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Who is eligible for SNAP? If you were laid off or lost income and need help putting food on the table, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is here to help. Here are some core eligibility rules: • If you live with your spouse or your children under age 22, they are part of the same SNAP household. If you live with others, you can apply separately unless you buy and prepare most of your food together. • If you are not a US Citizen, there are special immigrant status rules. • If your income is below 200% of the F...
Agriculture, and the protection of our food supply, has been declared critical infrastructure by the Department of Homeland Security during the COVID-19 response. This declaration means that we have a responsibility to maintain continuity within our agricultural industry. The State of Montana and the Department of Livestock recognize the importance of business continuity for farmers and ranchers. We also understand that ranching activities such as branding, pregnancy checking, and shearing may require involvement of multiple...
Governor Bullock recently issued a directive extending the renewal deadline by 90 days for driver licenses expiring in March, April, and May 2020. These credentials will be reported as valid in government systems during this grace period even though the physical card and paper show expired. In order to implement social distancing, effective March 18, all Class D (non-commercial) driving tests will be suspended for 30 days. Because driving tests require people to share a confined space for an extended period, they increase...
The Growth Through Agriculture (GTA) Mini Grant Program is currently accepting applications. The Mini Grant program is used to strengthen and diversify Montana’s agricultural industry. Through these small grants, the program assists with the development of innovative agricultural products and processes to add value to the industry, create new jobs and expand small business opportunities. All projects will need to demonstrate how they expand Montana’s agriculture. Due to the current public health situation with COVID-19, spe...
Hunters in Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 7 will have ample opportunities and many choices for where to hunt turkeys this spring, with 50 Block Management Areas allowing public access for turkey hunting. Spring turkey season opens April 11 and runs through May 17. For a complete list of landowners participating in the Block Management Program and opening parcels for turkey hunting in Region 7, visit fwp.mt.gov. Click on the "Hunting" tab, under "Hunter Access" select...
On Tuesday, Governor Steve Bullock extended through April 24 Directives he issued to protect Montanans from COVID-19 by slowing the spread of the virus in Montana. The Directives were set to expire on April 10. “We know that staying home will help to flatten the curve. For every person we take out of the chain of transmission of this virus, the more likely our health care facilities can handle the capacity to respond, and the more likely we can beat back this virus sooner rather than later,” Governor Bullock said. “We stay...
On Tuesday Governor Steve Bullock announced consumer protections to lessen the economic impacts on Montanans during the COVID-19 statewide emergency by stopping evictions, foreclosures and cancellation of utility services including water, heating and internet service. “One of my top priorities is continuing to find ways to ease the financial hardships on Montanans. So long as this virus forces Montanans to stay home to save lives, Montanans need a home to stay in,” Governor Bullock said. “This order ensures that a loss of inc...
The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service announced Tuesday that distribution of economic impact payments will begin in the next three weeks and will be distributed automatically, with no action required for most people. However, some seniors and others who typically do not file returns will need to submit a simple tax return to receive the stimulus payment. Who is eligible for the economic impact payment? Tax filers with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 for individuals and up to $150,000 for married...
The Montana Department of Revenue is warning all Montanans to watch out for scams related to the recently announced federal stimulus package. With recent news of direct payments to Americans based on their 2018 or 2019 tax information, scammers are already contacting individuals, and especially tax preparers, by phone, email, and text, trying to solicit personal, financial and tax information that can be used for identity theft and financial fraud. “It’s tragic that even during a national crisis, criminals are taking adv...
The Office of Public Instruction and Montana University System announced on Tuesday that Montana juniors will have the opportunity to take the ACT free of charge this coming fall semester of their senior year. Normally, current juniors would take the ACT in the spring as Montana’s statewide standardized test for federal accountability. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and Montana’s pending waiver request from standardized tests, it is likely that juniors will not be taking the ACT this spring. “In this time of uncer...
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to all Montana small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19), SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced today. SBA disaster assistance is now available in all counties within the state of Montana and the neighboring counties below. Neighboring Idaho counties: Bonner, Boundary, Clark, Clearwater, Fremont, Idaho, Lemhi and Shoshone; Neighboring North Dakota counties:...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is enrolling new landowners in Region 7 who are interested in participating in the Block Management Program. Block Management is a cooperative effort between landowners and FWP to help manage public hunting activities and provide equitable public hunting opportunities. In the Block Management program, landowners and FWP enter into voluntary agreements that determine how hunting will be conducted on the landowner's property. Items such as...
The Montana History Foundation announces its 2020 grant cycle will put $164,800 into 29 historic preservation projects in 27 communities this year. That brings the total funding from the History Foundation for historic preservation across the state since 2012 to just over $1 million. "The projects we fund through our grant program are vital in order to continue telling Montana's story for generations to come," says History Foundation President/CEO Charlene Porsild. "We are...
