Resource Database

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

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.

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 Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) plays an important role in generating economic growth and opportunity in some of our nation’s most distressed communities. By offering tailored resources and innovative programs that invest federal dollars alongside private sector capital, the CDFI Fund serves mission-driven financial institutions that take a market-based approach to supporting economically disadvantaged communities. Learn more about the CDFI Fund’s programs and initiatives.

The Business & Industry Loan Guarantees program improves the economic health of rural communities by increasing access to business capital through loan guarantees that enable commercial lenders to provide affordable financing for businesses in eligible rural areas. This program bolsters the availability of private credit by guaranteeing loans for rural businesses.

Community Facilities Programs offer direct loans, loan guarantees and grants to develop or improve essential public services and facilities in communities across rural America. These amenities help increase the competitiveness of rural communities in attracting and retaining businesses that provide employment and services for their residents.

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to complete a variety of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. REAP offers loan guarantees and grants for eligible applicants.

This Rural Business Enterprise Grant is a competitive grant designed to support targeted technical assistance, training and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas which will employ 50 or fewer new employees and has less than $1 million in gross revenue. Programmatic activities are separated into enterprise or opportunity type grant activities.

The Development Company, also known as East-Central Idaho Planning & Development Association (ECIPDA), is an economic development organization that serves Eastern Idaho by providing small business loans, workforce development programs, and project financing and administration services for municipalities.

The Growth Through Agriculture (GTA) program is a grant and loan program to strengthen and diversify Montana's agricultural industry through development of new agricultural products and processes.