Local businesses land Workforce Recovery grants

Two Lake County businesses — Polson Theatres, Inc. of Polson and Rocky Mountain Twist Corp. of Ronan — are among 20 Montana businesses that recently were awarded Workforce Recovery grants to rehire employees laid off due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The businesses will share $895,000 from the Montana Department of Commerce to support rehiring 152 full-time employees statewide.

The Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Workforce Recovery program will reimburse a business for the wages of full-time, permanent jobs that are created and retained for at least six months, up to a maximum of 25 jobs per business. A reimbursement of up to $7,500 per job is available to businesses in high-poverty counties. The business must match $3,750 per job. A reimbursement of up to $5,000 per job, with a $5,000 match, is available for businesses in all other counties.

Polson Theatres, Inc. operates seven theaters in Montana. The company received $125,000 from the temporary funding program. Rocky Mountain Twist Corp., which manufactures high-performance cutting tools, received. $120,000.

“Commerce launched the temporary Workforce Recovery program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support businesses that are ready to rehire workers,” said Wayne Johnston, Business Assistance Bureau Chief at Commerce. “This program is reimbursing businesses across Montana for rebuilding their workforce and bringing jobs back.”

Applications are being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until Dec. 31, 2020. Apply directly to the program at MARKETMT.COM/BSTF/WorkforceRecovery.