The Montana Department of Commerce recently announced that eleven regionally focused economic development centers have earned recertification and will receive funding to continue serving business needs across the state for an additional four years. Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation (EPEDC) serving, Carter, Dawson, Fallon, Prairie and Wibaux Counties is thrilled to continue this partnership with the State of Montana to offer economic development services to the region. EPEDC is committed to providing the support...
In accordance with guidelines for social distancing related to COVID-19 and to protect the public as well as staff, Fish, Wildlife & Park strongly encourages hunters and anglers to make licensing purchases online at fwp.mt.gov. For those who need assistance with their purchase, please call the FWP licensing center at 406-444-2950 or your regional office in Miles City at 406-234-0900. FWP regional and headquarters offices remain open, but visitors will be required to follow protocol to reduce the risk of exposure to and...
On Tuesday, Governor Steve Bullock announced that small businesses across Montana impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) are now eligible to apply for emergency loans through the Small Business Administration. “We are monitoring the impacts of coronavirus in real time – both from a public health perspective and an economic health perspective,” Governor Bullock said. “Ensuring that small businesses in Montana have access to capital and resources that will allow them to weather temporary closures and bounce back from cr...
The Montana Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) is accepting applications for mini-grants and demonstration projects. Demonstration project applications are due April 15, 2020. The mini-grants will provide funding for educational events throughout the year and support partners and organizations with an interest in the conservation, education, and awareness of grazing lands and natural resources in Montana. Mini-grant funding requests are limited to a minimum of $50 and a maximum of $1,000. There is no application dea...
Last week, U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.) introduced legislation to extend the Frontier Community Health Integration Project (FCHIP) until August 2024, a program in ten facilities across Montana, Nevada and North Dakota that develops and tests health care delivery and reimbursement models for Critical Access Hospitals in hyper-rural counties. The project began in August 2016, and expired in July 2019. Dahl Memorial Healthcare Association in Ekalaka, McCone County Health Center in Circle and...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 7 took the opportunity in February to recognize the important contribution that area landowners make through their participation in the Block Management Program. FWP hosted appreciation dinners in Miles City on Feb. 25 and in Glendive Feb. 27. Invitations were extended to more than 300 landowners and their families. In Miles City, 178 people attended, and 101 came in Glendive. “We had two more nice evenings of getting folks together, having great meals and enjoying conversation,” sai...
4 Montana hunting and fishing licenses will go on sale starting Sunday, March 1 at 5 a.m., and this year people will see some changes to how they can buy general licenses and apply for special (limited draw) licenses and permits. This year, FWP will not accept paper applications. That means to apply for a special license/permit in 2020, hunters will need to apply online or at an FWP office. Additionally, all people applying for a special license/permit will need to have a...
USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds producers in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming that the final date to purchase or make changes to crop insurance on spring-planted crops is March 15. Farmers also need to notify their agent if they have planted winter wheat in a county with only spring wheat coverage by this date. Federal crop insurance is critical to the farm safety net. It helps producers and owners manage revenue risks and strengthens the rural economy. Producers may select from several coverage o...
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Montana has set a March 13, 2020, application cutoff for agricultural operators to be considered for the next conservation program funding cycle through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. “NRCS provides funding and technical assistance to help farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners implement conservation practices that provide environmental benefits to help sustain their operations,” said Tom Watson, NRC...
As the current license year is winding down, hunters and anglers can look for a few immediate changes for the coming year. The new license year starts on March 1st, which means that is the day you can buy your 2020 hunting and fishing licenses and begin applying for permits and special licenses. The deadline to apply for deer and elk permits is April 1st. Hunters should keep a couple of things in mind as they look to the application process for this year. First, this will be the first year that hunters will be able to apply...
People in Montana are being warned of a new telephone scam which is currently sweeping the United Kingdom and could be set to hit the United States. CPR Call Blocker, makers of the best-selling call blocking device in the US and the UK, is urging the public in Montana to beware if they receive a call from an apparent police officer telling you that your bank card has been cloned or that money has been taken from your account. The scam, which has been conning people across the UK, involves the ‘police officer’ then asking the...
The Montana Historical Society (MHS) is now accepting applications for the Centennial Farm and Ranch program. New inductees will receive a framed certificate signed by the governor, recognition at the Ag Day ceremony in the State Capitol during the 2021 legislative session, the ranch/farm history printed online and in our periodic Centennial Farm and Ranch yearbook, and a durable roadside sign. These 24-inch by 36-inch UV-coated metal signs are a new addition to the program this year, thanks to support from the Montana Depart...
