The state government awarded Montana communities more than $275,000 for infrastructure planning.
Nineteen communities won anywhere from $12,000 to $15,000 to plan out infrastructure projects like new and improved stormwater or wastewater systems.
It’s part of the Montana Department of Commerce’s Treasure State Endowment Program, which has been going on since 1992.
Department Director Tara Rice says this particular round of grants is just for planning, but she stresses that this stage prevents missteps later on.
“Investing in good planning and a good preliminary engineering report is one of the most important things you can do to make sure that when you get to the point of starting construction and investing in critical infrastructure, you’re doing so in a way that is gonna have maximum benefit for your community,” says Rice.
The Treasure State Endowment Program awards funds for construction in even-numbered years and accepts applications on a rolling basis.
The state is also offering a new type of infrastructure grant which opened this summer. It’s made $21.5 million available to communities and school districts dealing with a decline or growth from coal, oil, gas or timber development.
That’s part of a larger $400 million investment the 2019 legislature passed that’s earmarked for communities seeing that same growth or decline.
The application period for the Delivering Local Assistance program closes September 30.
The following communities have received TSEP Infrastructure Planning grants:
- Big Horn County: $12,696 to complete a Capital Improvements Plan update
- Town of Big Sandy: $15,000 to complete a storm water system Preliminary Engineering Report
- Butte-Silver Bow County: $15,000 to complete a water system Preliminary Engineering Report
- City of Deer Lodge: $15,000 to complete a wastewater system Preliminary Engineering Report
- Flathead County: $15,000 to complete a wastewater system Preliminary Engineering Report for Evergreen Water and Sewer District No. 1
- Town of Flaxville: $15,000 to complete a water system Preliminary Engineering Report
- Town of Fromberg: $10,000 to complete a water system Preliminary Engineering Report
- Glacier County: $12,581 to complete a Capital Improvements Plan update
- Gore Hill County Water District - Cascade County: $15,000 to complete a water system Preliminary Engineering Report
- Ranchview County Water District - Lewis and Clark County: $15,000 to complete a water system Preliminary Engineering Report
- Roberts Carbon County Water and Sewer District: $15,000 to complete a water system Preliminary Engineering Report
- City of Scobey: $15,000 to complete a storm water system Preliminary Engineering Report
- Seeley Lake Sewer District: $15,000 to complete a wastewater system Preliminary Engineering Report
- Sweet Grass County: $15,000 to complete a Capital Improvements Plan update
- City of Three Forks: $15,000 to complete a water system Preliminary Engineering Report
- Valley County: $15,000 to complete a Capital Improvements Plan update
- Town of Wibaux: $15,000 to complete a water system Preliminary Engineering Report
- Wibaux County: $15,000 to complete a bridge system Preliminary Engineering Report
- City of Wolf Point: $15,000 to complete a water system Preliminary Engineering Report
This story has been updated to clarify that areas impacted by the growth or decline of the timber industry are also eligible for the Delivering Local Assistance program.
