Bozeman, Mont. June 22, 2023 - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Montana State Director Kathleen Williams announced today the availability of grants to help rural and Tribal communities repair water infrastructure damaged by presidentially declared disasters due to flooding in calendar year 2022.
Eligible water infrastructure projects must be located in Presidentially declared disaster areas. Projects in the following Montana counties are eligible to apply for funding: Carbon; Flathead; Park; Stillwater; Sweet Grass; Treasure; and Yellowstone.
“Montanans help their neighbors through difficult times. Last year’s flooding was one of those times, and the Montana spirit was on display as neighbors helped neighbors dig out, dry out, and mop up,” said Williams. “USDA Rural Development in Montana is proud to be part of this special Montana community and to help with needed resources to rebuild critical water and infrastructure systems to serve our families and communities while protecting our treasured waterways.”
USDA is making more than $247 million in grants available through supplemental disaster funding under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. Funds will remain available until expended. This additional funding will help eligible rural communities repair and rebuild essential community facilities. It will also help communities access technical assistance and training to identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste problems.
Eligible applicants include public bodies and non-profit organizations located in the rural and Tribal areas designated as disaster counties.
Funds may be used to repair damaged water infrastructure and/or develop resiliency in water infrastructure systems to reduce long-term risks from future disasters.
Applications must be submitted through the RD APPLY application system at rdapply.usda.gov. Funds will be available until exhausted.
For more information on how to apply, contact Steve Troendle, USDA Rural Development in Montana Community Programs Director at steve.troendle@usda.gov.
Additional resources to support rural communities seeking disaster assistance are available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/page/rural-development-disaster-assistance.
Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for Americans in rural and Tribal areas. Our programs support infrastructure improvements, business development, housing, community facilities, water and wastewater, high-speed internet access and energy improvements. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
USDA Rural Development has six offices in Montana – Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, and Missoula. To learn more about investment resources for rural areas in Montana, call (406) 585-2587 or visit www.rd.usda.gov/mt.