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�������������������������� BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

�������������������������������������� OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

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In the matter of the amendment of ARM 8.99.901, 8.99.904, 8.99.908, and 8.99.912 pertaining to the award of grants and loans under the Big Sky Economic Development Program �

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NOTICE OF AMENDMENT

�TO:�All Concerned Persons

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1.�On December 6, 2007, the Department of Commerce published MAR Notice No. 8-99-63 pertaining to the public hearing on the proposed amendment of the above-stated rules at page 1981 of the 2007 Montana Administrative Register, Issue Number 23.

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2.�On January 4, 2008, a public hearing was held on the proposed amendment of the above-stated rules.�One comment was received by the January 14, 2008, deadline.

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3.�The department has amended the above-stated rules as proposed.�

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4.�The department has thoroughly considered the comment.�A summary of the comment received and the department's response is as follows:

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COMMENT #1: �One commenter stated that the department should set forth requirements that the Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Grant Review Committee meet within one month of an application's submission and that the director would review the Grant Review Committee's recommendations within one week of that meeting.

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RESPONSE #1:�The department agrees that it is in the best interest of the applicant as well as the department for complete applications to be reviewed as soon as possible after their receipt.�Once an application is determined, on a case by case basis, to be complete, the department has always set meeting dates as early as possible and does not believe that having a fixed time schedule for making awards is always reasonable or would provide for more effective funding decisions.

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/s/�G. MARTIN TUTTLE������������� ��������� /s/�ANTHONY J. PREITE�����������

G. MARTIN TUTTLE����������������������������� ANTHONY J. PREITE

Rule Reviewer�������������������������������������� Director

����������������������������������������������������������� Department of Commerce

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Certified to the Secretary of State February 4, 2008.