The Montana Business Adaptation Program provides reimbursement for COVID-19 expenses related to keeping staff and customers safe – from the purchase of personal protective equipment to resources needed for staff to work remotely. Eligible small business must be Montana-based, have incurred eligible adaptation expenses since March 1 due to COVID-19, and be in good standing with the Secretary of State or local tribal government. Nonprofit entities are eligible. Eligible expenses include costs related to communication, remote work equipment, cleaning supplies, tools to enhance social distancing and sanitation, travel and hotel costs related to quarantining workers. Total funding available is $20 million, the maximum reimbursement amount per business is $5,000. Note: The 50 employee cap has been removed from Business Adaptation

The Montana Business Stabilization Grant program will provide working capital for small businesses to support payroll, rent, accounts payable, debt service and expenses related to shifts in operations in order to retain existing businesses, retain current employees or retain business viability for future re-employment. Eligible small business must be Montana-based, employ 50 or less, have sustained a loss of revenue since Feb. 15 due to COVID 19, and be in good standing with the Secretary of State or local tribal government. Nonprofit entities are not eligible. Total funding available is $75 million, the maximum award amount per business is $10,000.

The Montana Innovation Grant program is intended to help companies scale up, improve capabilities, or drive expanded distribution of products or services developed in response to COVID-19. Projects should demonstrate significant impact in improving public health, safety, and economic impact. Eligible companies include non-profit and for-profit businesses of less than 150 employees that have created an innovative product or service intended to directly confront the COVID-19 emergency. Applicants must have primary operations based in Montana, be in good standing with the Montana Secretary of State and must not be debarred from receiving federal or state funds. Total funding available is $5 million with a maximum award amount of $25,000. Note: The deadline to apply for Montana Innovation is July 1, 2020.

The Social Service Nonprofit Grant program provides grants of up to $10,000 per applicant are available for nonprofit organizations impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency to retain existing programs and services, employees, or organizational viability for provision of future services and operations. Eligible applicants are registered, Montana-based social service nonprofits that were operating prior to February 15, 2020. This includes senior services, housing services, transportation, public safety, energy assistance, economic development, job training, recreational services and tourism-related activities. Current funding available is $10 million.

Apply Here

The Montana Loan Deferment Program is facilitated by Montana banks, credit unions, and lending institutions in partnership with the State of Montana. Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) will be used to provide payments to participating lenders to convert existing commercial loans to interest only status, with the result being an existing borrower will be able to defer principal and interest payments on existing loans for a period of 6 to 12 months, thereby freeing up a significant amount of otherwise-dedicated capital for the borrower on a monthly basis. Governor Bullock is directing $125 million to the program with $25 million specifically dedicated to hotels and restaurants and the remaining $100 million dedicated to other eligible borrowers. Note: Interested businesses should apply for the loan program through their lender. Eligibility details are available at COVIDRELIEF.MT.GOV.

Transparency Dashboard Updated Weekly

The state of Montana has launched a dynamic dashboard that shows the Coronavirus Relief Fund grants that have been awarded to businesses and nonprofits. This dashboard will be updated weekly until all grant dollars have been expended.

COVID-19 RESOURCES

• Montana COVID-19 Hotline: 1-888-333-0461 or COVID19info@mt.gov
• Montana Coronavirus task force: COVID19@MT.GOV
• If you are a business owner and have questions related to the the phased approach to reopening and how the plan applies to you directly, please call 1-800-755-6672.
• If your question relates to unemployment insurance/benefits, please contact the Department of Labor and Industry at 406-444-2545. If you think you are eligible for unemployment benefits accessible to workers laid off due to COVID-19, you can apply for benefits online at: www.montanaworks.gov or contact the Unemployment Insurance Division over the phone at 406-444-2545.
• CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
• Visit Montana: VISITMT.COM or 1-800-847-4868

The 2020 Choteau Chamber of Commerce Independence Day parade is going to look a little different this year including:

• Starting point & routing are different
• No walkers; everyone must be in a vehicle, on horseback, or on a bicycle
• No throwing candy

Find the new route and more at: https://choteauchamber.com/july-4th/

The Choteau Chamber of Commerce board, meeting on June 1, canceled the annual 4th of July Steak Fry in the Park, the nonprofit group’s largest fundraisers. The board also postponed Brewfest until Labor Day weekend for an end of summer celebration.

