Commerce Allocates Over $730,000 in Grant Funding to Five Montana Communities Impacted by Coal
HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that more than $730,000 in grant funding has been awarded to four Montana communities to support vital public safety and development projects in coal-impacted areas. The funding was allocated to these communities by the Montana Coal Board. The grant awards will allow Big Horn County and Rosebud County law enforcement expand public safety, help Colstrip to improve roads and the school, prepare future improvements to Pryor’s school and will enable Richand County to economically expand and grow. “In the last five years, more than $17 million of Coal Board grant funding has been awarded to nine counties, seven school districts, six cities or towns, two hospitals and one tribe. Commerce is proud to strengthen these communities and support the people who live in Montana’s coal-impacted areas,” said Galen Steffens, Commerce’s Community MT Division Administrator.
The Montana Coal Board met in Billings recently to review project applications submitted by several Montana communities requesting financial support for each of the applications submitted. Board members selected the following communities and projects for funding:
- Big Horn County will receive $120,000 of Montana Coal Board grant funding for purchase of four patrol vehicles for the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office.
- The City of Colstrip will receive $39,000 of Montana Coal Board grant funding to conduct a pavement surface evaluation and rating study.
- Colstrip Public Schools will receive $376,151 of Montana Coal Board grant funding for the construction, repair and maintenance of gymnasium vestibules.
- Pryor Public Schools will receive $83,062 of Montana Coal Board grant funding for the preparation of a preliminary architectural report for its local school building.
- Richland County will receive $45,000 of Montana Coal Board grant funding for the development of the Richland County economic diversification strategy and revision of its comprehensive economic development strategy.
- Rosebud County will receive $70,400 of Montana Coal Board grant funding for the purchase of a quick response vehicle.
The Board was created by the Legislature in 1975 and is administratively attached to the Montana Department of Commerce. For more information, visit comdev.mt.gov.
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