State COVID-19 Grants (Economic Affairs Interim Committee, Montana, June 25, 2020)
Summary
In this June 25, 2020 Economic Affairs Interim Committee memo, staff researcher Pat Murdo summarizes Montana's COVID-19 grant programs, funded from the $1.25 billion the state received under the CARES Act; grants through the Department of Commerce portal totaled $42.9 million as of June 23, 2020. Business Stabilization Grants of up to $10,000 for businesses with 50 or fewer employees had paid $32.6 million of $75 million, with more than 3,700 businesses applying. Other programs listed include Business Innovation Grants, Agricultural Adaptability Grants, Business Adaptation grants of up to $5,000, Social Service Nonprofit Grants ($4.8 million of $10 million) and an Emergency Housing Assistance Program that had paid $329,868 of $50 million. The memo also describes a new $125 million loan deferment program that pays interest on existing commercial loans for 6 to 12 months.
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Full text
June 25, 2020
Economic Affairs Interim Committee
Pat Murdo, Staff Researcher
STATE COVID-19 GRANTS
Montana received $1.25 billion from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security (CARES) Act. Governor Steve Bullock used recommendations from a
statewide task force in determining grant distributions that were to be made
available to individuals and businesses in the state. The Department of Commerce
operated the main funding portal for these grants and compiled data summarized
below. As of June 23, 2020, the funding granted amounted to $42.9 million. For
specific information, go to the department website:
https://commerce.mt.gov/Montana-Coronavirus-Relief/Awarded-Grants.
AGRICULTURAL Agricultural Adaptability Grants
ADAPTABILITY - $78,493 Requester Location Amount
OF $500,000
(as of 6/23)
The grants for food and Diamond H Livestock Charlo $10,000
agriculture businesses are Faltree Farm Loma $10,000
"intended to create additional Keep Cool Greens, LLC Lincoln $8,493
economic activity and bolster
LeVeque Ranch Cascade $10,000
food security." Maximum grant
M&R Services Inc. Kila $10,000
is $10,000 each.
Oswald Farms, Inc. Joliet $10,000
Paradise Garden Plains $10,000
BUSINESS INNOVATION
GRANTS - Business Innovation Grants (as of 6/8)
$546,676 OF $5 M Location Requester Amount
The innovation grants Bozeman -Bozeman Batiks $2,500
are intended to help -Dry Hills Distillery $25,000
companies "scale up, Butte -Headframe Spirits $25,000
improve capabilities, -M.C. Wholesale Inc. $25,000
Columbia Falls -Corporate Image Outfitters $17,612
or drive expanded
Corvallis -Microshiner $10,000
distribution of Ennis - JCG, LLC $25,000
products or services Eureka Big Sky Mobile Imaging $25,000
developed in response Helena -The Local $17,200
to COVID-19." -Mont. Learning Cnter (Canyon Ferry) $12,500
Lincoln -Valier Coffee/ Heritage House $25,000
Eligibility is for Livingston -LTS Architecture $14,389
companies, whether Missoula -Day Spa Body Basics Inc. $25,000
for-profit or -Educational Services (Aerie Backc'try) $12,410
nonprofit, with fewer Sidney -Meadowlark Brewing $20,000
than 150 employees Stevensville -Three Rocks LLC $25,000
Twin Bridges -Spiffy Biffy Portable Toilets, Inc. $20,000
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June 30, 2020
State Covid-19 Grants
and a primary base of operations in Montana. Maximum unit distribution is $25,000. This program ends July 1, 2020.
BUSINESS STABILIZATION GRANTS - $32.6 MILLION OF $75 MILLION
These grants are intended to provide working capital to small businesses with 50 or fewer employees. Eligible uses include
payroll, rent, accounts payable, debt service and other expenses related to COVID-19 disruptions. The maximum distribution
to each business is $10,000. More than 3,700 businesses had applied for these grants by June 23. Although many applied for
the maximum amount, some applied for far less. One business applied for $10,000 but received only $987.
BUSINESS ADAPTATION PROGRAM - $247,229 OF $20 MILLION
These grants are intended to reimburse eligible small businesses, whether for-profit or nonprofit, for the cost of protecting
staff and customers from infection by the novel corona virus. Expenses for protective equipment, communication, or other
protective resources, including remote work equipment, must have been incurred after March 1, 2020. The maximum grant
award for a business is $5,000. Initially there was a 50-employee limit for eligible businesses, but that limit has been removed.
So far, 71 businesses have received funds ranging from $416 for a business in Sidney that requested just that amount to the full
allowable amount of $5,000 for 25 businesses.
SOCIAL SERVICE NONPROFIT GRANTS $4.8 MILLION OF $10 MILLION
A Social Service Nonprofit Grant Program has $10 million in funding, with grants up to $10,000 for eligible nonprofit
organizations impacted by COVID-19 and needing funds to retain existing programs and services. These include programs
offering senior services, housing services, transportation, economic development, job training, recreational services, public
safety, energy assistance, and tourism-related activities. The smallest grant of $1,000 went to the Big Sky Science Education
Enhancement program in Billings. A couple of grants for $2,000 each
were the anomaly. Most grants were for $10,000, whether requested by County Emergency Housing Grants
chambers of commerce or community schools. Cascade $24,576
Flathead $39,193
EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE Gallatin $42,296
PROGRAM $329,868 OF $50 MILLION (6/23/2020) Lewis &Clark $20,512
This program provides rent assistance, security deposits, Missoula $77,517
mortgage assistant, and, if needed, hazard insurance assistance for Park $13,522
Montanans who have lost jobs or substantial parts of their Ravalli $10,050
income because of COVID-19-related activities. The program has Yellowstone $102,202
$50 million available. For successful requestors, payments will be made directly to landlords or mortgage servicers,
as applicable. The Department of Commerce Housing website notes that the program will pay the difference
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Economic Affairs Interim Committee
Pat Murdo, Staff Researcher
June 30, 2020
State Covid-19 Grants
between 30% of the household's current gross monthly income and their eligible housing assistance costs, up to
$2,000 a month. The household income limit is $125,000, depending on family size.
MONTANA LOAN DEFERMENT PROGRAM - NEW - $125 MILLION AVAILABLE
Applications have begun to be accepted for the loan deferment program, which is being conducted in conjunction
with Montana financial institutions. Existing commercial loans may be converted to interest-only status under the
program, so that the existing borrower defers principal and interesting payment for between 6 and 12 months. This
is intended to free funds for other critical needs. The Coronavirus Relief Fund will be used to pay interest payments.
The maximum contribution for each loan note is $150,000. Those with more than one loan may apply for each
entity. Borrowers, which don't include publicly traded companies, will have to show that they were current on their
loans as of December 31, 2019, and that they experienced a 25% reduction in gross revenues related to COVID-19
repercussions. Other qualifications apply.
FOOD BANK AND FOOD PANTRY ASSISTANCE - $1.54 MILLION OF $2 MILLION
Up to $50,000 is available for eligible applicants, which include food banks and others providing food assistance to
Montanans with limited resources.
OTHER PROGRAMS
• The Department of Public Health and Human Services is handling public health grants and stay connected
grants.
• The Department of Administration's Local Government Assistant program is making reimbursement
available to local governments, using funds from the CARES Act and the Federal Emergency Management
Administration's public assistance grants.
• The Department of Agriculture is handling Montana Meat Processing Infrastructure Grants. That
application deadline is July 2 at 5 p.m. Total available funding $2 million with a maximum award of
$150,000.
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Economic Affairs Interim Committee
Pat Murdo, Staff Researcher
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