Central Montana Childcare Alliance 2026

Creating Healthy Communities through Childcare Excellence

The Central Montana Childcare Alliance (CMCA) is a community-based organization serving Wheatland, Fergus, Judith Basin, and Petroleum Counties in Central Montana. CMCA provides training and technical assistance to current and prospective childcare providers to expand licensed childcare facilities, enhance quality of care, and improve the economic viability of operating these facilities. This project will create a licensed childcare facility in Wheatland County (one of five Montana counties without licensed childcare), which will require recruiting 3-5 new childcare workers. CMCA will also support 45+ existing providers with monthly online training and site visits, and provide a one-day, in-person training to approximately 100+ providers across the state. MTHF funds will be used to support contract staff costs for the executive director and education coordinator, costs associated with the training, marketing, and communications. Partners include the state departments of Health and Human Services, Child and Family Services, and Labor), the City of Lewistown, county commissions of all four counties, multiple non-profits, school districts, and healthcare providers, including Wheatland Memorial Healthcare.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2026

Livingston Food Resource Center 2026

Expanding the Kamut for Community Bread Program to Strengthen Rural and Indigenous Food Access

The Livingston Food Resource Center (LFRC) combats food insecurity and promotes community wellness throughout Park County. The Kamut for Community Bread Program will expand access to nutritious, preservative-free bread in rural and Indigenous communities while strengthening local food systems. The project will source grains from Montana farmers and the Chippewa Cree Tribe at Rocky Boy’s Reservation, and use them to produce nutrient-dense bread. The bread will be distributed by the Yellowstone Basin Food Pantry Collaborative, a regional network under the Montana Food Pantry Collaborative that includes Helping Hands Food Pantry (serving the Crow Nation), Northern Cheyenne Food Pantry, and Gardiner Food Pantry. MTHF funds will support ingredient procurement, staff coordination, delivery logistics, and outreach to ensure culturally meaningful, healthy food reaches those most impacted by food insecurity and health disparities. Partners for this project include the Yellowstone Basin Food Pantry Collaborative; the Chippewa Cree Tribe, who will provide the flour; Montana Flour and Grain, which will provide organic whole wheat flour; and other partners, including Hopa Mountain and the Montana Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Bureau.

Grant Amount

$87,927

Term

18 month

2026

Big Horn County 2025

Big Horn County Housing Workgroup

This grant will help Big Horn County establish a county-wide housing work group to address needs identified in the county's recently completed housing needs assessment. Big Horn County recently hired a full-time economic development and housing manager to lead this work. Partners include Big Horn County, the City of Hardin, Apsáalooke Nation Housing Authority, and Northern Cheyenne Housing Authority. Funds from MTHF will support the travel costs of workgroup members for participation in community engagement events, outreach, and a community housing summit. Big Horn County staff also participates in MTHF's Rural Housing cohort, which provides a forum for communities addressing housing needs to share challenges and solutions.

Grant Amount

$10,000

Term

12 month

2025

Central Montana Food Hub 2025

Central Montana Food Hub Facility Planning Grant

The Central Montana Food Hub (CMFH) is a producer-led marketplace and distribution network that supports small and medium-scale farmers, ranchers, and producers by marketing, aggregating, and delivering locally produced meats, eggs, honey, grains, produce, and value-added goods across communities in Central Montana, and also connects to other food hubs across the state. This project will support planning for a food aggregation and distribution facility in Harlowton, MT, including architectural, engineering, and business planning. CMFH has secured the project site and received a funding award from the Montana Department of Agriculture's Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program (RFSI) to build the facility. The project sets out four key objectives: establishing infrastructure for post-harvest processing, providing tailored warehouse and kitchen space, building a reliable distribution network, and improving the efficiency of the supply chain. High Plains Architects will develop the plans. Partners include Snowy Mountain Development, Mission West Community Development, Hopa Mountain, Abundant Montana, and Western Montana Growers Cooperative. MTHF funds will pay for architecture and engineering costs associated with the building's design, and support Snowy Mountain Development to finalize the financial proforma.

