The bill aims to revise the Big Sky Economic Development Program by removing various application requirements for local or tribal governments and certified regional development corporations. Key changes include eliminating the need for federal matching funds, excluding employee benefits from wage calculations, and increasing the dollar amount awarded for job creation. Additionally, the bill allows for awards to be made for workforce recruitment activities and removes previous allocations for distributions to local or tribal governments and certified regional development corporations. The bill also amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to reflect these changes.

Furthermore, the bill redefines eligible businesses to include both for-profit and nonprofit entities that contribute positively to the state's economy. It modifies the funding priorities, allowing eligible businesses to apply directly for financial assistance through grants or loans, rather than through local or tribal governments. The maximum funding per expected job is increased from $5,000 to $9,000, with specific provisions for high-poverty counties. The bill also mandates that the secretary of state notify each federally recognized tribal government in Montana about the new legislation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 90-1-201, 90-1-202, 90-1-204, 90-1-205