The Chamber has already approved sponsoring Choteau’s 4th of July parade at 10 a.m. but with a modified route that winds through neighborhoods on the south, northwest and northeast sides of town.

The route has been modified and moved off of Main Avenue to discourage people from congregating and failing to socially distance while they watch. Additionally, all parade entrants need to be riding in vehicles, riding horses or riding bicycles or other means of transportation. No walkers will be allowed.

Special thanks to the Choteau Acantha Newspaper for letting us use some of the verbiage from their forthcoming story in the June 3rd, 2020 edition. Please support local journalism and a great Choteau Chamber of Commerce member by subscribing to the Choteau Acantha today.

The Montana Department of Labor is posting frequently asked questions and resources for businesses and employees at its new webpage dedicated to providing novel coronavirus-related information. 

Bookmark http://dli.mt.gov/employer-covid-19 

• Know before you go: Know the local public health guidelines before arriving at your destination.
• Stay home if you’re sick.
• Understand some services and destinations may be limited.

Governor Steve Bullock is asking visitors to do their part slow the spread of COVID-19 which means taking the same social distancing and sanitation precautions as Montanans. 

The June 1 reopening of Montana’s tourism amenities and services will be gradual. It’s important to understand what is open and closed before arriving in the state. Tribal Nations in Montana have extended stay-at-home orders indefinitely and continue to exercise caution to protect their elders and other vulnerable populations from the spread of COVID-19. At this time, all tribal lands are closed to visitors. Refer to each tribal government website for real-time updates. 

Travelers can expect the Montana National Guard to continue to conduct screenings in airports and train depots and refer anyone with COVID-19-related symptoms to local public health officials. 

To support Montana’s destination communities, the state will assist with establishing the following protocols:

• Establish test centers and ensure adequate supplies are available to meet resident, seasonal employee, and visitor needs within Montana’s most visited destination communities.
• Coordinate a community snapshot testing plan to create an early warning system for potential community spread in the most highly visited and highly vulnerable destination communities. 
• Develop contingency plans for managing sick visitors, including contact tracing capabilities.

The state will also develop an informational campaign to encourage visitors to learn local guidelines and restrictions before they visit, to stay at home if sick, and to convey that some services in destination communities will potentially be limited during this year’s tourism season.

• Phase 2 Effective Monday, June 1:
  • Phase Two will allow places of assembly to become operational that did not open in Phase One beginning on June 1 as long as they can meet social distancing guidelines and limited capacity requirements. 
  • Group gatherings can increase from 10 to 50 people. Avoid gathering in groups of more than 50 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for appropriate physical distancing. Groups larger than 50 people should be cancelled unless physical distancing can be maintained. 
  • Capacity can increase from 50 percent to 75 percent.
  • Concert halls, bowling alleys, and other places of assembly may operate with reduced capacity and if they adhere to strict physical distancing guidelines.
  • Vulnerable Montanans should still continue to stay home when possible during Phase Two. 
  • Visitation at nursing home and assisted living facilities remains suspended except for certain compassionate care situations. 
  • Employers should continue to encourage telework wherever feasible
  • The 14-day travel quarantine for out-of-state travelers and residents arriving from another state or country to Montana for non-work-related purposes will also be lifted on June 1

Governor Steve Bullock launched nine new programs on May 7 for Montanans out of work, families with limited resources, small businesses, non-profits and others impacted by COVID-19.

Applications are still being accepted for financial relief for things like rental and mortgage assistance, business and non-profit grants, grants to serve seniors and those living with a disability, food banks and local food producers.

Learn more and apply at COVIDRELIEF.MT.GOV

The Montana Business Adaptation Program will provide reimbursement for COVID-19 expenses related to keeping staff and customers safe – from the purchase of personal protective equipment to resources needed for staff to work remotely. Eligible small business must be Montana-based, employ 50 or less, have incurred eligible adaptation expenses since Feb. 15 due to COVID-19, and be in good standing with the Secretary of State or local tribal government. Nonprofit entities are eligible. Eligible expenses include costs related to communication, remote work equipment, cleaning supplies, tools to enhance social distancing and sanitation, travel and hotel costs related to quarantining workers. Total funding available is $20 million, the maximum reimbursement amount per business is $5,000.

Apply at https://commerce.mt.gov/Coronavirus-Relief