Montana Growth Through Agriculture Program (GTA)

The Growth Through Agriculture (GTA) program is a grant and loan program established by the Montana Legislature to strengthen and diversify Montana's agricultural industry through the development of new agricultural products and processes. Examples of eligible project activities involve equipment purchases, construction costs, advertising and promotion, and consultant services for engineering. The GTA program is administered by the Agriculture Development Council (Council) which is attached to the Department of Agriculture.

New in 2023

The Growth Through Agriculture Program has added two new options this year:

• The Business Acceleration Program will award grants of up to $20,000 over two years to support early business development or expansion.

• The Market Development Program will award grants of up to $5,000 to help eligible businesses access and develop new markets for their goods.

Cost-share Requirement

50% cost-share is required for all types of Growth Through Agriculture proposals including both grants and loans. For example, the GTA Program can reimburse 50% of an invoice paid by the business, thereby confirming cash cost-share, or “match” is in place. 

Types of Funding Available

Maximum - $150,000 made up of:

• Up to $50,000 in the form of grant funding

• Up to $100,000 in the form of loan funding

Projects should primarily add value to Montana’s agricultural products, have prospects for achieving commercial success given the current personnel, experience and resources of the applicant and have the possibility to create and/or retain jobs in Montana. In addition, projects should either benefit additional agricultural producers and/or companies, and/or projects should accomplish research that will benefit Montana’s agriculture industry as a whole. An applicant that receives any two GTA grants within a two-year period will have a one-year cooling off period before applying again, starting in the current calendar year. Please contact GTA staff for any questions on this recent adjustment. 

Additional Loan Eligibility Requirements:

• The Council has the option to offer high and low interest loans up to $100,000 for those projects that meet the general criteria for funding listed above.

  • To be eligible for a low interest loan, the applicant must have unencumbered collateral to secure the full amount of the loan.

  • The Council can select up to two targeted areas for projects which would be eligible for low interest loans. These targeted areas will encourage specific types of projects and will inform the public of the Council’s particular interests. These targeted areas must be announced 60 days prior to becoming effective. 

Additional Grant Eligibility Requirements:

• The Council may award grants up to $50,000. In addition to meeting the general criteria for funding, grant applicants must demonstrate through their application that they meet at least one of the following additional criteria:

  • The project will benefit additional agricultural companies,

  • The project will accomplish research that will benefit agriculture as a whole, or

  • The applicant is a nonprofit entity.

Eligible Costs:

Eligible costs under the GTA program include, but are not limited to:

• Equipment

• Consultant Services (professional, technical, operational)

• Travel

• Advertising and Promotion

• Supplies and Materials

• Communication (telephone, postage, printing, etc.)

• Data Processing

$1 for $1 match is required for all types of Growth Through Agriculture proposals including both grants and loans.

Maximum $150,000 made up of:

• Up to $50,000 in the form of grant funding

• Up to $100,000 in the form of loan funding

The Council may make a grant or loan if it determines a project is consistent with the goals of the Growth Through Agriculture Act. Projects should primarily add value to Montana's agricultural products and have the potential to create and/or retain jobs in Montana.

BEFORE beginning the application process, the applicant should be able to document exactly how the project will expand Montana agriculture. For example, the growth could be measurable either in terms of increased sales (by dollar amount or percentage) or in number of jobs created.

The Council strongly urges applicants to contact the Food and Agricultural Development Center network, Small Business Development Center network, and their local economic development organization for assistance with their GTA application, financial projections, business and marketing plans as necessary. In addition, the Department is offering the use of this one-page financials template for interested businesses that have been invited to apply and present for the main GTA program.

Projects may potentially be funded in a single application for a maximum total amount of $150,000 in the form of grant funding up to $50,000 and loan funding up to $100,000. Examples of project activities involve equipment purchases, advertising and promotion, and consultant services such as engineering costs. A $1 for $1 match is required for all proposals.

• Growth Through Agriculture Program Guidelines

• GTA Business Acceleration Program Guidelines

• GTA Marketing Development Program Guidelines

• FAQ