2011 Annual Report

Montana
1 Montana Annual Report - 2011 

Thomas Vilsack

Secretary of Agriculture

Dallas Tonsager

Under Secretary for

Rural Development

Matthew Jones

Montana State Director for 

Rural Development

Welcome 

Strong rural communities are key 

to a stronger America. President 

Obama has acknowledged as much 

in his travel to rural communities, 

and through the creation of the 

first-ever White House Rural 

Council, and at USDA we share his 

conviction. 

With the current economic 

challenges, USDA has responded 

focusing on efforts that maximize 

the use of program funding, 

streamlining processes and 

promoting thriving economies and job creation in rural America.

Through Rural Development programs USDA continues to work 

alongside farmers, ranchers, homeowners, businesses, nonprofits, 

cooperatives, Tribes and local governments to effectively enhance 

the country’s economic climate. These partnerships allow us to 

leverage private and public funding to promote local and regional 

business development, infrastructure build-out and access to 

affordable credit in rural areas. During the last fiscal year, the 

cumulative results of these efforts have helped save or create 

thousands of jobs in rural America and beyond.

But there is more work to be done. Now more than ever, we 

must stretch limited government dollars and strategically direct 

funding that encourages private investment and creates economic 

opportunity in both the short- and long-term. 

Our employees understand the prosperity challenges of rural 

America and how each community’s needs are unique. Our 

dedicated Rural Development staff, who live and work in the 

communities they serve, are able to hear and respond quickly to 

local issues. Through a variety of business, economic development, 

utility and housing programs, our Rural Development specialists 

are doing more for rural communities than ever before.

I

n Fiscal Year 2011, USDA Rural 

Development delivered programs 

to the American people that 

created jobs and new economic 

opportunities in rural communities. 

I am proud to report that our three 

mission areas, Housing, Utilities 

and Business and Cooperative 

Programs, have collectively helped 

save or create thousands of jobs in 

rural America.

In 2011, Rural Development 

allocated almost $29 billion nationwide to maximize private 

investments in rural communities. Of this, 28.6 percent was directed 

in the form of direct loans that get paid back with interest. Another 

64.8 percent funded fee-generating loan guarantees that make it 

possible for private lenders to work within the banking system to 

safely increase the pool of capital available in rural areas for creditworthy businesses, communities and home-buyers. Just 6.6 percent 

of RD funding was directed in the form of strategically selected 

grants. 

Our Rural Development programs help create and sustain good 

paying jobs, and will have a lasting impact across the country. In 

addition to the investments of countless businesses, nonprofits, 

cooperatives, Tribes and local governments that partner with 

us, much credit is due to our talented, efficient and dedicated 

workforce of USDA employees who deliver Rural Development 

assistance in small communities and remote areas across all 50 

states and the territories of the United States. Their continued 

commitment to rebuilding and revitalizing rural America is shared 

by myself, Secretary Vilsack and President Obama. In the upcoming 

year, we will continue to work with communities, residents and 

others to ensure that rural America continues to be a healthy, safe 

and prosperous place to live, work and raise a family. 

As the Montana economy 

continued its recovery over 

the last fiscal year, USDA Rural 

Development maintained a strong 

presence in our rural communities. 

Through investment and 

partnerships, federal financial 

resources were leveraged to benefit 

scores of projects across our state.

Whether it’s the mother near Lame 

Deer who can wash her laundry 

without fear of the mineralized water destroying her childrens’ 

clothing and the washer itself, or the business in Darby reaching 

a global market with their recumbent bicycles via Internet-based 

commerce, rural Montanans have seen the benefit of our programs.

Ask any of the twelve hundred families who purchased a home 

through Rural Development this last year. Better yet, ask the 

Realtors, lenders, appraisers, and home construction and repair 

contractors what this investment meant for their businesses and 

their families.

The impact Rural Development makes in Montana is very real, 

very tangible. The financial investment we make in rural areas 

translates directly into economic growth, job creation, and 

improvements in the community foundations that support our 

cities, towns, counties, and reservations.

