Funding

The Montana Coal Endowment Program (MCEP) is a state-funded program created in 1992. It was established to help solve serious health and safety problems and assist communities with the financing of public facilities projects. The program helps local governments with infrastructure planning as well as constructing or upgrading drinking water systems, wastewater treatment facilities, sanitary or storm sewer systems, solid waste disposal and separation systems, and bridges.

Due to the historic funding for water and wastewater infrastructure made available by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), MCEP Planning Grants will be increased for the 2025 Biennium. In addition, the MCEP Planning Grant Program is moving from a “first come, first served” application review and award process to a more competitive process to ensure that the highest need, highest impact infrastructure planning activities are prioritized for funding. Lastly, due to the one-time increase in planning funding made available by ARPA, applicants may apply for up to four applications—one in each planning activity category.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

Preliminary Engineering Reports (PER) for:

• Drinking water systems
• Wastewater treatment facilities
• Sanitary or storm sewer systems
• Solid waste disposal & separation systems
• Bridges
• Comprehensive Capital Improvements Plan (CIP)

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

• Incorporated Cities or Towns
• Counties
• Consolidated governments
• Tribal governments
• County or multi-county water, sewer, or solid waste districts
• An authority as defined in 75-6-304, MCA.

*The DNRC Renewable Resource Grant and Loan Programs (RRGL) is announcing a Planning Grant Opportunity for MCEP/CDBG Match Only. All applicants to the MCEP or CDBG program are eligible for funding under this grant opportunity. Funding will be provided in the order received up to $500,000 in total awards. *

Monitoring Montana Waters (MMW) is a program at FLBS that provides scientific expertise and guidance to citizen-led watershed monitoring groups. MMW offers two different types of financial support to watershed groups that have had SAPs and SOPs approved by MMW or Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). These funds are available to provide support for sample analyses costs (including shipping of samples), as well as the purchase of sampling gear.

Applications are due annually on March 1st!

The MWCC Watershed Fund has funding to help Montana’s local watershed conservation organizations build their capacity to reduce and prevent nonpoint source (NPS) pollution through professional development opportunities directly related to this work. Funded opportunities must involve training to reduce and prevent NPS pollution in accordance with the Montana Nonpoint Source Management Plan and/or to support implementation of DEQ-accepted Watershed Restoration Plans (WRPs). This funding is provided in partnership with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Local watershed conservation organization personnel, including staff, board members, and Big Sky Watershed Corps (BSWC) members, may use these small grants to attend trainings, conferences, workshops, and other professional development opportunities. Awards of up to $700 may support registration fees, lodging, and travel expenses but may not cover meals or per diem. $3,000 in total funding is available. Funding requests must be submitted at least 14 days before the training or event start date.

Funding is available on a rolling basis depending on availability and is disbursed on a reimbursement basis. Award amounts are typically less than $500, but MWCC does consider financial need and the reality that some of our watershed conservation partners in more remote parts of Montana have higher travel costs.

The GEICO Philanthropic Foundation awards contributions to Organizations operated exclusively for charitable, scientific, or educational purposes and 501(c)(3) Charitable nonprofit organizations that submit applications between January 1 and November 30.

Focus Areas:

• Education- The Foundation regularly teams up with nonprofits focused on educational resources and opportunities supporting diverse communities across the country, as well as groups that focus on STEM, early childhood learning, and safety.
• Community Engagement- Part of the Foundation’s vision is improving our communities and supporting local organizations through volunteer and outreach efforts. Topics of focus may include:
  • Financial literacy
  • Food insecurity
  • Environmental conservation
  • Animal welfare and advocacy
  • Health and wellness initiatives
• Equity- The Foundation is committed to building meaningful relationships with community organizations that support equity, justice, diversity, and inclusion.

EPA’s new Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants program (Community Change Grants) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for approximately $2 billion dollars in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds in environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges. These place-based investments will be focused on community-driven initiatives to be responsive to community and stakeholder input. They are designed to deliver on the transformative potential of the IRA for communities most adversely and disproportionately impacted by climate change, legacy pollution, and historical disinvestments.

