Growth Through Agriculture (GTA) — Montana Department of Agriculture

Montana's flagship ag development program: matching grants and low-interest loans for value-added projects, market expansion, and new ag enterprises.

Typical award: Mini-grants to $5,000; project grants to $150,000
Deadline: Two funding cycles per year
Type of support: Funding / grants · Business & value-added products
Who can apply: Individual producer, Non-profit, Beginning / underserved
Fits these operations: Vegetables & produce, Cut flowers, Orchard & fruit, Mixed / diversified, Value-added & food business, Urban farm

The eligibility and application details below are general guidance for this kind of program, not text copied from the funder. The facts above — who runs it, how much, and when it closes — are hand-checked. Always confirm specifics on the official page.

Am I eligible?

Farm or business must operate in MT
Individual farmers, ranchers, and farm businesses may apply
Non-profits, co-ops, and community organizations may apply
Beginning, veteran, and historically underserved producers are prioritized
Applicant is usually required to be registered to do business in the state
Matching funds or in-kind contribution may be requested

How to apply

1Read the current program page or notice of funding to confirm this cycle's rules
2Contact Montana Department of Agriculture before writing — most funders will tell you if you are a fit
3Draft the narrative, budget, and any required letters of support
4Submit whenever you are ready — rolling review, earlier is usually better
5Sign the award agreement and track spending for reporting

What you'll need

Farm or business name, address, and tax ID / EIN
Project description and itemized budget
Maps, photos, or quotes for anything you plan to build or buy
Proof of land ownership or a lease covering the project period
Organizational documents (501(c)(3) letter, board list) if applying as a non-profit

Timeline & contact

Rolling review — expect roughly 1–3 months from submission to decision

Get help: Montana Department of Agriculture — also try Cooperative Extension in your county

Ready to apply?

Applications go through Montana Department of Agriculture, not through this site. Open the official page below for eligibility rules, forms, and contacts. For federal programs it's worth calling your local USDA Service Center or Cooperative Extension office first — they help with paperwork for free and know what your county actually funds.

Open official page

This listing was last hand-checked August 2026.

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