Grant Amount

$40,000

Term

12 month

2025

Community Food & Agriculture Coalition 2025

Building a Strategic Sustainability Plan for Montana’s Double SNAP Dollars (DSD) Program

Farm Connect Montana (formerly CFAC) serves as a connection between local farmers, institutions, and consumers to build a strong regional food system. This grant will support Farm Connect Montana to create a plan to secure the long-term viability of Montana’s Double SNAP Dollars (DSD) program and strengthen the statewide food access network. Farm Connect Montana will lead a planning process with the DSD Network Steering Committee and regional partners to assess financial and organizational capacity, convene structured planning sessions, and gather input from farmers, markets, tribal leaders, health care providers, and SNAP participants. The project will design a roadmap through 2030 that builds durable financial models, governance structures, and grassroots strategies for markets and regional coordinators to apply locally to ensure that DSD programs are sustainable even in a reduced Federal funding environment. MTHF funds will support staffing and facilitation costs for the plan’s development. Confirmed partners include National Center for Appropriate Technology, Land to Hand Montana, FAST Blackfeet, and Yarrow Consulting, alongside 11 steering committee member organizations representing diverse stakeholders.

Grant Amount

$20,000

Term

12 month

2025

Elliston School 2025

Upgrade Kitchen Equipment at the Elliston School

Elliston, population 350, is a rural community about 20 miles west of Helena. The Elliston school food service program serves breakfast and lunch to 30 students, two thirds of whom receive free or reduced price lunch. This grant will allow the school to replace obsolete, non-commercial equipment with a commercial stove and hood and upgrade food storage capacity. The cook prepares recipes from scratch, which saves a considerable amount of funding and allows for the incorporation of healthy, local foods. Replacement of the cooking equipment and increased cold storage will allow for increased bulk buying, creating cost savings and increased sustainability for the program. The program will also partner with the Montana Project to End Childhood Hunger food service directors' cohort to increase capacity.

Grant Amount

$9,800

Term

12 month

2025

Family Promise of Great Falls 2025

Homeless to Housed Hub

Family Promise of Great Falls (FPGF) is a non-profit housing and services provider in Cascade County that provides emergency housing, permanent housing, and services to stabilize housing and prevent homelessness. They lead the Homeless to Housing Hub (HHH), a collaborative effort among Great Falls-based housing and service providers including YWCA, Alliance for Youth, St. Vincent de Paul, Housed Great Falls, Great Falls Public Schools, The Little Shell Tribe, Neighborworks Great Falls, Opportunities, Inc., Alluvion, and Many Rivers Whole Health. This consortium has submitted a proposal to the Diocese of Great Falls to lease the vacant Poor Clare Monastery. The property is home to several buildings and property for potential future development and represents an excellent opportunity for the community to meet housing needs both immediately and long-term. Grant funds will be used to hire a land-use consultant to assess the buildings and overall property and work with City officials, partners, and stakeholders to create a plan for immediate building uses, mid-term renovation needs, and long-term planning for new permanent housing. FPGF will also contract with a consultant to formulate a capital stack and fund development plan for the project.

Grant Amount

$30,000

Term

24 month

2025

Geraldine Public School 2025

Strengthening Rural Nutrition Through Reliable Food Storage

The Geraldine Public School food service program serves breakfast and lunch to 67 students and has a strong scratch-cooking program. MTHF funds will be used to replace their refrigerator and freezer system and cover installation costs. The current food storage system is over 50 years old and experiencing multiple failures, resulting in food loss, higher costs, and compromised safety. Replacement will ensure safe storage, prevent food loss, and sustain their scratch-cooking meal program. Partners include the school staff and the Montana Project to End Childhood Hunger.

Grant Amount

$10,000

Term

12 month

2025

Good Housing Partnership 2025

Eastern Montana and Whitefish Scattered Sites Preservation

This PRI to Good Housing Partnership (GHP) will provide $740,000 in predevelopment financing to assist in acquiring, renovating, and preserving affordability for 273 housing units in six existing housing developments in Glasgow, Sidney, and Whitefish. The PRI will fund the assessments required for each property to access Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), which are reimbursed at the closing of the LIHTC partnership. Rents are targeted to be affordable to people earning less than 60% of Area Median Income. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) subsidies are available to ensure that households do not pay more than 30% of their income toward rent, regardless of their income. The planned renovations will substantially improve accessibility, safety, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency for tenants while preserving long-term affordability. The $740,000 PRI will be repaid with 2% interest at the closing of the LIHTC deal, which will happen within 24 months of the date of this PRI. The PRI will leverage $48.6 million in bond financing and LIHTCs that make up the majority financing package for this multi-site project. Remaining sources for the $67.5 million project include deferred developer fees and a seller note.

