Roundup Record Tribune & Winnett Times -

Snowy Mountain Development Corporation is the nonprofit economic development organization sanctioned by the State of Montana as the Certified Regional Development Corporation (CRDC) in Central Montana responsible for providing business technical assistance to businesses in a six-county area (Fergus, Petroleum, Musselshell, Golden Valley, Wheatland, Judith Basin).

SMDC asks that every business in the six-county area that is impacted by the COVID-19, please complete an Economic Injury Worksheet and email it to [email protected]. To request a copy of the worksheet, please contact Snowy Mountain Development or your local MSU Extension office and we will be happy to send you one. The Extension office for Musselshell & Golden Valley can be reached at (406) 323-2704 or (406) 366-6475.

SMDC is working with Montana's Congressional Delegation and Federal and State partners to get capital in the hands of businesses who are experiencing revenue losses, business closures and workforce layoffs. Currently, the Small Business Administration is making available Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications available online. We are working hard to make other opportunities available. In the meantime, SMDC has launched and updates daily a webpage on its website dedicated to providing resources for local businesses coping with the epidemic. For any questions or concerns, please contact SMDC at 535-2591.

The Federal government has relaxed the regulations around unemployment insurance. Full and partial unemployment benefits occurring in response to the COVID-19 will not be charged against the business's unemployment account and will not increase their unemployment rate. Please contact the Montana Department of Labor and Industry to answer questions and for assistance working through the online application process. SMDC's contact at MDLI is Lisa Barton at (406) 444-4646.