News

$200,000 Awarded for Local Government Planning Grants

Montana Department of Commerce Director Mark Simonich announced that the Department has selected fourteen Montana communities to receive $200,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for local planning projects.

The CDBG funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and can be used for a variety of planning activities, such as preparation of a community growth policy or needs assessment, a neighborhood redevelopment plan, a housing study, capital improvement plan, or architectural or engineering studies needed for a public facilities or housing project. A portion of the State’s annual CDBG allocation under the federal Housing and Community Development Act is set aside to provide planning grants to local governments. CDBG planning grants are available in amounts up to $20,000. Local governments must provide local matching funds on a 50-50 basis.

The planning grants play an important role for the Department’s economic development, public facilities and housing programs. In many cases, the proposed study or plan is the first step leading to subsequent submittal of a full funding application to the Department of Commerce’s CDBG Program, Treasure State Endowment Program, or the Home Investment Partnerships program.

According to Director Simonich, "Thirty-three applications were submitted for this year’s competition. This is the largest number we have ever received. The total of CDBG planning grant funds requested was $534,500 while only $200,000 was available. Unfortunately, there were many worthwhile proposals that we were not able to assist. We will encourage those communities to reapply for next year’s grant competition."

Six communities will receive grants to prepare preliminary engineering reports for sewer or water projects including Dillon, $15,000 for extension of sewer services to a recently annexed area on the city’s eastside; Lake County, $15,000 for a community wastewater system for Dayton; Philipsburg, $10,100 to update the town’s wastewater system; Pinesdale, $7, 700 for the town’s water system; Pondera County, $19,500 for the Brady wastewater collection and treatment system; and Thompson Falls, $15,000 to update the city’s water system master plan.

Five communities will receive grants to prepare preliminary architectural reports for public facility projects including Broadwater County, $11,500 for an abused spouse and children’s shelter; Gallatin County, $17,850 for the Big Sky Youth Center, a shelter for abused children; Helena, $9,000 for "The Friendship Center," a center for abused spouses and children; Libby, $20,000 for the Center for Asbestos Related Disease, Inc.; and Scobey, $20,000 for the Daniels Memorial Health Care Center.

Three communities will receive grants to prepare community growth policies or comprehensive plans including Glendive, $20,000; Jordan, $4,500; and Ronan, $14,850.

Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.