Grant Amount

$740,000

Term

24 month

2025

Harvest Food Pantry, Inc. 2025

Food Pantry Client-Choice Model Implementation

Harvest Food Pantry is a volunteer-led organization working to address hunger and improve the health and well-being of people in Cut Bank and the neighboring community of Seville. Through this grant, Harvest Food Pantry will implement a self-service shopping model for customers, allowing them to select foods that meet their family's tastes and needs. Self-shopping improves customer experience by enhancing dignity and choice, allowing more intentional selections to create nutritious meals, and increasing the likelihood that people in need will use this critical community service. Funds from MTHF will be used to purchase a glass-door freezer, stanchions, rope dividers, a printer, and a laminator to implement the food pantry's self-shopping model.

Grant Amount

$6,917

Term

12 month

2025

Hopa Mountain 2025

Increasing Access to Local Food for Rural Montanans

This grant will support Hopa Mountain to build and maintain a Local Food Marketplace (LFM) web portal and expand access to food hubs and producers around the state. The LFM is a customer-facing website that shows aggregated local food available through food hubs and small producers for purchase by institutional buyers, commercial sellers, and individuals. LFM will also assist food hubs in creating and managing their online stores. LFM is one component of the Local Food for Local Families collaborative (LFLF). Partners include Mission West Community Development Partners, Western Montana Growers Cooperative, Livingston Food Resource Center, Great Northern Development Corporation, Farm Connect Montana, the Montana Food Bank Network, and food hubs and producers. Funds from MTHF will support staff time, software, training, and website development for LFM to develop the Buy Local Montana website.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

24 month

2025

Human Resource Development Council of District IX, Inc. 2025

Human Resource Development Council IX loan application for the Belgrade Trailer Court to preserve critical affordable homeownership opportunities.

This program-related investment (PRI) will support HRDC in its effort to preserve affordable housing in the Belgrade Trailer Court, a 20-unit mobile home community. HRDC purchased the property with a market-rate loan in 2024 to protect residents from displacement due to development pressure and give residents time to work toward converting the property to a resident-owned cooperative (ROC). Households in the Belgrade Trailer Court currently pay lot rents of $600 per month, well below prevailing market rents, and most residents qualify for other HRDC services (such as Low-Income Energy Assistance Program) that have income qualification standards. HRDC’s purchase will temporarily stabilize rents while residents work toward creating a resident-owned cooperative and assuming ownership of the property from HRDC. In the longer-term, converting the property to a resident-owned cooperative will provide long-term stability in housing costs, as well as the opportunity to build equity. Owning the land their homes are on will also allow residents to access more favorable financing for home improvements that will enhance the health and safety of their homes. MTHF’s $500,000 investment will provide low-cost, longer-term debt that supports the financial viability of the project. This lower cost financing will allow HRDC to phase in more sustainable rents while working on the long-term development, which includes an approximate $1 million in infrastructure improvements such as establishing connections to city services. Partner contributions include technical assistance from NeighborWorks Montana, infrastructure assistance from the City of Belgrade, rent stabilization assistance from Gallatin County, and primary financing from Clearwater Credit Union.

Grant Amount

$500,000

Term

Other

2025

Montana Cooperative Development Center 2025

Bridging the Gap: Connecting Farmers, Grocers, and Communities Through Cooperative Solutions

