Commerce Allocates Grant Funding to Four Coal-Impacted Communities
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HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that $940,000 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.
“Commerce is proud to support the people who live in Montana’s coal country. In the last five years, more than $15 million of Coal Board grant funding has been awarded to seven counties, nine school districts, seven cities or towns, one tribe, one water and sewer district and one hospital district,” said Marta Bertoglio, Montana Department of Commerce Director.
The following communities and projects will receive Coal Board funding:
In 2025, the Town of Winnett received $50,000 in Coal Board funding to purchase a new dump truck. Savannah Moore Clerk/Treasurer with Town of Winnett said, “The dump truck has been a huge positive impact for the Town of Winnett. We can now efficiently plow snow in the town, which is a great relief to us and to the community. We’re currently looking for additional attachments that will allow us to make more improvements to the streets with minimal to no cost.”
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. In the last five years, more than $15 million of Coal Board grant funding has been awarded to seven counties, nine school districts, seven cities or towns, one tribe, one water and sewer district and one hospital district,” said Marta Bertoglio, Montana Department of Commerce Director.
The following communities and projects will receive Coal Board funding:
- Custer County will receive $140,000 to purchase self-contained breathing apparatus equipment and a cascade air system for the Custer County Fire Department.
- The City of Hardin will receive $200,000 to purchase a dump truck.
- Melstone School District will receive $400,000 to replace a boiler.
- Rosebud County will receive $200,000 to purchase a roll off truck for the landfill.
In 2025, the Town of Winnett received $50,000 in Coal Board funding to purchase a new dump truck. Savannah Moore Clerk/Treasurer with Town of Winnett said, “The dump truck has been a huge positive impact for the Town of Winnett. We can now efficiently plow snow in the town, which is a great relief to us and to the community. We’re currently looking for additional attachments that will allow us to make more improvements to the streets with minimal to no cost.”
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