On April 22, we join millions of people around the globe as we celebrate Earth Day.  But, here at USDA Rural Development, this is not just an annual event.  In fact. every day is Earth Day. With a focus on clean water, renewable energy, and value-added agriculture, USDA Rural Development Montana is doing our part to invest in our state and protect our communities and resources in the spirit of the first Earth Day, which happened 52 years ago.  These investments in Montana's rural communities will make an impact for generations to come.

Speaking of investments, we have several funding opportunities open, with application deadlines coming up quickly!  Keep reading for more details, or use the link below to watch my video update.

And, as always, I invite you to stay connected, through our Twitter feed, to ensure you have the most up-to-date info about USDA RD Montana happenings. 

Applications for Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grants are due no later than May 23^rd. 

This funding opportunity is a great way for eligible public bodies, as well as private and nonprofit organizations, to receive grant monies which can be used to provide technical assistance and training to help identify and plan for community facility needs.

In honor of Earth Day 2022, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing nearly $800 million in climate-smart infrastructure, which includes funding, through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), for Montana's rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements.

Montana's awards include:

• $6,346 to Yellowstone Vacation Rentals, LLC, which will be used to purchase and install a 8.28 two-kilowatt (kW) solar array on the Fox Den Lodge property in West Yellowstone.  This project is expected to realize $1,228 per year in savings and should generate 11,245 kW of energy per year, which is enough electricity to power one home.
• $9,360 to Consulting Design Solutions, Inc., which will be used to develop renewable energy systems and make energy-efficiency improvements to this Manhattan-based company. Project funds will be used to purchase and install a 14.4 kilowatt (kW) solar array.  The project is expected to realize $1,545 per year in savings and should generate 17,206 kW of energy annually, which is enough electricity to power almost two homes.
• $16,294 to Canebrake Vineyard, which owns the building in Helena where the Montana Health Center in located. Project funds will be used to purchase and install a 23.7 kilowatt (kW) roof-mounted solar array. This project is expected to realize $2,280 per year in savings and should generate 32,567 kW of energy per year, which is enough electricity to power three homes.
• $19,500 to Nelson Real Estate Holdings, LLC, which will be used to install a 29.52 kilowatt-hour (kWh) solar array on its business, Nelson's Ace Hardware, in Whitefish. The hardware store has been continuously owned and operated by the Nelson family for over 70 years and is a staple to the Whitefish community.  This project is expected to provide 33,204 kWh, or 26 percent, of the annual electrical consumption needed for their new location, which, in 2019, doubled in size.
• $20,000 to Quaggfor, LLC (doing business as Thornton Group), which owns a building in downtown Butte that houses numerous businesses. This award will be used to purchase and install an uninterrupted power supply for the historic building. The project is expected to realize $7,236 per year in savings and should save 93,005 kilowatts per year, which is enough electricity to power almost nine homes.

REAP in Action:

Click here to see how Sun Mountain Lumber successfully integrated Rural Energy for America funding to improve their operations.  

Click here to read how Pink Bench Distilling used their 2021 Rural Energy for America award to fund energy efficiency improvements, which included insulation, double pane windows, exterior doors and an air source heat pump for their new business in Troy. 

The most recent REAP award cycle closed on March 31, 2022, and those applications are being processed.  Additionally, USDA Rural Development Montana is accepting applications for the next competition, which closes on October 31, 2022.  More information, including application details, may be found here. And, don't forget to visit the Key Priorities website to see how to make your application more competitive! 

To learn more about REAP, and other business investment resources for Montana's rural areas, contact Montana's Business and Cooperative Programs Director, Lad Barney, at (406) 309-3350 or lad.barney@usda.gov.

Our Value-Added Producer Grant cycle closes on April 25th for electronic applications, and May 2nd for paper applications. 

Interested applicants, including Montana’s agricultural producers, are encouraged to submit applications which will generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities and increase producer income. 

CLICK HERE for a complete list of awardees from the last funding cycle and feel free to reach out to Marlee Sandry or Heather Handeland for more information.  

This announcement was originally posted on Feb 2, 2021. It was updated on April 21, 2022, to highlight that USDA is accepting a third round of applications for the Farm Labor Housing Program. The * denotes new or updated information since the original announcement.

On April 21, 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it is seeking applications for funding to increase the supply of affordable housing for farmworkers.

Subject to the availability of funds, the loans and grants will be provided through USDA’s Farm Labor Housing Program. Applications must be submitted electronically to USDA’s Rural Housing Service before the deadline for each round of funding.

*Pre-applications for the third round of funding will open on May 16, 2022. The deadline to submit pre-applications is July 15, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Final applications must be submitted by Nov. 1, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. local time.

*USDA will host a workshop on May 11, 2022, to discuss the application process and the borrower’s responsibilities under the program, among other topics.

Interested parties may email Off-FLHapplication@usda.gov to request information on how to attend. Using ‘‘Off-FLH Workshop’’ as the subject line, the email must contain:

• the borrower’s name,
• the project’s name,
• the borrower’s contact information; and
• the state where the project will be located.

*For additional information, see page 23792 of the April 21, 2022, Federal Register.

We are excited to welcome Pam Weber to our Single Family Housing team!  As a Realty Loan Specialist, Pam will join the team on Monday, April 25, 2022 and will be located in USDA Rural Development's Missoula office.

Pam has worked in the real estate arena for 11 years and in the financial industry for the last 17 years.  As a USDA Rural Development Realty Loan Specialist, Pam will help facilitate fair and affordable housing opportunities for rural communities throughout Montana. 

She was born and raised in Missoula, and, with her husband, enjoys spending time with her three grown children and four grandchildren at their sporting events.  Pam also like to spend time playing with her Labradoodle, Winston.

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program which provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations to help microenterprises startup/grow through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund and provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs. Application Deadline: Third Quarter, March 31, 2022; and Fourth Quarter, June 30, 2022.

Rural Energy for America Program Energy Audits & Renewable Energy Development Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program to assist rural small businesses and agricultural producers by conducting and promoting energy audits and providing renewable energy development assistance. Application Deadline: 1/31/2023

Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program

U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program that provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas. Application Deadline: Open

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Rural Playbook

U.S. Department of Agriculture
This document, in conjunction with the Rural Infrastructure Tour, is meant to help state, local, Tribal and territorial governments in rural areas understand the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and provides rural communities with information on the “what, when, where, and how to apply” for funding under the law. Application Deadline: Open

We have several Resource Guides available which outline USDA RD programs that can help Montana's rural residents, businesses and communities!