There is always more work to do, and we look forward to building 

on our record of investment through loans, loan guarantees, and 

grant programs. 2012 holds great promise, and we will continue to 

build partnerships and provide financial investment in the rural 

communities that form the backbone of Montana, and our nation.

Given the current budget situation and the need for austerity in expenditures within the federal government, we have chosen to distribute our annual report solely in an electronic format. It is optimized to be viewed on a 16:9 

wide screen, but if you choose to print a copy we suggest printing on legal sized paper in landscape format. All photographs and graphics within this document are provided courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Montana Annual Report - 2011 2

Investing in Montana

Housing Programs

$191,775,970

Utility Programs

$103,254,521

Business Programs

$16,547,250

Water & Environmental Programs

$13,663,870

Community Programs

$7,992,928

$50 M $100 M $150 M $200 M

USDA Rural Development serves one million Montana residents with six office locations and a staff 

of 49. In Fiscal Year 2011, $333,234,539 in financial obligations were made in Montana.
3 Montana Annual Report - 2011 

Housing Programs 

§502 Direct 

Rural Housing 

$14,526,786

§523 Mutual SelfHelp Housing 

$2,172,341

§504 Housing Repair 

Loans & Grants

$241,609

§502 Guaranteed

Rural Housing

$165,816,375

Montana State Director Matt Jones and National Housing Director Tammye 

Treviño lend their skills to a home construction in Kalispell, Mont. 

Single Family Housing Obligations

USDA Rural Development’s Housing Programs strive to provide 

access to safe and affordable housing for rural Montanans.

Rural Development’s Housing programs offer two types of 

homeownership loans: Guaranteed and 

Direct Loans. The purpose is to provide 

financing - with no down payment 

and at favorable rates and terms - 

either through a direct loan with Rural 

Development or a loan from a private 

financial institution that is guaranteed 

by Rural Development. These loans 

are for the construction, purchase, or 

rehabilitation of a dwelling for rural 

residents in the very low to moderate 

income brackets. 1,218 Montana 

families took advantage of our loans 

and guarantees and purchased homes 

in this fiscal year.

Home Improvement and Repair Loans 

and Grants enable low-income rural 

homeowners to remove health and 

safety hazards from their homes and to 

make homes accessible for people with 

disabilities. Grants are available for people 62 

years old and older who cannot afford to repay a 

loan.

Mutual Self-Help Housing helps groups of six to 

ten low-income families build their own homes 

by providing materials and the skilled labor they 

cannot furnish themselves. In September 2011, 

Rural Development Housing Director Tammye 

Treviño (pictured at left) joined State Director 

Matt Jones and Rural Development staff from the 

Kalispell Area Office to work on Spring Creek 

Estates, a Mutual Self-Help program managed by 

Community Action Partnership in Kalispell. The 

Mutual Self-Help program builds homes as well 

as neighborhoods, as the homeowners develop 

relationships throughout the construction phase 

that strengthen their commitment to their new 

neighborhood.
Montana Annual Report - 2011 4

Housing Programs

Rural Rental Assistance

$6,441,120

§515 Rural Rental Housing 

Rehabilitation & Repair Loans

$1,122,142

Multi-Family Housing 

Guaranteed Loans

$1,455,597

USDA Housing Program Director Tammye Treviño (r) and Rural Development staff 

meet with Ashley Creek Senior Apartment management in Kalispell, Mont.

Apartment living is often an alternative for people who cannot afford the purchase price and maintenance 

costs of their own individual house. Rural Rental Housing 

Loans and Multi-Family Housing Guarantees are made 

to finance building construction and site development of 

multi-family living quarters for people with very low to 

moderate incomes. Some units are reserved for 

people aged 62 and over. Montana has 

143 properties across the state 

that operate through 

our Multi-Family Housing program. In 2011, new projects 

were approved for both Butte and Laurel, Mont.

Rural Rental Assistance provides financial help for very 

low income residents in Rural Development multi-family 

complexes so they can afford shelter. In Fiscal Year 2010, 

Over two thousand Montana families received muchneeded assistance with their rent thanks to this program.

