Montana slated for billions in federal aid, forcing deadline on legislature Staff Report The Treasure State, its counties, cities and towns will be getting some assistance from the federal government to help cover the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Montana’s reported share of the recently passed American Rescue Plan Act will be an estimated $1.37 billion. That is the same as South Dakota ($1.37 billion), but slightly more than North Dakota ($1.36 billion). Those estimates come from the House Oversight and Reform Committee and includes grants for capital projects. However, the state has announced that it will be receiving even more – $2.7 billion. The state legislature is also facing a deadline to craft a bill by March 25 on how to use the funding from the Act. Lost revenues The states and local governments have lost tax revenues during the pandemic, forcing them to adapt to less revenue at every level. In Montana, the infusion of funds will need to be allocated since the legislature is in session, according to state officials. The budget director of the Office of Budget and Program Planning has publicly stated that there is a need to encourage prioritization of long-term impacts to Montana. He also described that among the long term infrastructure needs for the state include water, sewer and broadband projects. In addition, the budget director, Kurt Alme, said that the state will need to invest in the people who became unemployed because of the pandemic. One suggestion in-
cluded training to help them re-enter the workforce. The state will have to follow certain guidelines with the funding from the ARP Act, meaning that if the state doesn’t follow the rules, it may have to reimburse the federal government for the misused funds. According to the guidelines established in the federal legislation, the money must be used in several areas, including for communities and families, workforce and jobs, small businesses, and education, among others. Among the increases included in the act is additional Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding which will be directed at small businesses in the state. That also means there will be additional impact from the millions in grant funding as part of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund at the local level within the state. Act impacts Agriculture According to the new Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, the recently approved legislation will help provide investments to struggling homeowners to pay their mortgages, property taxes and insurance. In addition, it will help with rental assistance and help fund broadband to schools and hospitals. According to the National Farmers Union, the legislation will provide a lifeline for struggling Americans while also helping to improve the nation’s food system. There will be approximately $12 billion in investment to food assistance programs, including extending through September the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit increase which was in the December COVID relief legislation.
Local ranchers diversify revenue stream with new meat processing shop By Alissa Miller, Eastern Plains Economic Development Farming and ranching have long been a part of Montana’s past and continues to be our number one industry today. With prices of livestock and crops ever changing, the next generation of ranchers have had to diversify their revenue to make ends meat and keep both parents at home to raise a family. With National Ag Day on March 23, I reached out to a couple who have dived head first in diversifying their revenue streams. Cassie from Broadus and Ry from Plevna met in high school during an FFA competition in Baker.. They went on to college and attended Dickinson State University. At college they both attended a meat cutting class where Ry especially took an interest in the trade. After college Ry and Cassie O’Connor got married and moved to Plevna and purchased part of Ry’s family ranch. There they raise cattle and sheep of their own, run a food truck, and added a couple kids too! The O’Connor couple started the conversation on how they could add more income to their operation and also help their communities struggling with the fear that COVID was or could cause food shortages; causing people to want to stock up on meat for their freezers. Through researching their options and while scrolling on social media, Cassie came across a Small Business Development post that piqued her interest. Cassie reached out to Tracey Baker in the Miles City SBDC office. From that point other organizations were looped into the process. The team was made up of Tracey Baker (SBDC), Tami Burke (GNDC-Food and Agriculture Development Center), Beth Epley (EPEDC-Executive Director), Dara
Deines (EPEDC-Community Development Specialist), and Shandy Hanks (GNDC-SBDC). Together with Cassie, the team scheduled meetings to explore if the Lames Jones Meats would be eligible for the Meat Processing and Infrastructure Grant that was made available through the CARES funding allotted to the State. When the grant was not awarded for their project, Ry and Cassie decided to reduce their project and obtain financing on their own. In September, the O’Connor’s got a call from Jim Auer with the Montana Department of Agriculture that more funds came available and that they would be awarded the $150,000 that they originally applied for. This money helped with getting the building put up. The COVID grant was unique because matching funds were not required for it. With the grant came a deadline to have the building up by the end of year, 2020. Even