural by visiting the project's web page.
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.
Commerce will accept applications for the Montana Coal Endowment Program now
through May 19 at 11:59 p.m. Application guidelines can be found on the MCEP web
page; eligible parties should visit the grants and loans portal to apply.
The Community Development Block Grant Planning Program will begin
accepting applications for a third round of funding starting May 26 through 11:59
p.m. on July 10. Application guidelines are available on the CDBG planning web page.
Business
The Opportunities in Rural Economies Program is accepting applications from
economic development organizations through its online application portal. The
enrollment period is open-ended; organizations engaged in active economic
development are encouraged to apply. Lenders interested in participating in the ORE
Loan Participation Program may contact program staff for more information and, if
eligible, will be required to execute a General Lender Loan Servicing Agreement with
Commerce. For more information, 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. The
program offers a loan participation structure for requests up to $2 million and continues
to provide direct loans to eligible businesses for amounts under $1 million. The
application portal will remain open until all available funds are committed, with
approximately $1.4 million currently available. 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-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 is on the SSBCI web page.
Native American Collateral Support Program funding is available. The NACS
Program is 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 Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program is returning to Montana.
Applications are open until May 18 for this tuition-free, 12-week program. One-on-one
advice and personalized guidance, as well as better tools, clearer financials, stronger
strategy and a trusted peer network will be offered to help grow small businesses.
Participants will learn from experienced faculty and join a national community of
entrepreneurs who keep collaborating long after graduation. Businesses must be at
least two years old, have at least two employees and revenues over $75,000 in the
most recent fiscal year. Classes start in September.
Join Commerce’s export team for a trade mission to Argentina and Uruguay,
Sept. 7-11, to initiate or expand your business profile. Montana companies are well-
positioned to benefit from exports and increase their international sales in these
countries. For more information, contact our export team.
Join Commerce’s export team for a trade mission to India, Oct. 5-9, to initiate or
expand your business profile. This Montana trade mission will provide you with
excellent opportunities to initiate or expand your business profile in India. For more
information, contact our export team.
Commerce News/Upcoming Events
Commerce Awards 21 Tribal Tourism Small Business Grants
The Montana Shooting Sports Task Force seeks public input as it works on the
development of future shooting sports facilities across the state following the passage
of HB 899 in the 2025 Montana Legislative Session. The bill was sponsored by Rep.
Kerri Seekins-Crowe (R-Billings).
The Montana Heritage Commission seeks concessionaires interested in running
business operations in Virginia City and Reeder's Alley in Helena. A list of currently
available opportunities is at commerce.mt.gov. Please email mhc@mt.gov with any
questions.
World Trade and Investment Day will be held May 12 in Butte. This event brings
together exporters, importers, investors, policymakers and service providers to explore
global market opportunities, supply chains, foreign direct investment and the real-world
challenges Montana firms face doing business internationally.
Register now for the 2026 Housing Partnership Conference, May 18-20 at
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. 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.
The Research and Information Services Bureau’s Business Assets and
Opportunities map joins infrastructure and business opportunity information in an
interactive, desktop-friendly format for communities, businesses and economic
development partners. The site highlights Montana’s infrastructure strengths, including
short average commutes, larger-scale transportation logistics and statewide
improvements that support business success.
For local leaders, the map can support community planning by making it easier to see
where key infrastructure elements are located in relation to potential development
areas. This helps communities better understand their current capacity, identify sites
that may be ready for business growth and recognize where future infrastructure
investments or planning efforts may be needed. By connecting infrastructure data with
economic development opportunities, the map gives communities a practical tool for
making more informed decisions about land use, business attraction, expansion and
long-term growth.
The Montana Heritage Commission will meet June 5 at 9 a.m. via Zoom.
Registration is required; click the Zoom link in advance to do so.
Registration is now open 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 for education, networking and inspiration. In place of standard breakout
sessions, immersive rural experiences will be offered instead. These sessions will offer
hands-on learning designed to show attendees what Montana's landscapes need to
thrive. Register by June 30 for early bird pricing.
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