Business Resources
How can the Department of Commerce help you?
Finance information:
- The Montana Finance Information Center website contains links to virtually all of the common state, federal, and local business finance programs and technical assistance providers.
- State grant programs for job training, business assistance, loan financing for building, equipment, and working capital:
- The Montana Board of Investments has several business finance programs accessible through Montana banks for buildings and equipment but not working capital.
- The Commerce Community Development Block Grant Economic Development Program can be accessed by applying through your local community.
- The Workforce Training Grant Program at Commerce can assist with training costs for primary sector and other eligible businesses in many cases.
- The Commerce Finance Information Center has links to virtually every major state, federal, and local finance and technical assistance program.
- The Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Program at Commerce can provide grants through local and tribal governments, CRDCs and eligible Economic Development Organizations to assist businesses with planning and expansion. Category I funding is based on anticipated job creation, Category II grant funding is specific to planning studies for the assisted business/government.
- Small loans for microbusinesses can be accessed through Microbusiness Development Centers around Montana.
- Technical Assistance for businesses can be accessed through the Small Business Development Centers, and the Certified Regional Development Corporations.
- The Montana State Small Business Credit Initiative (MT SSBCI) Program assists new Montana businesses entering the market and those existing businesses that need additional borrowings to expand or their business.
- The Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology (MBRCT) encourages economic development through investment in research projects that have a clear path to commercialization.
- The Montana SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program (MSMFP) is designed to award grant funds to Montana companies that have been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research Program or Small Business Technology Transfer Program (Federal SBIR/STTR Program) Phase I award and that, if the opportunity to do so is available, intend to apply for a Federal SBIR/STTR Program Phase II award.
Loan and Grant Programs for Hospitals, Medical Centers, Correctional and other Public Facilities:
- The Commerce Community Development Block Grant Economic Development Program can be accessed by applying through your local community for job training, loans and infrastructure improvements. The CDBG – Public Facilities program can also make grants for public facilities in some cases. The requirements differ from the Economic Development component.
- The Montana Facility Finance Authority is the primary issuer of municipal bonds for Montana's health care organizations, continuing care residential programs and community service providers. Created in 1983 to provide not-for-profit health care providers with access to low-cost capital, the Authority's statutory powers have been expanded to beyond the traditional health care arena to the point where the legislature changed its title from the Montana Health Facility Authority to the present title. The majority of the Authority's financings have been completed on behalf of acute care hospitals; however, we have also provided capital for nursing homes, assisted living facilities, retirement facilities, outpatient centers, homes for persons with developmental or mental disabilities, chemical dependency centers and pre-release centers. Many other facilities are also eligible for the Authority financing programs.
- The Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Program Job Creation grants at Commerce can provide financial assistance through local and tribal governments. Funding is based on anticipated job creation.
Grant Programs for Local Governments to Improve Infrastructure for Businesses:
- The Commerce Community Development Block Grant Economic Development Program can be accessed by applying through your local community for job training, loans and infrastructure improvements.
- The Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Program Planning Grants can provide financial assistance through CRDCs, eligible EDOs and Tribal Governments to assist businesses with a variety of planning needs including preliminary engineering/architectural reports and feasibility studies.
- The Montana Board of Investments has an In-State Loan Program that can assist communities and businesses with infrastructure improvements. With sufficient job creation the program can become essentially a grant.
- Tourism Infrastructure Investment Program
- Local, regional, national or international marketing assistance and possible financing:
- Made In Montana Program - local, regional & national product promotion & marketing assistance
- Export Montana - Export marketing, documentation, licensing, training; export finance information
- Travel, tourism or recreation business:
- Small Business Development Centers
- International relations & cultural exchanges
- International Trade & Relations Bureau - tourism & product promotions in Asia, sister-state relationships, business protocol
- Tourism promotions in Asia
- Marketing products in Asia
- Exporting products
- Marketing assistance for Made In Montana products
Relocating a Business to Montana:
- The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity takes the lead working with businesses considering relocating to Montana.
- The Department of Commerce provides funding and certifications to the state-wide Certified Regional Development Corporations.
- If you have questions about starting a business or moving to Montana, contact Small Business Development Centers
- Technical or financial assistance for research, prototype development, and commercialization planning
- At the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Outreach Program you will find individual SBIR coaching assistance and financing information for the SBIR/STTR Program. The SBIR/STTR Program is very specialized to company research and development and allows federal grant funding only in specific circumstances.
- Resources for inventors and intellectual property can be found at SBIR Resources
Starting or Managing an Existing Business:
- Entrepreneur Program - for 12-week course in-depth business plan development
- Small Business Development Centers website for the location of a business counselor in your area or for online tools for self-education, calendar of trainings, etc.
Business Planning/Business Tools:
- One-on-one individualized, no-cost counseling from a business advisor, self-help templates, on-line counseling, training courses and low-cost business management training at Small Business Development Center
- Training courses for business management at Entrepreneur Training
Registering Your Business/Business Licenses and Permits:
- Find general information about licensing at Small Business Development Center
- Find business license information at http://www.mt.gov/business.asp
- Secretary of State's Office website
- Department of Revenue One-Stop Business Licensing
- Business Standards Division
Business Legal Structure/Business Entity Descriptions and Forms:
- Secretary of State's Office on-line services
- Secretary of State's Office on-line Corporate Record Search at https://app.mt.gov/corprecords/
- On-line business services at http://www.business.mt.gov/
Registering a Business Name:
- Secretary of State's Office
- More information about starting a business in Montana can be found at the Montana Finance Information Center.
Grants to Start or Expand a Business:
- Grants are not available except in specific circumstances:
- Refer to SBIR program for businesses that want assistance to become competitive to apply for federal Research and Development funds.
- Refer to Finance Information Center website for SBA programs, local RLFs, SBDCs for SBA Community Express Loan Program, CDBG/EDA for larger community projects, etc
- The Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology (MBRCT) encourages economic development through investment in research projects that have a clear path to commercialization.
- The Montana SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program (MSMFP) is designed to award grant funds to Montana companies that have been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research Program or Small Business Technology Transfer Program (Federal SBIR/STTR Program) Phase I award and that, if the opportunity to do so is available, intend to apply for a Federal SBIR/STTR Program Phase II award.
Matching Grant Programs for Business Development:
- If you are in the travel, tourism or recreation business the following links will assist you:
Business Marketing Tools:
- The following links will assist you:
- Small Business Development Centers website for the location of a business counselor in your area or for online tools for self-education, calendar of trainings, etc.
Loans/Grants for Businesses:
- SBIR Program
- Community Development Block Grant Economic Development
- Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Program
- Montana Finance Information Center
- Montana Main Street Program
- Montana State Small Business Credit Initiative (MT SSBCI) Program
- Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology (MBRCT)
- Montana SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program (MSMFP)
Business Statistics:
- Find business statistics and industry data to help you develop a business plan or expansion of an existing business.