Housing Preservation Grants can be made to rental 

property owners for the repair and rehabilitation of their 

units if they agree to make such units available to low 

income families.

Multi Family Housing Obligations
5 Montana Annual Report - 2011 

Business Programs 

USDA Rural Development’s Business Programs seek to enhance the economic opportunity for all rural Americans by 

providing leadership in building competitive businesses and cooperatives that can prosper in the global marketplace.

The Business & Industry Guaranteed Loan Program (B&I) provides financial backing for rural businesses by 

guaranteeing up to 80% of a loan made by a commercial 

lender. These loans can be used for working capital, 

equipment, real estate, and certain types of refinancing. 

Erck Hotels of Montana received a B&I Guarantee to 

refinance the Hilton Garden inn in Great Falls, Mont. 

(pictured below). Vice President Dustan Williams said “With 

the credit crunch, even a profitable business like ours had 

difficulty getting financing. Rural Development’s guarantee 

allowed us to get the necessary credit and remain profitable 

and growing into the future.”

This loan guarantee with American Federal Savings Bank of 

Helena secured the future of 40 employees 

at the Hilton Garden inn.

Intermediary Relending Program Loans and Rural 

Microentrepreneur Assistance Program Grants finance 

revolving loan funds administered by local development 

organizations. The funds are then loaned to small and 

emerging rural businesses.

Rural Energy for America Program provides loan guarantees 

and grants to improve energy efficiency and promote 

renewable energy in small businesses and agricultural 

operations. 

Rural Cooperative Development Grants are given to 

cooperative development centers to assist in the creation 

and incubation of business cooperatives. 

Rural Economic Development Loans & Grants are 

administered through Rural Utilities Service borrowers such 

as electric and telephone cooperatives and used for economic 

development of communities in their service areas.
Montana Annual Report - 2011 6

Business Programs

B & I Guaranteed Loan

$14,367,000

Rural Business 

Opportunity Grant

$26,000

Rural Business 

Enterprise Grant

$427,585

Rural Cooperative 

Development Grant

$356,812

Intermediary 

Relending Program

$165,000

Rural Energy for 

America Program

$470,193

Rural Economic 

Development Loan

$1,117,472

Rural Microentrepreneur

Assistance Program

$867,125

Business Programs Obligations

The Value-Added Producer Grant provides funding to promote the conversion of agricultural 

commodities into consumer-level products. These products are then marketed by the producer in 

the marketplace.

Rural Business Enterprise Grants help facilitate development of rural small businesses through 

third-party organizations such as local development and resource & conservation development 

organizations. Lightfoot Cycles (pictured below) received a Rural Business Enterprise Grant 

through our partners at Ravalli County Economic Development Authority to develop a 

new e-commerce website, specialty software, 

and marketing materials for their recumbent 

bicycle manufacturing facility along 

Highway 93 on the north end of Darby.
USDA Rural Development’s Community Programs develop 

essential community facilities for public use in rural areas. 

These facilities include schools, libraries, hospitals and clinics, 

assisted living facilities, emergency services including fire 

and police, and community centers.

7 Montana Annual Report - 2011 

Community Programs 

Community Facilities Grants, and Direct & Guaranteed Loans are for constructing, enlarging, or otherwise improving community facilities providing essential services in 

rural areas. The funds are available to public entities such as municipalities, counties, special 

purpose districts, Tribes, and non-profit corporations. 

The town of Hot Springs on the Flathead Indian Reservation in northwest Montana had just 

two full-time police officers, and were using radar units handed down from other departments, 

bullet resistant vests that were fifteen years past their safety expiration date, and having to 

provide their own sidearms. The breathalyzer was so outdated, its results wouldn’t stand up 

in a court of law. The under equipped officers were losing the battle on crime when the Mayor 

came to Rural Development for help.

With a grant from the Community Facilities program, Hot Springs purchased new kevlar 

vests, a portable breathalyzer, radar gun, new sidearms, and both on-officer and in-dash video 

cameras. The new equipment had an immediate effect. “Petty theft all but disappeared,” said 

Randy Woods, Mayor of Hot Springs. “Morale went up right away, and our increased ability 

to ticket violators has increased revenue enough to hire a third full-time patrolman. Towns like 

Hot Springs, we have the funds to pay our officers, but usually not equipment replacement. 

