HELENA, Mont. – Montana Department of Agriculture Director Jillien Streit and the Agriculture Development Council announced recipients of the state’s $806,596 investment in innovative, value-added agriculture projects through the Montana Department of Agriculture’s Growth Through Agriculture (GTA) program.
From Nashua to Noxon, a total of 17 agricultural businesses throughout the state were awarded funds to advance Montana’s agricultural economy.
“The Growth Through Agriculture Program has grown to be a vital investment into the backbone of Montana,” said Director Jillien Streit. “By helping our local producers to innovate and expand, we aren’t just supporting operations and ag businesses, we are helping to secure the future of our rural communities and ensuring that the legacy of Montana agriculture remains a cornerstone.”
The GTA program was established by the Montana Legislature in 1987 to strengthen and diversify Montana’s agriculture industry through development of new agricultural products and processes.
The GTA program offers funding in the form of a grant or loan or both and funding is determined by a seven member Agriculture Development Council during scheduled meetings. The Council members are appointed by the Governor. Growth Through Agriculture funding requires the investment of at least a $1 in matching funds for every $1 in program grant or loan assistance received.
2026 GROWTH THROUGH AGRICULTURE AWARDS
Abraxas Farm LLC dba Far Out Feeds– Big Arm
$50,000 grant “Increasing Producer Access to Montana-grown, Organic Livestock Feeds”
Bull River Farm– Noxon
$4,731.50 grant “Cold Room”
CIVC LLC dba CIVC Montana– Belgrade
$27,405.20 grant and $71,531.23 loan “Expanding flour milling capacity at CIVC’s Belgrade plant to meet rising demand for products grown and made in Montana.”
Excelsior Meats – Butte
$25,000 grant “Excelsior Meats Diversity and Growth”
Fat Toads Farm Pantry– Bozeman
$15,506.35 “Increasing Fat Toads Farm Pantry’s Cold Storage Capacity”
Solum Inc– Bozeman
$45,950 grant “Harvesting New Value Streams: Building a Montana Bio-Materials Economy”
Lake County Community Development Corporation dba Mission West Community Development Partners– Ronan
$50,000 grant “Expanding Value Added Opportunities for Specialty Crop Growers through Juicing and Dehydration”
Last Best Organics – Missoula
$46,742.73 grant “Last Best Organics Expansion”
Living Sky Grains LLC– Three Forks
$45,500 grant and $45,000 loan “Living Sky Grains 2025 Growth Through Ag Grant”
Living Water Agriculture – Nashua
$26,624 grant “Aquaponic Produce for Northeastern Montana”
Montana Milk Producers Association – Cut Bank
$50,000 grant “Keeping Montana Milk in Montana Homes Through Dairy Transition”
Mont-Dulce LLC dba Cool Earth Creamery– Missoula
$33,500 grant “Cool Earth Creamery Gelato Production Expansion Grant”
Mulder Enterprises LLC dba Old Town Farmstand– Three Forks
$39,000 grant “Old Town Farmstand Mobile Commercial Kitchen Expansion: Scaling Montana-Grown Value-Added Foods and Unlocking New Markets”
Project Meats LLC– Billings
$46,723.20 grant “Automating Growth to Retain and Attract Clients”
Rivulet Apiaries LLC– Alberton
$37,382 grant “Market expansion and scaling of apiary for value-added products”
Sovereign Warrior LLC– Darby
$40,000 grant and $60,000 loan “Scaling Grassfed Bison Jerky Production in Underserved Darby, Montana”
Willow Mountain Winery LLC– Corvallis
$46,000 grant “Montana Grown Vineyard/Winery Expansion to Commercial Wholesale Markets.”
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