Commerce Awards Over $23.7 Million in Montana Coal Endowment Program Grant Funding to 39 Communities
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HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that 39 Montana cities, towns, counties and water and sewer districts will share more than $23.7 million of grant funding to help communities construct or upgrade water and wastewater systems and bridges. The funding is through Commerce’s Montana Coal Endowment Program.
“MCEP project grant funding is focused on addressing health and safety problems as well as the financial needs of cities, towns, counties and districts that apply to replace aging collection or distribution systems, to newly construct or repair treatment facilities and to repair or replace bridges,” said Montana Department of Commerce Acting Director Mandy Rambo.
The MCEP program helps address the affordability of local infrastructure projects by providing grants to lower the cost of constructing public facilities.
The following communities and districts will receive MCEP project grants:
Two years ago, Yellowstone County received $750,000 of MCEP funding to replace the Danford/56th Bridge.
“In the 2023 legislative session, Yellowstone County received $750,000 in MCEP grant funding to replace a load-restricted bridge and improve intersection safety,” said Yellowstone County Commissioner John Ostlund. “The Danford/56th Bridge is a crucial link in our transportation infrastructure and provides access to hundreds of existing residents, several schools, as well as agricultural and commercial properties. The MCEP funding was instrumental in helping us expedite repairs on this critical project without significantly impacting progress on the hundreds of other structures Yellowstone County is responsible for.”
Eligible applicants for MCEP grants include incorporated cities or towns, counties, consolidated governments, tribal governments and county or multi-county water, sewer or solid waste districts. The funding for the program comes from revenues earned on interest from coal severance taxes.
For more information about MCEP project grants, visit comdev.mt.gov.
“MCEP project grant funding is focused on addressing health and safety problems as well as the financial needs of cities, towns, counties and districts that apply to replace aging collection or distribution systems, to newly construct or repair treatment facilities and to repair or replace bridges,” said Montana Department of Commerce Acting Director Mandy Rambo.
The MCEP program helps address the affordability of local infrastructure projects by providing grants to lower the cost of constructing public facilities.
The following communities and districts will receive MCEP project grants:
- Alder County Water and Sewer District will receive $750,000 for wastewater collection system and UV upgrades, lagoon rehabilitation and sludge removal.
- Arlee/Lake County Water and Sewer District will receive $327,500 for upgrades to its wastewater collection system, treatment upgrades in its lagoon, manhole repairs and extension of sewer mains.
- Basin County Water and Sewer District will receive $500,000 for the replacement of water mains and new hydrants.
- The City of Big Timber will receive $500,000 for the construction of a new water storage tank, new transmission mains, new valve vault, control valves and supervisory control and data acquisition improvements.
- Bigfork County Water and Sewer District will receive $500,000 for water system improvements, including the installation of a new generator and the extension of a new water supply main across Bigfork Bay.
- The Town of Circle will receive $750,000 to replace water mains.
- The Town of Darby will receive $750,000 for the rehabilitation of wastewater gravity collection mains.
- The City of Deer Lodge will receive $439,000 for wastewater system improvements, including replacement of lines and manholes.
- The Town of Dutton will receive $750,000 for water distribution system improvements and replacement of a chlorination vault.
- The Town of Ennis will receive $500,000 for the construction of a new well house, the development of two new redundant water supply wells and the replacement of the existing water storage tank.
- The Town of Fairfield will receive $500,000 for the construction of two new water supply wells and distribution system improvements.
- Harrison Water and Sewer District will receive $750,000 for the construction of upgrades to its wastewater treatment lagoons and its irrigation system.
- Hinsdale County Water and Sewer District will receive $500,000 to construct water distribution system improvements.
- The Town of Hysham will receive $750,000 to upgrade its water treatment plant and infiltration galleries.
- The Town of Joliet will receive $625,000 to reconfigure and upgrade its wastewater lagoons.
- Judith Basin County will receive $520,891 for lift station rehabilitation, the replacement of piping, valve components and pumps and lagoon upgrades of the Geyser Water and Sewer District.
- Lewis and Clark County will receive $750,000 to replace the Augusta Clemons Road Bridge.
- The City of Libby will receive $500,000 to replace its lift station and install a wet well and backup generator.
- Madison County will receive $750,000 to replace the Silver Springs Bridge.
- The City of Malta will receive $500,000 for the installation of a new water tank.
- Martinsdale Water and Sewer District will receive $750,000 to replace mains and water service meters.
- Missoula County will receive $500,000 for replacement of the Styler Creek West Bridge.
- Park County will receive $612,750 to replace the Horse Creek Road Bridge.
- The Town of Pinesdale will receive $750,000 for the construction of improvements to its water distribution and treatment systems.
- Powder River County will receive $363,600 to replace the Randall/Moorhead Road Bridge.
- The City of Red Lodge will receive $500,000 for improvements to its wastewater system collection lines, piping and manholes.
- The Town of Richey will receive $500,000 to replace water mains on the south side of town, including the replacement of gate valves and hydrants.
- The City of Ronan will receive $750,000 for improvements to its wastewater treatment system and lagoon.
- The City of Roundup will receive $750,000 for wastewater system improvements including removal of lagoon sludge, new submerged attached growth reactor beds, a new generator and inspections to identify other necessary maintenance.
- The City of Shelby will receive $375,000 to install and rehabilitate sewer mains.
- South Wind Crossroads Community Water and Sewer District will receive $750,000 for water and wastewater system improvements, including expansion of the wastewater drain field, installation of a secondary water well and fencing.
- The Town of St. Ignatius will receive $750,000 for the replacement of all clay tile mains in its wastewater system and approximately 12,640 linear feet of the collection system.
- Sun Prairie Village County Water and Sewer District will receive $500,000 for water treatment facility improvements, pump stations and fences.
- The Town of Twin Bridges will receive $750,000 for water system improvements, including a new 560,000-gallon glass-lined steel storage tank.
- The Town of Whitehall will receive $750,000 to replace water mains.
- The City of White Sulphur Springs will receive $625,000 for water system improvements, including replacing media in the sand filter facility, a new aluminum catwalk at the pond and draining and dredging the intake pond at Willow Creek Reservoir.
- Wibaux County will receive $440,500 to replace Pine Unit Road Bridge.
- Willow Creek Sewer District will receive $750,000 for its wastewater system improvements project.
- The City of Wolf Point will receive $625,000 for its wastewater system improvements project to reduce inflow and infiltration.
Two years ago, Yellowstone County received $750,000 of MCEP funding to replace the Danford/56th Bridge.
“In the 2023 legislative session, Yellowstone County received $750,000 in MCEP grant funding to replace a load-restricted bridge and improve intersection safety,” said Yellowstone County Commissioner John Ostlund. “The Danford/56th Bridge is a crucial link in our transportation infrastructure and provides access to hundreds of existing residents, several schools, as well as agricultural and commercial properties. The MCEP funding was instrumental in helping us expedite repairs on this critical project without significantly impacting progress on the hundreds of other structures Yellowstone County is responsible for.”
Eligible applicants for MCEP grants include incorporated cities or towns, counties, consolidated governments, tribal governments and county or multi-county water, sewer or solid waste districts. The funding for the program comes from revenues earned on interest from coal severance taxes.
For more information about MCEP project grants, visit comdev.mt.gov.
Tags: Infrastructure + Planning and Press Release