Rural Development can help provide that equipment. Our citizens are happier to have that 

protection, our officers are safer and feel better about the job they’re doing. It’s a bare-bones 

operation, no fancy Cadillac gear for us - just the basics we need to be able to do the job safely 

and make the community safer. Our prosecution and conviction rate is up significantly with 

this new equipment, and people are coming to realize that committing a crime in Hot Springs 

is a bad idea.”
Montana Annual Report - 2011 8

Community Programs

Community Programs Obligations

Community 

Facilities Guarantee

$5,300,000

Community 

Facilities Loan

$902,100

Community 

Facilities Grant

$1,790,828

Nearly 90% of the almost $8 million in Community Facilities funding went to 

public safety projects, including hospitals, law enforecement, and fire & ambulance 

services.

Due to program efficiency and low default rate in the loan portfolio, the Community 

Facilities program has achieved a ‘budget neutral’ position, meaning it is self-funding 

without additional support from the federal treasury. Fiscal Year 2012 will bring 

a large increase in available loan capacity to this program because of this level of 

solvency. 

The Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Lame Deer received 

two special grants this year through the Economic Impact Initiative program. The funding 

received by the club went toward significant energy efficiency improvements for the 

facility. This will allow the club to be a comfortable and safe place for children to play yearround. Previous Community Facility obligations allowed for construction and equipping of 

a new full-service kitchen.
USDA Rural Development’s Water & Environmental Programs seek to make certain all residents 

in rural communities have access to safe drinking water and efficient wastewater facilities.

Water and Environmental Program Loans and Grants provide funding 

for water, sewer, and solid waste facilities 

in rural areas. Grants are also available for 

planning, training, and technical assistance 

to communities below 10,000 residents.

The town of Valier in Pondera County was 

reaching capacity on its water system. 

An extensive upgrade was needed to 

modernize the aging system and 

give it the capacity to protect the 

drinking water and provide 

adequate fire protection for 

the community.

Using funds from a Rural 

Development Water & 

Environmental Program 

Loan & Grant through 

the American Recovery 

and Reinvestment Act 

(ARRA), Valier replaced 

a nearly century-old 

clay water main and constructed a new 210,000 

gallon tank (pictured left) on the east side of 

town. The project also drilled a new well and 

built a new pumphouse, installed meters, and 

installed an emergency backup generator. 

Upon completion, the 300 customers in the 

community will have safe, quality water 

long into the future.

Eight new projects were funded this year 

including projects in Froid, Gallatin Gateway, 

Lodge Grass, Lame Deer, Sun Prairie, Big 

Sandy, Libby, and the Helena valley.

9 Montana Annual Report - 2011 

Water & Environmental 

Water & Environmental Programs

Water & Environmental

Loans

$7,537,000

Water & Environmental

Grants

$5,703,670

Water & Environmental

Guarantees

$423,200

Rural Development State Director Matt Jones (L) 

and Valier Public Works Director Leo Malinak 

inspect the progress on the final completion of 

the new community water tank.
The Telecommunications Program creates public/private partnerships to finance the construction 

of telecommunications infrastructure in rural America. USDA Rural Development makes loans 

to finance the improvement, expansion, construction, or acquisition of telecommunications facilities 

in rural areas. The Rural Electric Program makes insured loans and loan guarantees to nonprofit 

and cooperative associations, public bodies, and other utilities. Insured loans primarily finance the 

construction of facilities for the distribution of electric power in rural areas. The guaranteed loan 

program has been expanded and is now available to finance generation, transmission, and distribution 

facilities in rural areas.

