Montana Department of Commerce Allocates Over $440,000 in Grant Funding to Three Coal-Impacted Communities
HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that more than $440,000 in grant funding has been awarded to three 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-impacted areas. In the last five years, more than $13 million of Coal Board grant funding has been awarded to 10 counties, eight school districts, seven cities or towns, one hospital and one tribe,” said Paul Green, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “Today’s announced awards will enhance public safety for Rosebud County residents, add new heavy equipment for the Town of Winnett and help the Hysham school plan for repairs.”
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:
“The new radiology equipment has already made a significant impact on our ability to diagnose and treat patients, and we are confident that it will continue to do so for many years to come. Montana Coal Board grant funding has helped us to provide better care to our community, and we are honored to have their support,” said Kristi Gatrell, Big Horn Hospital CEO.
The Montana Coal Board awards Coal Board Impact Grants to counties, communities, school districts, tribal governments or other governmental units to help them adequately provide 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 the Montana Department of Commerce. For more information, visit comdev.mt.gov.
“Commerce is proud to support the people who live in Montana’s coal-impacted areas. In the last five years, more than $13 million of Coal Board grant funding has been awarded to 10 counties, eight school districts, seven cities or towns, one hospital and one tribe,” said Paul Green, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “Today’s announced awards will enhance public safety for Rosebud County residents, add new heavy equipment for the Town of Winnett and help the Hysham school plan for repairs.”
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:
- Hysham Public Schools will receive $40,122 of Coal Board funding for the preparation of a preliminary architectural report for future school building repairs.
- Rosebud County will receive $138,000 of Coal Board funding for the Colstrip Medical Center re-roofing project and $169,600 for the Rosebud County Sheriff’s Department dispatch upgrade project.
- The Town of Winnett will receive $100,000 of Coal Board funding for the purchase of a new loader.
“The new radiology equipment has already made a significant impact on our ability to diagnose and treat patients, and we are confident that it will continue to do so for many years to come. Montana Coal Board grant funding has helped us to provide better care to our community, and we are honored to have their support,” said Kristi Gatrell, Big Horn Hospital CEO.
The Montana Coal Board awards Coal Board Impact Grants to counties, communities, school districts, tribal governments or other governmental units to help them adequately provide 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 the Montana Department of Commerce. For more information, visit comdev.mt.gov.
Tags: Infrastructure + Planning, Montana Coal Board and Press Release
