Financial Relief Applications Accepted Starting Thursday, May 7 at 8 a.m.

Montanans and small businesses in every corner of the state have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As Montana works to recover from the unprecedented economic situation caused by this novel Coronavirus, the state is making emergency financial relief available from the federal government to those who have been hardest-hit by impacts of COVID-19 through a single application portal on COVIDRELIEF.MT.GOV.

Starting tomorrow, May 7, at 8 a.m., small businesses, nonprofits, cooperatives and food and ag businesses can apply through a single application portal by clicking on the “APPLY HERE” button on the homepage. Visit COVIDRELIEF.MT.GOV to submit your application for the following programs:

Montana Business Stabilization Program
The Montana Business Stabilization Grant program will provide working capital for small businesses to support payroll, rent, accounts payable, debt service and expenses related to shifts in operations in order to retain existing businesses, retain current employees or retain business viability for future re-employment. Eligible small business must be Montana-owned, employ 50 or less, have sustained a loss of revenue since Feb. 15 due to COVID 19, and be in good standing with the Secretary of State or local tribal government. Total funding available is $50 million, the maximum award amount per business is $10,000. 

Montana Innovation Grant Program
The Montana Innovation Grant program is intended to help companies scale up, improve capabilities, or drive expanded distribution of products or services developed in response to COVID-19. Projects should demonstrate significant impact in improving public health, safety, and economic impact. Eligible companies include non-profit and for-profit businesses of less than 150 employees that have created an innovative product or service intended to directly confront the COVID-19 emergency. Applicants must have primary operations based in Montana, be in good standing with the Montana Secretary of State and must not be debarred from receiving federal or state funds. Total funding available is $5 million with a maximum award amount of $25,000.

Montana Food and Agriculture Adaptability Program
Grants are available to food and agriculture businesses to help increase community resilience amid the COVID 19 pandemic and other economic disruptions. Grants are intended to create additional economic activity and bolster food security. Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to, those focused on accessing new markets, projects which strengthen and expand local food systems, and other business adaptations that decrease food and agricultural waste. The need for such innovations must be driven by the COVID 19 pandemic. Total funding available is $500,000, with a maximum application amount of $10,000.

Social Services Nonprofit Grants
Grants of up to $10,000 per applicant are available for nonprofit organizations impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency to retain existing programs and services, employees, or organizational viability for provision of future services and operations. Eligible applicants are registered, Montana-based social service nonprofits that were operating prior to February 15, 2020. This includes senior services, housing services, transportation, public safety, energy assistance, economic development, job training, recreational services and tourism-related activities. Current funding available is $10 million.

COVIDRELIEF.MT.GOV

Answers to Some Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies for these grant programs?

• Business Stabilization: Montana-based, for-profit businesses and cooperatives in good standing that employed 50 or fewer employees prior to Feb. 15, 2020, and that have lost revenue due to COVID-19 since that date. Lower prioritization will be given to businesses or individuals who have already received assistance through the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan, or other assistance.
• Innovation: Montana-based non-profit entities and for-profit businesses in good standing with fewer than 150 employees that have created an innovative product or service to directly confront the COVID-19 emergency.
• Agriculture Adaptability: Montana-based, small and medium-sized food and agriculture businesses and non-profit entities that are increasing community resilience to pandemics and other economic disruptions, while also creating additional economic activity and bolstering food security in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

What types of things can businesses use the money for?

• Business Stabilization: Payroll, rent, accounts payable, debt service and expenses related to shifts in operations to retain existing business, retain current employees or retain business viability for future re-employment.
• Innovation: To scale up, improve capabilities, or drive expanded distribution of products or services developed in direct response to the COVID-19 emergency. Projects should be able to demonstrate a significant impact in improving public health, safety, and the economy.
• Agriculture Adaptability: Infrastructure, equipment, certifications, storage, maintaining compliance with CDC and DPHHS recommendations and other business expansion and diversification activities that may focus on accessing new markets, strengthening and expanding local food systems, and/or decreasing food and agricultural waste.

What’s the maximum amount of funding a business can receive?

• Business Stabilization: The maximum award per applicant is 3 months’ worth of working capital or $10,000, whichever is less.
• Innovation: The maximum award per applicant is $25,000.
• Agriculture Adaptability: The maximum award per applicant is $10,000.

If my business has received other state, federal or private grant/loan support related to COVID-19, will I still be eligible for one of these programs?

Businesses and nonprofits that have not received other sources of grants or loans will be prioritized during the application review process.

I’m a non-profit, which program am I eligible for?

• Innovation Grant: Montana-based non-profit entities and for-profit businesses in good standing with fewer than 150 employees that have created an innovative product or service to directly confront the COVID-19 emergency.
• Agriculture Adaptability: Montana-based, small and medium-sized food and agriculture businesses and non-profit entities that are increasing community resilience to pandemics and other economic disruptions, while also creating additional economic activity and bolstering food security in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
• Social Services Nonprofit Grants: Grants of up to $10,000 per applicant are available for nonprofit organizations impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency to retain existing programs and services, employees, or organizational viability for provision of future services and operations. Eligible applicants are registered, Montana-based social service nonprofits that were operating prior to February 15, 2020. This includes senior services, housing services, transportation, public safety, energy assistance, economic development, job training, recreational services and tourism-related activities.

When is the deadline to apply for funding?

Applications for these programs will be accepted on a rolling basis beginning May 7. Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis until all funds are expended, or until Dec. 1, 2020, whichever is first.

What types of materials need to be included in the application?

You can find guidelines and the list of required application materials at COVIDRELIEF.MT.GOV. The application is intended to be streamlined to quickly deploy much-needed relief to businesses across Montana that need it now.  

Materials needed will include a tax ID, proof of business registration, a brief description of how the grant will be used, and a brief description of how the business or organization has been impacted by COVID-19.  

This financial assistance is funded through $1.25 billion in federal emergency relief funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Governor Bullock’s Coronavirus Relief Fund Advisory Council, an advisory group made up of Montanans representing nearly every sector of the state’s economy and more than 1,400 comments submitted by the public, guided the state on how this federal emergency funding can best serve the needs of Montanans – and where the state can fill unmet needs not addressed by other federal funding going forward.