HELENA, Mont. – The Department of Commerce announced on July 12 that it will award $629,892 in federal funds for three community development projects.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds will go to Lewistown, Malta and Superior. City or county governments applied for funding on behalf of business and organizations in their communities.

“Community development is important work, and it comes in different forms according to the specific needs of the community,” said Commerce Director Pam Haxby-Cote. “These projects will help to revitalize a downtown area, improve the quality of service for individuals living with disabilities and grow a local business.”

In Superior, Mineral County will receive $204,892 on behalf of Superior Meats to expand its facility and purchase new equipment. The expansion will allow the business to increase production and create 10 new full-time positions.

In Lewistown, the city will receive $125,000 on behalf of Central Feed Grilling Company, a new brewery and restaurant serving locally sourced products, to train new staff and to create 20–25 new full-time positions. The business is part of Lewistown’s ongoing Creekside marketplace and pavilion project, which seeks to create a quality place to live, work and play, especially for the younger generation moving to the area.

In Malta, Phillips County will receive $300,000 on behalf of Malta Opportunities, Inc. MOI is a significant employer in Philips County. It supports activities and teaches life skills for its clients living with a developmental disability while also providing services to the public like recycling and snow removal. Funds will be used to renovate its facility.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program was established by Congress as part of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development was charged with overseeing administering this program and annually allocates funding to cities, towns and counties.

Under the State CDBG Program, states award grants to cities, towns and counties to develop and preserve decent affordable housing, to provide services to the most vulnerable in our communities, and to create and retain jobs. The department began accepting grant applications in April 2018 and continue to be reviewed on a monthly basis.