State Reviews Hemp Project Funding, Public Meeting Set in Helena
The Montana Department of Agriculture will hold a public meeting on Monday, November 17, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. in Helena to review proposals submitted for the Hemp Research & Market Development Program, a statewide funding source for research, promotion and market development projects. The session, available in person in Room 225 at 302 N. Roberts and by Zoom, offers local growers, processors and residents an opportunity to follow funding decisions that could influence the region economy.
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The Montana Department of Agriculture announced a public meeting for November 17, 2025 to review proposal submissions for projects seeking support from the Hemp Research & Market Development Program. The meeting will begin at 12:00 p.m. in Room 225 at the department offices at 302 N. Roberts in Helena, and will be available virtually by Zoom. The department also published an agenda listing applicant presentations and topics to be reviewed by the committee overseeing the program.
The Hemp Research & Market Development Program provides grants for research, promotion and market development projects intended to strengthen Montana's hemp industry. Proposals under review typically address production practices, processing capacity, market access and promotional efforts, all of which have direct implications for farmers, processors, and businesses across Lewis and Clark County and the broader state. Committee review of those proposals will shape which projects receive funding and how state resources support industry growth.
For residents and stakeholders who want to follow the review, the department named Dani Jones and Logan Kruse as contacts for meeting materials and virtual access. Interested parties may contact the Montana Department of Agriculture to request materials in advance, or to obtain the Zoom link for remote attendance. The published agenda identifies which applicants will present to the committee and the topics planned for discussion, providing an outline of the items the committee will examine.
The meeting is part of the department's administrative process for allocating program funds and for offering public transparency in the review of applications. Public attendance and the availability of documents in advance enable local producers and civic groups to monitor how taxpayer supported funds are prioritized and deployed. For an industry that has seen fluctuating market conditions and regulatory attention in recent years, funding decisions can affect investment choices, employment opportunities and local supply chain development.
Because the meeting is scheduled in Helena, it presents a convenient opportunity for Lewis and Clark County officials, agricultural extension agents and local entrepreneurs to engage directly with the review process. Committee deliberations will inform which projects move forward for funding, which in turn will influence the pace and focus of hemp research and market development efforts in Montana. The department release is the primary source for the meeting notice and agenda.
