October 1, 2008
The Indian Equity Fund is a program of the Montana Department of Commerce utilizing funding from the Indian Country Economic Development Fund with the support of the State Tribal Economic Development Commission. The Fund is designed to provide Native American entrepreneurs and business owners a grant of equity to leverage into a loan or other collateral to start or grow their business. The program is beginning its third year.
The program was developed in 2007 with the support of the Governor's Office of Economic Development, First Interstate Bank, and members of the Montana Indian Business Alliance. The program is entering its third year.In FY 2009, $119,000 will be divided among Montana's eight Indian communities. Each community is eligible for two grants of $7,000. In addition, one grant is available for a recipient who lives at large in Montana, for example in Bozeman. Applicants must be an enrolled member of a Montana Tribe.
Successful grantees have used their funds to expand a beauty salon, purchase buildings for health care clients and a home renovation center, purchase materials and equipment for Indian artists and a silk screening business.
The application acceptance period is October 1, 2008 – December 1, 2008.
The 2009 applications are now will be available here (116KB | PDF) )on the MIBA website. If there are any questions regarding the equity fund please contact Philip Belangie, Montana Department of Commerce at (406) 721-3663 or at pbelangie@mt.gov.
June 23, 2008

June 05, 2008
It is anticipated that the Indian Equity Fund will receive a third round of funding for 2009. More information will be available in late summer of 2008 regarding funding. Once funding has been received, the 2009 applications will be available on the MIBA website. If there are any questions regarding the equity fund please contact Philip Belangie, Montana Department of Commerce at (406) 721-3663 or at pbelangie@mt.gov.

October 1, 2008
The 2009 MT Indian Equity Fund application acceptance period is Oct 1 - Dec 1. Applications are available now.
September 29, 2008
Turning equity into opportunity: Montana fund helps Native entrepreneurs enter the financial mainstream A new small business funding program from the State of Montana is designed to address the severe shortage of equity among entrepreneurs in Indian Country.