Montana Annual Report - 2011 10

Telecom & Electricity

Telco & Electricity Programs

Direct Telecommunications Loans

$71,671,521

Direct Electric Loans

$31,583,000
11 Montana Annual Report - 2011 

Housing Programs Matrix 

Program Objective Applicant Uses Population Loan/

Grant Terms/Conditions

Single Family Home 

Ownership Guaranteed 

Loans

Assist eligible applicants in 

buying homes by guaranteeing loans from private lendersFamilies and individuals apply to a private lenderLoans may be made to purchase new or existing homes

Rural areas and communities 

of 20,000 or fewer population

Loan guarantee

30 years, fixed rate interest negotiated between lender and borrower. Loans to 100% 

of market value

Single Family Home 

Ownership Loans

To provide safe, well-built, 

affordable homes for rural 

Americans

Families and individuals apply to Rural Development

Buy or build rural homes as 

the applicant’s permanent 

residence

Direct loan

Up to 100% of market value. Loan amortized for 33 years. Applicant may be eligible 

for payment assistance (subsidy) on the 

loan

Single Family Home 

Repair Loans and Grants

To help very-low income applicants remove health and 

safety hazards, make essential repairs or make accessible for residents with disabilities

Families and individuals that 

currently own their own home 

apply to Rural Development

Loan and grant purposes include: Winterizing, purchase 

or repair of heating system, 

structural repair, water/sewage connect fees, and similar 

uses

Direct loan 

and grant

Loan terms to 20 years at 1%. Assistance 

to individuals may not exceed $20,000. 

Grants available to applicants 62 years or 

older with limited income. Maximum grant 

is $7,500

Mutual Self-Help 

Housing

Individuals build homes as a 

group with construction guidance of a non-profit organization

Families and individuals apply to participating non-profit 

agency. Grant funding available to non-profits for administration

Loan applications are processed on an individual basis 

for each participating family. 

Loan is provided for site, material, and skilled labor

Direct loan 

and grant

The individual families receive a direct 

loan. The non-profit housing organization 

receives grant to hire a supervisor and pay 

other administrative expenses

Rental Housing for 

Families and Elderly 

Direct Loans and Loan 

Guarantees

Safe, well-built and affordable 

rental housing for rural Americans

Individuals, profit and nonprofit organizations. For guarantees, apply to intermediary; 

for direct, apply to RD

New construction or substantial rehabilitation of rental 

housing

Direct loan or 

loan guarantee

Up to 100% of market value (non-profits); 

97% (for profit). Long terms for affortable 

debt service

Housing Preservation 

Grants

Repair and rehabilitate single 

family housing or rentals

Public bodies and non-profit 

corporations apply to Rural 

Development

Operate a program that finances the repair and rehabilitation activities for single 

family and rental properties

Grant 2 year grant term

Farm Labor Housing

Safe, well-built affordable 

housing for farm labor workers

Farms, farm organizations 

and corporations, non-profits, 

Tribes, and public agencies

New construction or acquisition with substantial rehabilitation of farm labor housing. 

On or off-farm eligible

No limit Direct loan 

and grant

Up to 100% of market value

Up to 33 years at 1% interest
Montana Annual Report - 2011 12

Business Programs Matrix

Program Objective Applicant Uses Population Loan/

Grant Terms/Conditions

Business & Industry 

Loan Guarantees

Create jobs and stimulate rural economies 

by providing financial 

backing for rural businesses

Business applies through federal or state-chartered banks, 

credit unions, or savings & 

loan associations

Most legal business purposes except 

production agriculture. Uses include 

acquisition, start-up and expansion of 

businesses that create rural employment

All areas except cities of 

more than 50,000 and 

their immediately adjacent 

urban or ubanizing areas

Loan 

guarantee

Lender and borrower negotiate terms. Interest rate tied to published rate that may 

change no more often than quarterly

Rural Business 

Enterprise Grants

Finance and facilitate 

the development of 

small and emerging private businesses

Public bodies and non profit 

corporations apply to Rural 

Development

Recipients can use grant funds to assist small businesses obtain technical 

help, training, or by providing small 

loans

All areas except cities of 

more than 50,000 and 

their immediately adjacent 

urban or ubanizing areas

Grant

When grant funds are used for a revolving 

loan fund, the intermediary makes loans to 

businesses with terms consistent with security offered

Intermediary 

Relending Program

Finance business facilities and community 

development projects in 

rural areas

Public bodies, non profit corporations, tribes, and cooperatives apply to Rural Development