The entities eligible to apply under this NOFO are:

• A partnership between two community-based non-profit organizations (CBOs). 
• A partnership between a CBO and one of the following:
  • a Federally-Recognized Tribe
  • a local government
  • an institution of higher education.

Other organizations and entities may be able to participate and be involved in the Community Change Grants projects as collaborating subrecipients and/or procurement contractors selected in compliance with competition requirements. 

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s (Department) WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Program provides a framework for Federal leadership and assistance to stretch and secure water supplies for future generations in support of the Department’s priorities. Through WaterSMART, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to support stakeholder efforts to stretch scarce water supplies and avoid conflicts over water. Through the Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program (Title XVI), authorized by P.L. 102-575 in 1992, Reclamation provides financial and technical assistance to local water agencies for the planning, design, and construction of water reclamation and reuse projects. Water recycling is a tool in stretching the limited water supplies in the Western United States. Title XVI projects develop and supplement urban and irrigation water supplies through water reuse, thereby improving efficiency, providing flexibility during water shortages, and diversifying the water supply. These projects provide growing communities with new sources of clean water which increases water management flexibility and makes our water supply more reliable. Through the Large-Scale Water Recycling Program, Reclamation will provide up to 25 percent (%) Federal cost share, with no per-project Federal funding maximum, to water recycling projects that have a total project cost greater than or equal to $500 million. Large-scale water recycling projects will play an important role in helping communities develop local, drought-resistant sources of water supply by turning currently unusable water sources into a new source of water supply that is less vulnerable to drought and climate change. The Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects funding opportunity provides support for priorities identified in Presidential Executive Order (E.O.) 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and is aligned with other priorities, such as those identified in E.O. 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. 

Funding Opportunity Number: R23AS00433

Eligible Applicants to receive financial assistance to fund activities under this NOFO include: States, Indian Tribes, municipalities, irrigation districts, water districts, wastewater districts; and any state, regional, or other organization with water or power delivery authority, state, regional, or local authorities, the members of which include one or more organizations with water or power delivery authority; and An agency established under State law for the joint exercise of powers, or a combination of entities described above. All applicants must be located in the Western United States; specifically: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. 

Award Ceiling: $180,000,000
Award Floor: $0

This Rolling NOFO has three Application Submission Periods:

1) First Application Submission Period due date is November 21, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST).

2) Second Application Submittal Period due date is March 29, 2024, 4:00 p.m. MDT. Applications received after November 21, 2023, 4:00 p.m. MST and before March 29, 2024, 4:00 p.m. MDT, will be considered for the Second Submittal Period.

3) Third and Final Application Submittal Period due date is September 30, 2024, 4:00 p.m. MDT. Applications received after March 29, 2024, 4:00 p.m. MDT and before September 30, 2024, 4:00 p.m. MDT will be considered for the third and Final Submittal Period. 

This funding opportunity provides funding for collaborative, grassroots watershed groups to complete group development activities, watershed restoration planning, and watershed management project design.  

Reclamation can provide up to $300,000 in Federal funds to an applicant over a three-year period, with no more than $100,000 to be available per year. No match is required. 

Ranching for Rivers is a cost-share program designed to assist landowners protecting riparian health through improved ranching practices. Through the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Ranching for Rivers offers 50% cost-share for fencing material, off-site water infrastructure, and developing grazing management plans. Funding is also available for Conservation Districts and Watershed Groups to provide technical assistance on ranching management projects to local landowners in their area.

