(1) Maximum award amounts to local governments may not exceed $5,000 for each eligible job to be created by an eligible business, except that funding for a project in a high-poverty county may not exceed $7,500 for each eligible job.

(2) In appropriate circumstances and with supporting documentation, the department may establish award amounts to local governments that are less than $5,000 or $7,500 in a high-poverty county for each new eligible job to be created by an eligible business.

(3) The eligible jobs used as the basis for determining the award amount shall be net new positions to the business associated with the project in Montana and shall not include jobs transferred from any existing Montana operations of the business or any related entity.

(4) Maximum award amounts to certified regional development corporations and other eligible economic development organizations shall be established and published by the department in the Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Application Guidelines dated 2009.