Llew Jones ARPA Loans: $4.365M Questions Raised | Gallatin Republicans
Questions Raised About Llew Jones’ $4.365 Million in ARPA Loans While Serving on Oversight Commission
Gallatin County Republicans believe in limited government, fiscal responsibility, and complete transparency — especially from our elected officials.
A new report from Yellowstone County News (April 3, 2026) raises serious questions about long-time Republican legislator Llew Jones of Conrad. While serving on the state commission that oversaw the distribution of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, businesses connected to Jones received a total of $4.365 million in low-interest Down Payment Assistance Loans.
According to the report:
- Three businesses linked to Jones and his family received the loans: Frontline Ag Solutions LLC ($3 million), Dealco LLC ($105,000), and Havre Ford CFRE LLC ($1.26 million).
- Jones was a member of the Economic Transformation and Stabilization and Workforce Development Advisory Commission, which helped oversee how Montana distributed roughly $2 billion in ARPA funds.
- Commission members were required to sign conflict-of-interest forms and were prohibited from participating in decisions where they or their immediate family had a financial interest.
- The program had a stated $3 million cap per recipient. The three loans combined exceeded that cap.
The article notes that Jones was the only sitting state legislator to receive these loans. Other commission members interviewed by the newspaper called the situation “alarming” and said it “doesn’t pass the smell test.”
Llew Jones is currently running for Montana Senate District 9. He is being challenged in the Republican primary by Rep. Zach Wirth of Wolf Creek, who is campaigning as a stronger conservative voice focused on limited government and accountability.
As conservatives, we expect our leaders to hold themselves to the same high standards they demand from others. Taxpayers deserve full transparency when public funds are involved — especially emergency relief dollars meant to help businesses hurt by government shutdowns.
The Gallatin County Republican Central Committee will continue to monitor this story and support candidates who put principle and transparency first. The June 2, 2026 Republican primary is an important opportunity for voters in Senate District 9 to choose the candidate who best represents conservative values.
We encourage all Montanans who care about good government to review the facts, stay informed, and vote accordingly in the upcoming primary.