Montana Cooperative Development Center (MCDC) helps communities plan and start cooperatives to address key community needs, such as grocery stores and child care centers. Cooperatives are member-owned businesses that operate for the benefit of members. This grant will support MCDC to identify grocery stores located in rural communities (focusing on Central and Eastern MT) and considering closure or sale within the next five years, assess their suitability for a cooperative conversion, and provide technical support to communities interested in pursuing the cooperative approach. The stores will also benefit from better access to locally-produced foods through MCDC's work with food hubs. MCDC will partner with Montana State University (MSU) to recruit an intern who will conduct research, outreach, and educational efforts. MCDC staff and the food and agriculture development director at the Great Falls Development Authority will supervise this work. Other project partners include Abundant Montana, which will provide support with mapping grocery stores and producers, and Western Sustainability Exchange, which will assist with network access. MTHF funds will support MCDC staff, the MSU intern, travel, and meeting supplies.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

18 month

2025

Montana Homeownership Network dba NeighborWorks Montana 2025

Gibbon Avenue Resident Purchase

This PRI and accompanying grant will support Neighborworks Montana (NWMT) to convert the 18-unit Gibbon Avenue Apartments in West Yellowstone into a resident-owned cooperative (ROC) that will ensure the units remain affordable. The land will be placed in a community land trust, which will help ensure permanent affordability. MTHF is supporting this project through a $50,000 grant and a $150,000 program-related investment, which will allow NWMT to keep overall debt service for the project at a sustainable level. When the property was placed for sale, residents were concerned that it would be converted to short-term rentals, displacing existing residents and losing critical long-term workforce housing in a community where housing is already scarce and costly, increasing the likelihood of cost-burden, overcrowding, or other adverse housing conditions for residents. NWMT is working with the property owner and current renters to facilitate the transaction, which includes the formation of a resident corporation. Primary financing for the project is from the Montana Board of Investments, using their newly established Cooperative Loan Program. Additional financing will come from NWMT’s Gallatin Fund and the Town of West Yellowstone. The PRI and grant from MTHF are further leveraged by a grant from the West Yellowstone Community Foundation. The PRI and grant will allow the current renters to purchase the property and complete the approximate $200,000 in capital improvement needs identified over the next three years.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2025

Montana Homeownership Network dba NeighborWorks Montana 2025

Gibbon Avenue Resident Purchase

This PRI and accompanying grant will support Neighborworks Montana (NWMT) to convert the 18-unit Gibbon Avenue Apartments in West Yellowstone into a resident-owned cooperative (ROC) that will ensure the units remain affordable. The land will be placed in a community land trust, which will help ensure permanent affordability. MTHF is supporting this project through a $50,000 grant and a $150,000 program-related investment, which will allow NWMT to keep overall debt service for the project at a sustainable level. When the property was placed for sale, residents were concerned that it would be converted to short-term rentals, displacing existing residents and losing critical long-term workforce housing in a community where housing is already scarce and costly, increasing the likelihood of cost-burden, overcrowding, or other adverse housing conditions for residents. NWMT is working with the property owner and current renters to facilitate the transaction, which includes the formation of a resident corporation. Primary financing for the project is from the Montana Board of Investments, using their newly established Cooperative Loan Program. Additional financing will come from NWMT’s Gallatin Fund and the Town of West Yellowstone. The PRI and grant from MTHF are further leveraged by a grant from the West Yellowstone Community Foundation. The PRI and grant will allow the current renters to purchase the property and complete the approximate $200,000 in capital improvement needs identified over the next three years.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

Other

2025

New Kids on the Block Daycare 2025

New Kids on the Block- (NKotB) Expansion Grant

New Kids on the Block (NKotB) is a non-profit daycare providing families in Sheridan and the surrounding area with safe, affordable, high-quality childcare. This grant will help NKOtB launch an infant program that will accommodate eight infants, increasing childcare slots in the community by 65%. Funds from MTHF will be used to purchase age-appropriate furniture, toys, and supplies for the expansion and to train new staff.

Grant Amount

$10,000

Term

12 month

2025

Richey Public Schools 2025

Scratch Cooking Equipment Upgrades for the Kitchen

Richey is a community of about 200 people in Dawson County, located about 45 minutes from Glendive and Sidney. Richey public schools serve meals to about 100 students and staff. Funds from MTHF will be used to replace the food service department's oven and sink and make space for the addition of a proofing cabinet. These replacements and additions will allow for full implementation of the school's scratch cooking program, including homemade bread. The school will collaborate with the Montana Project to End Childhood Hunger's food service directors' cohort, which supports rural scratch cooking in schools across rural Montana. This initiative provides healthy, locally grown foods for students and staff, resulting in cost savings and improved nutrition.

