Commerce Allocates Grant Funding to Coal-Impacted Communities
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HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that $250,000 in grant funding has been awarded to two 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.
“Commerce is proud to support the people who live in Montana’s coal country,” said Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio. “In the last five years, more than $15 million of Coal Board grant funding has been awarded to eight counties, nine school districts, seven cities or towns, one tribe, one water and sewer district and one hospital district.”
The following communities and projects will receive Coal Board funding:
• The City of Colstrip will receive $100,000 for the purchase of chlorine analyzers for the water treatment plant.
• The City of Miles City will receive $150,000 for the purchase of a mini pumper for the Miles City Fire Department.
In 2025, the City of Hardin received over $113,000 in Coal Board funding to purchase communications equipment for the Hardin Police Department.
“The City of Hardin was able to purchase 15 Motorola radios with the assistance of Coal Board funding. The radios provide exceptional functionality for the Hardin Police Department and its officers, helping to increase the safety and effectiveness of the department,” said Andrew Lehr, City of Hardin finance officer and city clerk.
The Montana Coal Board awards Coal Board Impact Grants to counties, communities, school districts, tribal governments or other governmental units to assist them in adequately providing governmental services or facilities that are needed as a direct consequence of an increase or decrease in coal development or in the consumption of coal by a coal-using energy complex. The Coal Impact Area Report can be found here, along with a list and a map.
The Board was created by the Legislature in 1975 and is administratively attached to Commerce. For more information, visit commerce.mt.gov.
“Commerce is proud to support the people who live in Montana’s coal country,” said Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio. “In the last five years, more than $15 million of Coal Board grant funding has been awarded to eight counties, nine school districts, seven cities or towns, one tribe, one water and sewer district and one hospital district.”
The following communities and projects will receive Coal Board funding:
• The City of Colstrip will receive $100,000 for the purchase of chlorine analyzers for the water treatment plant.
• The City of Miles City will receive $150,000 for the purchase of a mini pumper for the Miles City Fire Department.
In 2025, the City of Hardin received over $113,000 in Coal Board funding to purchase communications equipment for the Hardin Police Department.
“The City of Hardin was able to purchase 15 Motorola radios with the assistance of Coal Board funding. The radios provide exceptional functionality for the Hardin Police Department and its officers, helping to increase the safety and effectiveness of the department,” said Andrew Lehr, City of Hardin finance officer and city clerk.
The Montana Coal Board awards Coal Board Impact Grants to counties, communities, school districts, tribal governments or other governmental units to assist them in adequately providing governmental services or facilities that are needed as a direct consequence of an increase or decrease in coal development or in the consumption of coal by a coal-using energy complex. The Coal Impact Area Report can be found here, along with a list and a map.
The Board was created by the Legislature in 1975 and is administratively attached to Commerce. For more information, visit commerce.mt.gov.
Tags: Infrastructure + Planning and Press Release