Tourism Development and Enhancement Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Program

Funder: Montana Business Assistance Connection (MBAC) with funding from Montana Department of Commerce (MDOC)

Funding Amount: $2,767,857 in capital funding awarded to MBAC (part of $24 million statewide initiative distributed to 12 local economic development organizations)

Geographic Scope: Broadwater, Meagher, and Lewis and Clark counties in Montana

Program Focus:

• Support for tourism-related businesses and business ventures
• Business acquisitions and new business ventures (highly encouraged)
• Workforce development
• Job retention and expansion in tourism sector
• Long-term economic resilience

Key Features

• Below-market interest rates for business loans within service area
• Preference given to projects with bank partnerships
• Sub-prime rates available for qualifying businesses

Eligibility Requirements

Business must meet ALL of the following:

• Located in Broadwater, Meagher, or Lewis and Clark County
• Operating from the same location
• U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident owns at least 20% of business
• At least one business owner has credit score of 640 or higher

Business must meet NONE of the following exclusions:

• More than one bankruptcy (regardless of timing)
• Current or open non-medical collections with outstanding balances
• Default on federal debt (including bankruptcy discharge)
• Owner conviction for financial fraud
• Past-due child support payments by any owner
• Pending litigation, criminal charges, or open divorce proceedings
• Current online high-interest debt from lenders like LendingClub, OnDeck, or Kabbage

Excluded Activities

• Gambling
• Illegal activities
• Agricultural activities
• Marijuana or marijuana-related industries
• Production or marketing of intentionally harmful products
• Lending
• Mining
• Investment real estate
• Live performances or displays of a sexual nature
• Multilevel marketing
• Startup trucking/transportation
• Compounding pharmacies
• Startup insurance
• Startup restaurants

Program Details

• Status: Active (established with recent $2.7M+ capital allocation)
• Equal Opportunity: This is an Equal Opportunity Program. Discrimination prohibited by Federal Law. Complaints may be filed with USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Bldg., 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC, 20250-9410
• Disclaimer: SBA's funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions or services. SBA funded programs extended to public on non-discriminatory basis.

Application Process

1. Review Eligibility: Confirm your business and owners meet all positive eligibility criteria and none of the exclusionary criteria listed above
2. Complete Application: Fill out the application form
3. Submit: Email completed application to Charmayne Kaminski at [email protected]
4. Contact for More Information: Interested applicants should contact Charmayne Kaminski at [email protected] to discuss qualification and learn more about the program before applying

Required Materials

• Completed application form (available for download)