Grant Amount

$10,000

Term

12 month

2025

Saddlehorn Apartments, LLLP 2025

Saddlehorn Apartments

Saddlehorn Apartments is a proposed 30-unit Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) new construction project in Miles City. The development will include a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments that are affordable to households earning less than 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), with seven units affordable to very-low-income households earning less than 30% AMI. A preliminary market study for the project found a demand of 149 new units at the proposed rents to meet community needs. Miles City has not developed new rent-restricted affordable housing using LIHTCs since 2006. MTHF's $500,000 loan will leverage approximately $6.7 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and over $2.3 million in funds from Montana’s Housing Trust Fund and HOME Investment Partnership programs. This project will carry a 51-year Land Use Restriction Agreement (LURA), ensuring long-term affordability. New units built using LIHTCs in Montana are required to comply with accessibility and adaptability requirements, in addition to indoor air quality standards that result in healthy living environments.

Grant Amount

$500,000

Term

Other

2025

Seeley Lake Community Foundation 2025

Love Where You Live: Resident Engagement & Visioning Sessions for Seeley Lake

The Seeley Lake Community Foundation (SLCF) engages philanthropy, provides leadership, and enhances the quality of life and economic vitality of Seeley Lake. This project will support SLCF in the development and completion of comprehensive Community Needs Assessment (CNA). SLCF will achieve this by working with an experienced facilitator to help staff engage with community members to conduct surveys, interviews and focus groups, compile statistics and local indicators for the rural Seeley Lake area, and develop strategic partnerships to help SLCF plan for the future and strengthen this rural, unincorporated community. Funds from MTHF will be used to support staff and facilitator costs. A key outcome of the project is partnership development, and through this project SLCF will engage Missoula County's health and planning departments, healthcare providers serving the community, and local businesses.

Grant Amount

$25,000

Term

18 month

2025

The Montana Partnership to End Childhood Hunger Inc. 2025

Increasing Fresh Quality Food in School Meal Programs

The Montana Project to End Childhood Hunger (MT-PECH) creates collaborations and partnerships across Montana's food system to maximize community-based resources to increase access to nutrient-rich, locally grown food. In recognition of schools' critical role in meeting community nutrition needs, MT-PECH has engaged four cohorts of rural food service directors (FSDs) representing 58 schools to implement scratch cooking and local food sourcing in Montana schools. Over the past year, MT-PECH helped cohort members identify equipment needs for the successful implementation of scratch cooking in their facilities. Through this grant, MT-PECH will support cohort schools in sourcing and purchasing equipment. Additionally, MT-PECH will develop a K-12 contract with a distributor supplying Montana-sourced foods to schools and, in partnership with Abundant Montana, create regional producer lists for schools and other institutional buyers. Partners include Abundant Montana, cohort schools, and producers across the state. Funds from MTHF will be used to support identified purchases, MT-PECH staff time, and travel to cohort schools.

Grant Amount

$75,000

Term

12 month

2025

Elmore Roberts Community Partners, LP 2024

Elmore Roberts

Elmore Roberts is a historic commercial and residential building with 60 units located in downtown Great Falls. The tenants living in Elmore Roberts all earn less than 50% of the Area Median Income. Through this program-related investment (PRI), we will support the acquisition, preservation, and rehabilitation of these affordable housing units. The renovations will include low VOC vinyl plank flooring, formaldehyde-free cabinets and counters, low VOC paint, and low flow plumbing fixtures, along with exterior improvements such as updated energy-rated windows, paint, roof replacement, and siding repair. The renovation will also enhance ADA accessibility. The project will carry a 51-year Land Use Restriction Agreement, which ensures long-term affordability. This PRI will leverage nearly $12 million, including $5 million in private loan funds, $5.6 million in Low-Income Housing Credits, more than $900,000 in historic tax credits, and an investment of $130,000 from the Great Falls Tax Increment Financing District which demonstrates strong local commitment to the project. Partners include NeighborWorks Great Falls and the City of Great Falls.

