[MCN] New Financing Tools for Montana's Farmers and Ranchers

[cfacinfo]

Montana’s farmers and ranchers now have access to three new tools to
finance their operations. This week, the Community Food & Agriculture
Coalition (CFAC) in Missoula launched a statewide specialty crop
mini-grant, a regional 0% interest loan, and a free technical assistance
program for those considering Farm Service Agency financing in Western and
Southwest Montana.

The Specialty Crop Mini-Grant <http://missoulacfac.org/mini-grants.html>program
offers grants from $1,000 to $5,000 to specialty crop producers. CFAC
Program Director Annie Heuscher says the goal of the grant program is to
support beginning specialty crop producers and others to expand specialty
crops across Montana. The grant application can be found online at
http://missoulacfac.org/mini-grants.html and potential applicants are
encouraged to contact Heuscher in advance of applying.

Also on offer are 0% interest, zero fee, crowdfunded loans through the
international microlending platform, Kiva <https://borrow.kiva.org/>. CFAC
has recently registered a trustee on the site and will be able to endorse
local borrowers, increasing their likelihood of being funded on the site.
Loans can be up to $10,000. More information about applying for endorsement
from CFAC can be found at http://missoulacfac.org/kiva-zip.html.

Finally, CFAC was recently awarded a cooperative agreement with the Farm
Service Agency to provide hands-on, one-on-one technical assistance to
potential FSA borrowers in Western and Southwest Montana. CFAC provides
introductory meetings for farmers to learn about the broad array of FSA
programs, longer-term support with developing business, marketing, and
financial plans, and assistance filling out and submitting FSA
applications. More information about this opportunity can be found at
http://missoulacfac.org/fsa-technical-assistance.html.

For more information on any of these programs, interested farmers and
ranchers can also email Annie Heuscher at annie at farmlinkmontana.org.
--
Annie Heuscher

Program Director
Community Food & Agriculture Coalition
http://missoulacfac.org/
406-830-8218
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*Keep Ag in our Culture!*
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