Emergency Grants | Montana Department of Commerce

Community MT is proposing updates to the Montana Coal Endowment Program’s Emergency Grants application, Grant Administration Manual, and 2029 Biennium Application Guidelines. The documents are available for review and public comment from Nov. 7 through Dec. 5, 2025. Community MT has scheduled a public hearing for Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. via Zoom. Comments on the draft MCEP Emergency Grant Application and Guidelines, MCEP 2026 Construction Application Guidelines for the 2029 Biennium, and MCEP Project Administration Manual can be submitted electronically to docadministrativerules@mt.gov, or via mail to Montana Department of Commerce, Community MT Division, 301 S Park Avenue, PO Box 200501, Helena, MT 59620.

As a result of the 2021 Legislative session, the Treasure Statement Endowment Program (TSEP) name has been changed to the Montana Coal Endowment Program (MCEP). Documents will contain the previous name until a public hearing has been held to update the Administrative Rules of Montana.

Grant funds for MCEP emergency grants are awarded through the Legislature each biennium. Applications for emergency grants will be accepted on a continuous basis, until there are no more MCEP emergency grant funds available in any given biennium. The emergency grants can be awarded by Commerce at any time between, and during, Legislative sessions to remedy conditions that if allowed to continue until legislative approval could be obtained would endanger the public health or safety and expose the applicant to substantial financial risk.

Applying for Grants:

Emergency grants are available beginning July 1 of odd years, following Legislative authorization, and remain available until funding is fully awarded to projects.
Usually limited to $30,000 per project.
The use of MCEP funds, and the expenses that will be eligible for reimbursement, will be determined on a case by case basis.

2025 Biennium MCEP Emergency Grant and Application Guidelines (PDF) (Word)