Grant Amount

$600,000

Term

Other

2024

Good Housing Partnership 2024

Preservation of Eight Affordable Housing Properties

This PRI to Good Housing Partnership (GHP) will provide $500,000 in predevelopment financing to assist in acquiring, renovating, and preserving affordability for 321 housing units in eight existing housing developments in Kalispell, Columbia Falls, Deer Lodge, and Libby. The PRI will fund the assessments required for each property to access Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), which are reimbursed at the closing of the LIHTC partnership. Of the 321 units to be preserved, 148 serve families, and 173 are for seniors and people with disabilities. Rents are targeted to be affordable to people earning less than 70% of Area Median Income. HUD subsidies are available to ensure that households do not pay more than 30% of their income toward rent, regardless of their income. The $500,000 PRI will be repaid with 2% interest at the closing of the LIHTC deal, which will happen within 12 months of the date of this PRI. The PRI will leverage $62.4 million in bond financing and LIHTCs that make up the full financing package for this multi-site project.

Grant Amount

$500,000

Term

Other

2024

Human Resource Development Council of District IX, Inc. 2024

Park County Housing Coalition Capacity-Building and Sustainability

This grant will support staffing costs for the Park County Housing Coalition as they implement the 2022 Park County Housing Action Plan. HRDC IX currently staffs the Coalition, which intends to become an independent organization. MTHF funds will support two primary activities outlined in the Community Health Improvement Plan. The first is facilitating collaboration among local healthcare and social service providers to improve the community's use of Coordinated Entry Systems (CES) to assist people experiencing homelessness. Like many rural communities, the use of CES is inconsistent and does not include the local hospital emergency department, where many people experiencing homelessness or unstable, unsafe housing often require care. Adding Livingston Health Care to CES addresses a gap in the data used to guide emergency housing decisions. MTHF funds will also support staff responsible for developing the organizational capacity for the coalition to successfully and sustainably operate as an independent organization and continue to build effective programming to serve the needs of people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.

Grant Amount

$24,999

Term

12 month

2024

Farm Connect 2023

The Montana Produce Prescription Collaborative

Farm Connect (previously the Community Food and Agriculture Coalition) utilized this grant to support its Montana Produce Prescription Collaborative (MTPRx), which unites existing grassroots Produce Prescription (PPR) programs to understand better their impact on people’s health and food security, and inform the development of future programming. The goals were to encourage the consumption of more local produce, increase food security, improve health outcomes among food-insecure individuals with diet-related chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and high cholesterol, and modify how health care organizations provide nutritional support to their patients. Grant funds were used to help MTPRx expand from eight to 14 sites, provide technical assistance to new sites, produce a food prescription program toolkit, and collect data on the health-related outcomes of consuming fruits and vegetables. Farm Connect held a statewide FoodRx Summit in partnership with Montana DPHHS and the Montana Partnership to End Childhood Hunger (MT-PECH), providing the opportunity for collaboration, discussions, and learning from local and national program experts. All combined, clinical partners issued $97,350 worth of fresh fruit and vegetable incentives to patients, and $79,693 of them were redeemed, for an 82% redemption rate. This represents more than double the number of incentives issued and redeemed since Farm Connect began tracking in 2023, indicating improved adoption and implementation at clinics, as well as increased patient utilization. Farm Connect will continue to hold bi-monthly convenings of MTPRx, supporting clinicians in prescribing fruit and vegetable incentives, and conducting evaluations at both the patient and community levels.

