Community Planning Platform

The engagement phase of the project focused on reaching out to planning and economic development stakeholders throughout Montana for valuable insight into information most important to the planning process. Outreach included a community questionnaire, key stakeholder interviews, and a series of community meetings. Houseal Lavigne, a planning consulting firm, was contracted to assist in this critical community engagement phase.

Community Questionnaire

An online survey was developed and distributed to different types of stakeholders to gain an understanding of the different needs for the CPP platform.

Community Meetings

The team attended regional and state sponsored events and met with working groups throughout the state to better understand the needs of local, regional and statewide users.

Key Stakeholder Interviews

Phone interviews were conducted with key stakeholders at state, regional and local levels to provide in-depth feedback for the CPP platform.

Key Takeaways

The survey, interviews and in-person discussion at community meetings were summarized into a list of key takeaways.

• Access to accurate and reliable data with clear information about the source.
• Tools, resources and support for planning and technical expertise ranging from GIS technical assistance to training on grant writing and planning legislation.
• Templates and best practices for key planning documents.
• Tiered support systems to meet the distinct needs of small, medium and large community types from towns, small cities, big cities, counties and regions.
• Collaboration and mentorship bringing together local, regional and state governments and planning organizations.
• Clear communication about the goals and objectives of the CPP to ensure broad audience understanding.
• Funding and maintenance must be prioritized to ensure the platform is supported and updated.

The CPP website was completed in the spring of 2025.  The Community Profiles section includes demographic and economic information for specific communities in the state.  The Planning Documents section provides detailed information, including training and best practices, for the most common and useful document developed by planners.  The Planning Resources section contains custom and linked data sources and tools for a variety of planning needs.  The development phase is ongoing with existing data being updated and new resources being added on a regular basis.