though they hit the ground running, with having been in contact with contractors, this deadline was going to be a challenge. Thankfully the deadline was pushed back otherwise according to Ry, “it would have been close, but they wouldn’t have finished in time.” In November came the opportunity to apply for the Growth Through Agriculture Grant (GTA). This grant is through the Montana Department of Agriculture and usually opens around July and focuses on diversifying Montana’s agriculture industry through development of new agricultural products and processes. This grant requires the investment of at least a dollar-for-dollar match in grant or loan assistance received. The application was for $20,000 for a smoker and sausage stuffer to expand and diversify what Lames Jones Meats would be able to offer. If selected in the top rankings of the grant
process, each applicant is required to present to the GTA committee on what their project is about. This was done virtually in February 2021. The beginning of March 2021, Lame Jones Meats was announced as one of the chosen recipients of the GTA grant. As of today, the O’Connor’s and their contractors are working every day to get Lame Jones up and running as a custom exempt facility with plans to eventually be USDA certified. Ry and Cassie are hoping to open Lame Jones Meats in about two months. With the social media page up and running, they have already received numerous calls and messages. As of right now Lames Jones Meats will be running with Ry and Cassie at the helm and will hire as needed as the business grows. When posed the question on what they want new businesses to know before starting, Cassie answered “There are so many free resources available in our area and people need to take advantage of them. The SBDC, EPEDC, and GNDC not only provide business help but also put on workshops that really help as well.” Lames Jones Meats are excited to be able to serve our local communities. We are local ranchers who understand. Check them out on social media and more information on their opening date. Alissa Miller is the Food and Agriculture Assistant with Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation. Alissa’s office is located in Baker, serving the counties of Carter, Fallon, Wibaux, Dawson, and Prairie Counties. Alissa is there to help with grant writing, business planning, trainings, agritourism, or farm to school programs. If you have food and agriculture business or training ideas call or email Alissa at 406852-3735 or fada@epedc.com.
Governor Gianforte: COVID-19 Vaccine Open to All Montanans on April 1 King Candidates: Ashton Afrank, Taylor Heaton, Jory Miller and Nathan Hufford. Queen Candidates: Alissah Hickey, Bryce Shelhamer, Sydney Kirstchen and Mckenzie Davis.
Announcing Prom Royalty 2021
By Rilee Pettersen
The Baker High School student body had the chance to vote and decide on our BHS Prom Royalty for this year. The ultimate decision on who is crowned King and Queen will be decided upon by the junior class prior to prom, which will be held Saturday, March 27. The Prom theme will be “Rustic Romance” and the Grand March is scheduled for 8 p.m. at the Longfellow Gymnasium. The King candidates are as follows: Ashton Afrank, son of Les and Alisha Afrank, Taylor Heaton, son of Jim Heaton and Kristin Custer, Nathan Hufford, son of Chris and Kim Hufford, and Jory Miller, son of Johnathan and Alissa Miller. Queen candidates are as follows: Mckenzie Davis, daughter of Chuck and Polly Davis, Alissah Hickey, daughter of Brian and Lori Hickey, Sydney Kirschten, daughter of David and Nicole Kirschten, and Bryce Shelhamer, daughter of T. C. and Jill Shelhamer.
At a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Governor Greg Gianforte announced that COVID-19 vaccines will be available to all Montanans beginning April 1, 2021. “A few months ago, projections estimated Montanans 16 and older would be eligible for the vaccine as late as mid-July. Today, I’m pleased to announce that we’re moving up that timeline. All Montanans 16 and older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine on April 1,” Gianforte said. Gianforte encouraged Montanans to get a vaccine. “I look forward to getting the vaccine when my name is called, and I encourage all Montanans to consider doing the same. Getting one of these safe, effective vaccines will protect you, your loved ones, and your neighbors from this virus. It will help us
get back to a more normal life,” Gianforte said. Gianforte added, “As more Montanans get the vaccine, we will begin to approach the time when we are no longer in a state of emergency and we can remove our masks and throw them in the trash.” Gianforte also addressed the principles guiding his administration’s approach to distributing the vaccine. “Improving Montana’s response to this pandemic has been my top priority as your governor,” Gianforte said. “We took a strictly data-driven approach to protect the most vulnerable, and it’s saving lives.” On his second full day in office, Governor Gianforte changed the state’s vaccine distribution plan to prioritize and protect Montanans most at-risk of complications from
COVID-19. Montana health care and seniors groups praised Gianforte’s improvement of the state’s vaccine distribution plan. About a week after the governor’s changes, the federal government recommended similar modifications. On January 19, the state en-
tered Phase 1B to vaccine Montanans 70 years of age and older, Montanans 16-69 years of age with severe underlying health conditions, and Native Americans and other persons of color at elevated risk of COVID-19.
See VACCINE Page 2