Grant Amount

$47,000

Term

12 month

2023

Homeword, Inc. 2023

Creekside Apartments

Homeword, Inc. is working to secure financing to preserve the affordability of Creekside Apartments in the long-term, and carry out a rehabilitation that will improve the safety and quality of these 161 rental units in Missoula. Homeword is a nonprofit housing developer that has created or preserved 1,319 affordable units across the state. The property's rehabilitation will provide new siding, roofing, windows, mechanical systems, and plumbing systems, among other improvements. The resulting modifications will improve housing quality and reduce safety risks to tenants. Creekside Apartments was purchased by Homeward in 2017 and is a mix of studios, one, two, and three bedrooms, targeted to households earning between 50 and 60% of the area median income. The homes were developed in 1996 using the low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) program. Language included in the state's qualified allocation plan when the project was developed would allow the project to exit the LIHTC program and its corresponding affordability restrictions without penalty in 2026 or possibly even earlier. In areas with strong rental markets, characterized by escalating rents and low vacancies, projects like Creekside (located near the University of Montana) are at high risk of conversion to market rate rentals, resulting in displacement of low- and moderate-income renters. In recognition of this risk, Homeword partnered with the City of Missoula, First Security Bank, and NeighborWorks Montana to purchase the property and prevent the displacement of low- and moderate-income households. The financing structure – which includes a mix of LIHTC, a city-issued bond, financing from CDFI NeighborWorks Montana, and state and local grant sources – allowed Homeword to make an offer competitive with speculative market offers while making interest-only payments supported by affordable rents. With this financing package, Homeword will preserve and extend the affordability of the property while carrying out an extensive renovation that will substantially improve quality and safety. MHCF’s relatively small contribution of long-term, low-cost debt will help Homeword to complete the project without accumulating an operating deficit that could threaten its viability in the long term.

Grant Amount

$300,000

Term

Other

2023

Hopa Mountain 2023

Local Food for Local Families

Hopa Mountain used this grant for the Local Food for Local Families (LFLF) collaborative, a network of community partners that supports the development, coordination, and expansion of rural and tribal food systems, to increase access to healthy, locally produced food in underserved communities across Montana. Funds were used to provide training and support to rural and tribal food pantries and food hubs. This included hosting two local food summits, where more than 60 rural and tribal food leaders and area producers met to create work plans and strategies, as well as a variety of training programs, retreats, and meetings. Hopa Mountain worked with the Local Food Marketplace to launch a website (www.buylocalfoodmt.com) where food producers and food hubs throughout Montana can display live data on the products they currently have available for sale, helping producers connect with institutional buyers, including schools, food pantries, and hospitals. Hopa Mountain also worked with partners to develop a website for the Montana Food Pantry Collaborative (MFPC) and to hold regular meetings to provide support and resources for both established and emerging food pantries, and to encourage pantry staff to share their knowledge, experience, and expertise.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2023

Mitchell Court LLLP 2023

Mitchell Court Apartments

Mitchell Court is a proposed 32-unit Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) new construction project in Billings. The housing will include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments targeted to be affordable to households earning less than 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). MHCF funds will leverage approximately $5.4 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and over $3.2 million in funds from Montana's coal trust and HOME Investment Partnership programs. In a demonstration of local commitment, the City of Billings has also preliminarily committed HOME funds totaling $1.2 million and $350,000 in Tax Increment Financing. This project will carry a 51-year Land Use Restriction Agreement (LURA), ensuring long-term affordability. The proposed development shares common amenities with a neighboring project, Jackson Court, creating efficiencies for property management and tenants. The project is well-served by public transportation and is near schools and parks, ideal for a family-focused development. MHCF funds will allow health-enhancing design elements, including ADA features that minimize fall and injury risk and improve accessibility for disabled residents, and low VOC materials, electric ranges and ovens, hard surface floors, and quality HVAC systems that reduce building elements known to exacerbate asthma and increase the risk of respiratory illness and falls. Additionally, funds will be used to implement the physical and site improvements the Billings Crime Prevention recommended through the Environmental Design initiative and for a walking and exercise path. Partners include HomeFront (the Billings-area housing authority), Big Sky Senior Services, Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow, Montana Department of Commerce, and the City of Billings.

Grant Amount

$750,000

Term

Other

2023

Montana Cooperative Development Center 2023

Advancing Cooperative Initiatives in Montana Communities

Montana Cooperative Development Center (MCDC) used this grant to help communities develop new cooperatives and support existing ones, preserve critical businesses, develop food systems and affordable housing, and increase community investment. MCDC achieved or exceeded its goals, including the development of toolkits and resources to guide cooperative development efforts across the state; the formation of four new cooperatives as well as ongoing technical assistance to ensure their long-term viability; presentations and workshops to expand awareness and provide education on cooperative development; and support for 140 agricultural producers, businesses, and other organizations, and direct engagement with 31 existing cooperatives. MCDC established the Montana Cooperative Legacy Fund, an endowment to support the ongoing work of MCDC and its partners, and is working to raise $300,000 by 2030. MCDC secured a total of $122,500 in additional program funding, including grants from USDA Rural Development Business Grants, CoBank, the Co-op Innovation Award, and the National Cooperative Business Association.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2023

