Montana Local Food
Financing Partnership
USDA-backed financing, grants, and technical assistance for rural Montana food businesses serving communities with limited access to healthy food.
Building a Stronger Local Food Supply Chain
The Montana Local Food Financing Partnership (MLFFP) is a $3 million initiative funded through the USDA Healthy Food Financing Initiative in partnership with the Reinvestment Fund, a national Community Development Financial Institution co-administering the program. MLFFP is designed to strengthen Montana's rural food retail and supply chain infrastructure, particularly for businesses that serve communities with limited access to fresh, healthy, locally produced food.
Through MLFFP, Mission West CDP provides a combination of grant match funding, credit enhancement, and direct technical assistance to eligible food businesses. The goal is to expand access to healthy food while supporting the economic viability of local food enterprises.
Reinvestment Fund is a national Community Development Financial Institution that co-administers the USDA Healthy Food Financing Initiative. Since 1985, they have invested over $2.7 billion in underserved communities, with deep expertise in food-system financing. Their CDFI lending model and food-access focus shape how MLFFP is delivered across rural Montana.
Learn about Reinvestment FundWhat the Program Offers
MLFFP provides four interconnected types of support to eligible food businesses.
Grant Match Funding
Matching funds for projects that improve food access. May be used as a match for any state or private grant (excluding federal grants).
Collateral Support
Strengthens loan applications for food businesses that don't quite qualify for conventional financing. May potentially convert to a grant at the end of the project.
Interest Rate Reduction
Lowers the cost of borrowing for eligible food-system businesses, making financing more accessible.
Technical Assistance
Hands-on guidance from food-system experts and the Mission West CDP team to help scope projects, develop financials, and navigate the financing options.
Who Is Eligible?
MLFFP targets businesses in the rural Montana food retail and supply chain that serve or are committed to serving SNAP-eligible customers, and that offer a full plate of food products (both staple and perishable goods).
Food Hubs & Aggregators
Organizations that aggregate, distribute, and market locally and regionally produced food, connecting farmers to institutional and retail buyers.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs)
Farm operations offering direct subscription produce delivery that accept or are working toward accepting SNAP/EBT payments.
Independent Grocery Stores
Rural grocery operations serving communities with limited food retail options, particularly those committed to stocking locally produced products.
Other Food Supply Chain Businesses
Processing facilities, distributors, farmers markets, and other businesses that play a role in getting healthy, local food to rural and underserved communities.
SNAP Eligibility Requirement: Applicants must currently accept SNAP/EBT payments or be in the process of becoming eligible. Contact us to discuss your situation, we can help navigate the eligibility process.
Montana Partners
Beyond the federal partnership with Reinvestment Fund, MLFFP works closely with regional partners across Montana to reach the farmers, ranchers, and food businesses the program is built to serve.
Hopa Mountain
Bozeman-based nonprofit serving rural and tribal communities across Montana.
Montana Department of Agriculture
State agency partner supporting Montana's growers, producers, and rural food economy.
Montana FADC Network
Statewide Food & Agriculture Development Center network coordinating support for Montana food businesses.
Contact the
MLFFP Team
Interested in learning more or applying? Reach out to our BDC team to discuss your project and eligibility.
MLFFP Inquiry
Tell us about your business and how MLFFP might support your work. We'll follow up to discuss your project and next steps.
Funding: MLFFP is funded through the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Healthy Food Financing Initiative.
Other Programs
Strengthening Montana's
Food System
MLFFP is one of several tools Mission West CDP brings to support rural food businesses and the communities they serve. Contact us to explore all available resources.