Department Of Commerce

Commerce Awards Nearly $1 Million of Grant Funding to Help Plan for Affordable Housing Infrastructure

Ennis MT
  • May 30 2024
HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Commerce (Commerce) announced today that 37 Montana communities will share nearly $1 million in grant funding to plan infrastructure projects that will create more affordable workforce housing in the state. The funding is provided by Commerce’s Montana Community Reinvestment (MCR) grant program.

“As Montana’s population continues to grow and our economy steadily expands, the need for more workforce housing across the state is on the rise. We need to make certain our communities will be ready to provide more affordable homes for our citizens,” said Paul Green, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “This grant funding will help community leaders assess housing needs, as well as plan and prepare infrastructure projects that will enable more affordable homes to be built across the state.”

The MCR program provides planning grants to local and tribal governments for planning and zoning reforms to develop community-based solutions to increase the number of affordable homes, with an emphasis on increasing workforce housing infrastructure in Montana.

Communities receiving MCR grant funding:

  • The City of Belgrade will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding for a city master plan.
  • Big Horn County will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding for a comprehensive housing needs assessment.
  • The City of Billings will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding for a growth policy update.
  • The Town of Broadus will receive $24,750 of MCR grant funding for a growth policy update.
  • Carbon County will receive $25,500 of MCR grant funding for a growth policy update.
  • Cascade County will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding for a growth policy update.
  • The Town of Circle will receive $16,000 of MCR grant funding for subdivision regulation updates.
  • The City of Colstrip will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding for a growth policy update.
  • The City of Columbia Falls will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding for a housing study.
  • Custer County will receive $24,000 of MCR grant funding for a housing needs assessment.
  • The Town of Ennis will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding for a growth policy update.
  • Flathead County will receive $4,950 of MCR grant funding for a zoning regulations update.
  • Gallatin County will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding for a zoning regulations update.
  • The City of Great Falls will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding for a growth policy update.
  • The City of Hamilton will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding for a subdivision regulations update.
  • The City of Hardin will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding for an infill and redevelopment study.
  • The City of Helena will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding for a growth policy update.
  • The Town of Hysham will receive $21,648 of MCR grant funding for a growth policy update.
  • The City of Kalispell will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding to conduct community outreach in support of its land use planning process.
  • Lake County will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding for a subdivision regulations update.
  • The City of Laurel will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding for a land use plan.
  • The City of Lewistown will receive $20,150 of MCR grant funding for public engagement in support of its growth policy update.
  • Lincoln County will receive $23,694 of MCR grant funding for a subdivision regulations update.
  • Madison County will receive $24,000 of MCR grant funding for a subdivision regulations update.
  • The Town of Manhattan will receive $28,000 of MCR grant funding to update its zoning and subdivision regulations.
  • Meagher County will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding for a housing master plan.
  • The City of Missoula will receive $24,000 of MCR grant funding for a housing feasibility study.
  • Missoula County will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding for a growth policy update.
  • Roosevelt County will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding to conduct a regional housing needs assessment.
  • Rosebud County will receive $27,456 of MCR grant funding for a growth policy update.
  • The City of Roundup will receive $24,000 of MCR grant funding for a housing needs assessment.
  • The Town of Sheridan will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding for a zoning regulations update.
  • The City of Three Forks will receive $27,500 of MCR grant funding for zoning and subdivision regulations updates.
  • The City of Townsend will receive $24,000 of MCR grant funding for a preliminary architectural report.
  • The Town of West Yellowstone will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding for a targeted area master plan for affordable housing.
  • The City of White Sulphur Springs will receive $24,000 of MCR grant funding for a subdivision regulations/annexation plan.
  • The City of Whitefish will receive $30,000 of MCR grant funding for an infrastructure capacity update to increase attainable housing.
In 2023, the Montana Legislature passed the Montana Community Reinvestment Plan Act, House Bill (HB) 819, to begin addressing housing needs in Montana. Section 22 of HB 819 appropriated $1 million to Commerce to provide grants and administer the MCR program.

For more information about the MCR program, visit comdev.mt.gov.

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