One Health 2023

Hardin Acreage Planning

One Health is a federally qualified health center serving Big Horn County. This project will support planning activities for the development of community housing on a 26-acre parcel in Hardin, including community engagement, the development of a preliminary architectural report, and the creation of a request for proposals for development services. Funds will be used to hire a consultant to lead community engagement efforts to inform this development and ensure robust engagement with the Northern Cheyenne and Crow Tribes. Given their extensive experience working with Native communities across Montana and the nation, One Health will contract with Beaux-Simone Consulting (BSC). Key outcomes include community engagement to inform a preliminary architectural report and the creation of a request for proposals for development services. Additional partners include the City of Hardin, Big Horn County, and Beartooth RC&D.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

18 month

2023

Red Lodge Area Community Foundation 2023

Expanding Rural Affordable Housing

The Red Lodge Area Community Foundation (RLACF), which leads affordable housing work in Carbon County, used this grant to complete a site development feasibility study for a parcel of land in Bridger, Montana, to create 20 new residential units for low-income residents over five years. Working with an architectural firm and a variety of local partners, RLACF held three public listening sessions to hear community members' concerns and support, and to ensure they fully understood the project. Drawing on public feedback, informational meetings with partners, and conversations with the property owner, the architectural firm produced a study that included a site analysis, a cost estimate, and preliminary development plans. Along with Trust Montana, a statewide community land trust that will also serve as the property developer, RLACF worked with the owner on purchase details and financing options. The project secured a Community Development Block Grant of $50,000 to conduct an in-depth analysis of the community's economic markets and to help identify potential land and funding sources.

Grant Amount

$37,737

Term

12 month

2023

The Montana Partnership to End Childhood Hunger Inc. 2023

A Network for Rural Schools as Nutrition Hubs

The Montana Partnership to End Childhood Hunger (MT-PECH) used this grant to establish networks of small rural schools in neighboring communities to serve as nutrition hubs. The goal was to provide healthier food to students and shift the food culture in Montana schools to promote good nutrition. This pilot project established two networks in two regions of Montana with distinct food-access issues: the Flathead Indian Reservation and the area around Choteau. Each network consisted of four schools, which collaborated with school and summer meal programs, Indigenous food sovereignty initiatives, health care partners, and other state and local food programs. The project brought together food service directors so they could learn from one another on common challenges, such as how to reduce costs, make programs more efficient, increase scratch cooking in school meal programs, and integrate local foods into their menus. Food service directors were able to attend training workshops on how to write grants, how to communicate effectively with administrators and school board members, the impact of good nutrition on children’s mental and physical well-being, and Indigenous food preparation. This networking and collaboration helped drastically reduce staff turnover in these networks because food service directors felt more supported and part of a community. Additionally, 2,735 students received nutrition education from SNAP educators. For year two of the project, both networks are expanding, and MT-PECH is using funds from Newman’s Own Foundation to add two new networks—one in Eastern Montana and one on the Fort Belknap Reservation. MT-PECH also received $75,000 from the Headwaters Foundation and additional funding from a private individual to support the continued implementation of the model.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2023

United Housing Partners 2023

Twin Creek Apartments

This program-related investment (PRI) will support the Twin Creek Apartments, a 72-home, new construction low-income housing tax credit development in Helena. The project will consist of a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments targeted to be affordable to households earning less than 70% of the Area Median Income (AMI), including 12 units that will be affordable to households earning less than 30% AMI. Twin Creek will provide safe, affordable rental housing to approximately 179 individuals at a time, including roughly 35 with extremely low, often fixed incomes. Twin Creek recently received a Low Income Housing Tax Credit allocation from the Montana Board of Housing of over $10 million, further leveraged by $3 million in national and local housing trust fund commitments and $7.5 million in private investment. Confirmed partners include the City of Helena, Helena Housing Authority, YWCA, and Rocky Mountain Development Council.

Grant Amount

$500,000

Term

Other

2023