Finances revolving loan funds to invest in community development projects, establishment or expansion of 

businesses, creation or saving of rural 

jobs

Rural areas and places 

with population fewer than 

25,000 

Direct loan

The intermediary makes loans to businesses from its revolving loan fund on terms 

consistent with security offered. Intermediary pays 1% for 30 years

Rural Economic 

Development 

Loans & Grants

Finance economic development and job creation in rural areasRUS financed electric and 

telephone cooperatives apply 

to Rural Development

Grants fund revolving loan funds, and 

loans can be passed through to business startup or expansion projects that 

create rural jobs

Rural areas and places 

with population fewer than 

50,000

Direct loan

The intermediary, electric or telephone 

cooperatives, make loans to profit or nonprofit buiness and public bodies for rural 

economic development and/or job creation 

projects. Loans are 0% for 10 years

Renewable Energy & 

Energy Efficiency Grants

Matching grant program 

for renewable energy 

systems or energy efficiency improvements

Small businesses, farmers, 

and ranchers

Pay up to 25% of project costs including wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, 

or other renewable energy sources. 

Also can be used to make energy efficiency improvements

All areas except cities of 

more than 50,000 and 

their immediately adjacent 

urban or ubanizing areas

Grant

Availability of grant funds is announced annually in the Federal Register. Contact the 

Montana State Office for more information

Renewable Energy & 

Energy Efficiency Loan

Guarantees

Provides financial backing on loans to install 

renewable energy or 

energy efficiency improvements

Small businesses, ag producers apply through federal or 

state-chartered banks

Finances up to 75% (50% if a renewable energy grant of 25% is also included) of project costs

All areas except cities of 

more than 50,000 and 

their immediately adjacent 

urban or ubanizing areas

Loan 

guarantee

Lender and borrower negotiate terms. Interest rate tied to published rate that may 

change no more often than quarterly

Value-Added 

Producer Grants

Matching grant program for value-added 

ventures

Agricultural producers and 

producer organizations

Used to conduct feasibility analyses, 

develop business and marketing plans, 

and conduct other types of research to 

establish a viable value-added business venture. Can also be used to establish working capital accounts

Not applicable Grant

Feasibility studies, business plans, and 

possibly other studies will be required before grant funds can be used as working 

capital
13 Montana Annual Report - 2011 

Community Programs Matrix

Program Objective Applicant Uses Population Loan/

Grant Terms/Conditions

Water & Waste Disposal 

Loans & Grants

Providing infrastructure for 

rural areas

Public entities, tribes, and 

non-profit corporations apply 

to Rural Development

Construct, repair, modify, expand, 

or improve water supply and distributino systems, waste collection 

and treatment systems, and other 

related costs

Rural areas and places 

with up to 10,000 population

Direct loan, 

grant, or loan 

guarantee

Interest rates are set quarterly based on an 

index of current market yields for municipal obligations. Repayment maximum 40 

years. Grant funds may be available

Water & Waste 

Predevelopment 

Planning Grants

Pay costs associated with 

develping a water or sewer 

preliminary engineering and/

or environmental report for 

funding

Public entities, tribes, and 

non-profit corporations apply 

to Rural Development. The 

applicant must demonstrate 

that they do not have the 

funds available to pay for the 

preliminary costs

Pay for items needed for an application such as a Preliminary Engineering Report, Environmental 

Report, etc. No payment for costs 

incurred before grant award

Rural areas and places 

with up to 10,000 population. MHI below 80% 

of the State Non-Metro 

MHI

Grant

Grant cannot exceed 75% of the planning 

costs or $25,000, whichever is less

SEARCH Grant Same, except only up to 

2,500 population

Grant cannot exceed 100% of the planning 

costs or $30,000, whichever is less

Solid Waste 

Management Grants

Provide technical assistance 

and/or training to help communities reduce the solid 

waste stream

Non-profit organizations and 

public bodies contact the Rural Development State Office

Provide technical assistance and 

training to reduce polution of water 

resources and improve management of solid waste facilities, reduction of solid waste streams

