Montana West Economic Development is a member of the Montana Food and Agricultural Development Center (FADC) Network supporting Flathead and Lincoln Counties in Northwest Montana. The FADC Network helps Montanans innovate and grow businesses that produce and commercialize food, agricultural and renewable energy products and processes, creating wealth and jobs in our communities and on our farms and ranches.
The centers support economic development by ensuring that more of the state's food, agricultural and energy dollars circulate in Montana. We provide training, coaching, access to financing, business planning and development and networking.
Please complete the form below if you are in need of assistance and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Applications are now being accepted for the Montana Department of Agriculture GTA Business Acceleration and Marketing Program (BAM), to support businesses entering expansionary phases of growth and to aid in the access, development, and expansion of new markets. Funds are available now and are awarded on a quarterly basis, in the order the application is received, until funds are expended.
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The Concept to Consumer Course is a Montana food product entrepreneur's guide to navigating the ins and outs of bringing a food product from idea to reality. The goals of this course are to eliminate questions or false ideas about starting a food business, to outline and give direction regarding food industry requirements and regulations, and to create an awareness of business and processing resources and options.
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The Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program provides funding for the start-up, expansion, or operations of independent meat and poultry processing facilities. The objective is to strengthen the capacity for independent meat processors, and to create a more resilient, diverse, and secure U.S. food supply chain.
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Abundant Montana connects all the dots of the food system and makes it easy for anyone to find and choose local. Find more than 1,000 farms & ranches, farmers' markets, food pantries, grocery stores, restaurants & institutions that provide local food, and the processors, distributors, institutions, and organizations that support Montana food systems.
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Save the Date for the 3rd Annual Montana Agritourism Conference on November 5-6, 2026 in Lewistown. Don't miss this opportunity for farm tours, keynote speakers and breakout sessions with other farmers, ranchers, producers, tourism experts, extension specialists and students.
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AERO and partners have developed a Food Safety Tool for Home Producers to help home-based, value-added producers evaluate and manage food safety risk and implement best practices in their home kitchen operation. You can download a free copy of the tool.
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Contact Ben Thiem at [email protected] or call 406.257.7711 x2 for FADC assistance or complete the form below.