Resource Database

3 Rivers Communications offers digital televison, Internet services, and telephone services including local and long distance. Further, 3 Rivers Communications supports Montana communities through grants, sponsorships and donations.

Bear Paw assists communities and businesses in the following departments: community planning, business lending, value-added agriculture, community development, and small business counseling.

The Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Program (BSTF) provides state funds to promote long-term stable economic growth in Montana with financial assistance in the following two categories: Economic Development Job Creation Projects & Planning Projects.

The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health, Inc. is a non-profit private foundation established by Blue Cross of Idaho. This foundation provides money for planning and projects that encourage active living (e.g. biking).

The year-end omnibus legislation included several broadband and connectivity expansion bills. The following will be implemented by NTIA.

Three new grant programs:

1. Tribal BroadbandConnectivity Program. A $1 billion program directed to tribal governments to be used for broadband deployment on tribal lands, as well as for telehealth, distance learning, broadband affordability, and digital inclusion.

2. Broadband Infrastructure Program. A $300 million broadband deployment program directed to partnerships between a state, or one or more political subdivisions of a state, and providers of fixed broadband service to support broadband infrastructure deployment to areas lacking broadband, especially rural areas.

3. Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program. A $285 million grant program to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) for the purchase of broadband internet access service and eligible equipment or to hire and train information technology personnel.

Burke Grant Resource Center is a complete and up-to-date database of Federal, State and Private Foundation grants available to schools and non-profit organizations including those with religious affiliations . Maberry Consulting, a Burke partner, can assist with grant and proposal writing. Pricing is dependent upon services rendered.

The Wyoming Business Council provides the Business Ready Community Grant & Loan Program, a program that provides financing for publicly owned infrastructure that serves the needs of businesses and promotes economic development within Wyoming communities. Cities, towns, counties and joint powers boards are the primary applicants for this program. State and local community development organizations can assist and provide project management development under contract to the primary applicant.

Butte CPR provides grants to improve buildings, educational tours, lectures, preservation workshops, and other events, liaison with local government, business, and civic organizations, and the labor to restore, renovate and salvage historical buildings in the nation's largest National Historic Landmark District.

The Center for Rural Affairs is an advocate for health care, clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and community development in rural areas. Also offers technical assistance, financing programs, and other resources to rural communities.

The Citizens' Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) provides communities access to the resources they need to convert their own good ideas into reality.'CIRD works with communities with populations of 50,000 or less, and'offers annual competitive funding to as many as six small towns or rural communities to host a two-and-a-half day community design workshop. CIRD further provides web-based access to a wide range of rural design resources include a blog and educational webinars.