Rural areas and places 

with up to 10,000 populationGrant Projects funded based on selection at the 

national level

Community 

Facilities Program

Provide essential community 

facilities for rural communities

Public bodies and non-profit 

groups. Guarantees apply to 

intermediary, direct and grant 

apply to Rural Development

Build facilities, buy essential equipment, public safety, schools, libraries, hospitals

Rural areas and communities of 20,000 or 

fewer population

Direct loan, 

grant, or loan 

guarantee

Up to 40 years amortization or life of security

Electric & 

Telecommunication

Provide financial aid through 

direct and guaranteed loans

Non-profit and cooperative 

associations, public bodies, 

and other utilities

Generation, bulk transmission facilities, and distribution of electric 

power. Enhance 911 emergency 

service, digital switching equipment, fiber optic cable

Rural areas

Direct loan or 

loan guarantee

Interest rates are established in accordance 

with 7 CFR 17145

Distance Learning & 

Telemedicine

Development and deployment of advanced telecommunication services throughout rural America

An incorporated entity, including municipal, that operates 

or will operate educational or 

health care institutions

Equipment for classrooms: Cameras, video monitors, computers, 

LAN; and for physician consultation, radiology, x-ray, and digital 

microscopes

Rural areas Direct loan 

and grant Matching funds are required

Broadband

Facilitate deployment of new 

and innovative technolgies to 

provide two-way data transmission of 200 kbps or more

Legally organized entities 

providing or proposing to provide broadband service in eligible rural communities.

Construction, improvement and 

acquisition of facilities, and equipment to provide broadband service

Rural areas and communities of 20,000 or 

fewer population

Grant, direct 

loan, or loan 

guarantee

Minimum direct or guaranteed loan is 

$100,000
Bozeman Area Office / State Headquarters

ofc: (406) 585-2530 • fax: (406) 585-2537

2229 Boot Hill Court • Bozeman, MT 59715

Serving: Beaverhead, Broadwater, Deer Lodge, Gallatin, Golden Valley, 

Jefferson, Lewis & Clark, Madison, Meagher, Park, Silver Bow, Stillwater, 

Sweet Grass, and Wheatland Counties.

Bozeman Area Office / Helena Sub-Office

ofc: (406) 449-5000 Ext. 4 • fax: (406) 449-5008

790 Colleen Street • Helena, MT 59601

Serving: Beaverhead, Broadwater, Deer Lodge, Gallatin, Golden Valley, Jefferson, 

Lewis & Clark,Madison, Meagher, Park, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, and 

Wheatland Counties.

Missoula Area Office

ofc: (406) 829-3395 Ext. 4 • fax: (406) 829-3437

3550 Mullan Rd. Ste 106 • Missoula, MT 59808

Serving: Granite, Mineral, Missoula, Powell, Ravalli, and Sanders 

Counties.

Kalispell Area Office

ofc: (406) 756-2005 Ext. 4 • fax: (406) 756-2018

450 Corporate Dr. Ste 111 • Kalispell, MT 59901

Serving: Flathead, Glacier, Lake, Lincoln, and Blackfeet and 

Flathead Indian Reservations.

Great Falls Area Office

ofc: (406) 727-7580 Ext. 4 • fax: (406) 452-3806

12 3rd St. NW - Ste 300 • Great Falls, MT 59404

Serving: Blaine, Cascade, Chouteau, Fergus, Hill, Judith Basin, Liberty, Petroleum, 

Phillips, Pondera, Teton, Toole, and Ft. Belknap and Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservations.

Billings Area Office

ofc: (406) 657-6297 Ext. 4 • fax: (406) 657-6294

1629 Ave. D - A6 • Billings, MT 59102

Serving: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, McCone, 

Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Treasure, Valley, 

Wibaux, Yellowstone, and Crow, Ft. Peck, and N. Cheyenne Indian Reservations.

Montana Annual Report - 2011 14

Montana Offices
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national 

origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, 

genetic information, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited 

bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large 

print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 

Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-

8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.