• Riparian pasture projects must be located on water bodies listed by DEQ as impaired by sediment, nutrients, E-coli, or habitat alterations, or contributing such pollution to an impaired waterbody downstream. The list of impaired water bodies can be found on: Montana 2020 Impaired Waters
• Projects must be completed by October 31st, 2025

Match: 50% non federal match must be recorded and reported to MACD along with final project expenses and reporting. Match may include:

• Dollars provided by other non-federal grants used to complete the project
• Dollars provided directly by the landowner.
• Time & labor costs by associated with project installation Time & labor costs by associated with project installation (see DEQ’s Estimation the Value Of Volunteer Labor)
• Assistance & administrative time costs by a Conservation District, Watershed Group, or partner group not already being charged directly to the Ranching for Rivers program.

The Ranching for Rivers Program also includes partial funding for reimbursing CD & Watershed Groups for staff time associated with the program. Timesheets will be provided to the designated affiliate upon application acceptance for tracking project time and accomplishments. Timesheets and request for reimbursement can be reported following project completion.

• Aiding landowners in developing an application
• Aiding in Scope of Work/Contract/ Operations & Maintenance forms, and obtaining signatures
• Project site visitation for pre- and post-project evaluation & photos
• Calculating Load Reduction Estimations
• Final project reporting

First call for applications closes January 30th. After that applications will be accepted on a rolling basis January – September, 2023

With federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the National Forest Foundation’s Collaborative Capacity Program for Forests & Communities (CCP) invests in the resources, skills and tools, and support activities that make collaboration for forest stewardship successful through a financial awards program.

Eligible collaborative efforts must describe how investments in collaboration will support a long-term strategy for achieving stewardship outcomes into the future and these outcomes must seek to benefit National Forest System lands.

May 22, 2024: Informational Webinar for All Applicants
May 29, 2024: Informational Webinar for Tribal Applicants

Eligible Applicant Organizations: Nonprofit organizations; local governmental entities; Tribal governments and organizations; and colleges and universities. If your organization or collaborative group does not meet this eligibility criteria requirement, it must utilize an eligible fiscal sponsor.

Award Amount: $10,000-$150,000 per award.

A Tribal letter of support or resolution is required to apply to the Tribal Application Pathway; a US Forest Service letter of support is required to apply to the All Applicants Pathway.

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) promotes the coordination of NRCS conservation activities with partners that offer value‑added contributions to expand our ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. Through the RCPP, NRCS seeks to co-invest with partners to implement projects that provide solutions to conservation challenges thereby measurably improving the resource concerns they seek to address. RCPP promotes collaboration with partners, stakeholders, and various communities, which is paramount to achieving equity in NRCS programs and services.

Up to $1.5 billion is available for RCPP projects through this announcement and the FY 2024 Classic announcement, which includes $300 million of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) funding and $1.2 billion of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding. NRCS will prioritize using IRA funds for projects that will implement climate-smart agriculture and forestry conservation activities. Up to $100 million is being made available specifically for NRCS to enter into programmatic partnership agreements with Indian tribes.

RCPP Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFAs) are intended to support project structures and approaches that cannot be carried out as effectively through the RCPP Classic NFO. RCPP AFA applicants must describe the innovative nature of the conservation approach they are proposing to justify potential funding through an RCPP AFA NFO rather than an RCPP Classic NFO. The 2018 Farm Bill provides the following examples of project types that might be implemented through RCPP AFA:

• projects that use innovative approaches to leverage the Federal investment in conservation;
• projects that deploy a pay-for-performance conservation approach; and
• projects that seek large-scale infrastructure investments that generate conservation benefits for agricultural producers and nonindustrial private forest owners.

2024 RCPP NFO Applicant Outreach Webinar

• April 23, 2024, 12pm to 2pm
• May 30, 2024, 12pm to 2pm

• Geographic Scope: National, must take place on US National Forests and Grasslands or adjacent public lands, and demonstrate benefit to National Forest System lands
• Funding Source: Federal funds via the US Forest Service
• Eligible Applicants: Nonprofit organizations, Tribal governments and organizations, and universities
• Match Requirements: 1:1 nonfederal cash match
• Program Areas: All MAP applications must focus on in-person community engagement, and have a stewardship component
• Project Timing: Eligible projects are no more than 18 months in duration, and start two months after the application deadline
• Letters of Support: All applications must include a letter of support from the District Ranger of each National Forest or Grassland unit included in a proposal
• Environmental Compliance: All permitting and environmental compliance work (including but not limited to NEPA) must be complete before submitting a MAP application
• Administrative: Applicant must have or be able to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) if selected for funding

An Informational webinar will be held on Monday, May 20, 2024.

The Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) program is a grant funding resource, helping to off-set a portion of skills-based training costs for incumbent (existing) workers employed by Montana’s private sector. Businesses must demonstrate that training will increase the worker’s skill-level, result in a promotion or wage gain, or expand their business market/increase business revenue with the intent of preserving existing jobs for Montana residents. Private sector includes for-profit and non-profit businesses operating in Montana year-round. The incumbent worker must be on the job for six months of consecutive employment.

Grant funding is allocated to the Montana Department of Labor & Industry (MDLI) on a State Fiscal Year and is available on a first-come first-served basis. Funding is allocated to MDLI at the discretion of the Montana Legislature and is not guaranteed. Refer to the Regulations Link: MCA and ARM for criteria, rulemaking, requirements, processes, evaluation/limitations, claims and appeals. Although funding is provided as reimbursement, award notifications must be in place prior to training start date.

Applications should be submitted at least 14 days prior to the training start date. The application will be live 7/1/2023 – 6/20/2024.

The United States Department of the Interior’s (DOI’s) WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Program provides a framework for Federal leadership and assistance to stretch and secure water supplies for future generations in support of DOI’s priorities. Through WaterSMART, Reclamation leverages Federal and non-Federal funding to work cooperatively with States, Tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply reliability through investments in existing infrastructure and attention to local water conflicts. This Environmental Water Resources Projects NOFO provides funding for water conservation and efficiency projects, water management and infrastructure improvements, and river and watershed restoration projects and nature-based solutions that provide significant ecological benefits, have been developed as part of a collaborative process, and help carry out an established strategy to increase the reliability of water resources.

Eligible Applicants: Category A: States; Indian tribes; irrigation districts; water districts; state, regional, or local authorities, whose members include one or more organizations with water or power delivery authority; and other organizations with water or power delivery authority. All Category A applicants must be located in one of the following States or Territories: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico.

Category B: Non-profit conservation organizations, including watershed groups as defined in the Cooperative Watershed Management Act, Section 6001, that are acting in partnership with, and with the agreement of, an entity described in Category A. All Category B applicants must be in the United States or one of the Territories identified above. Category C: Non-profit conservation organizations submitting an application for a project to implement a nature-based solution on Federal land may submit an application without a Category A partner, if they demonstrate that entities described in Category A from the applicable service area have been notified and do not object to the project. All Category C applicants must be in the United States or one of the Territories identified above.

Additional Information

The Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) program is a grant funding resource, helping to off-set a portion of skills-based training costs for incumbent (existing) workers employed by Montana’s private sector. Businesses must demonstrate that training will increase the worker’s skill-level, result in a promotion or wage gain, or expand their business market/increase business revenue with the intent of preserving existing jobs for Montana residents. Private sector includes for-profit and non-profit businesses operating in Montana year-round. The incumbent worker must be on the job for six months of consecutive employment.

Grant funding is allocated to the Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) on a State Fiscal Year and is available on a first-come first-served basis. Applications must be submitted at least 14 days prior to the training start date to be in compliance.

In order to qualify for FY24 Quarter 4 funding, the training must have a start date of no later than June 30, 2024. The training may end in the next fiscal year, but may not exceed a calendar year (365-days). Trainings, which start after June 30, are encouraged to wait until FY25 funding opens on July 1, 2024.

The Community Navigator Program is a program funded by the USDA Forest Service and launched in 2023 to support historically underserved communities in finding and accessing federal funding and partnership support. COCO’s Community Catalyst Fund is intended to build community-serving organizational capacity towards climate resilience through access to funding and partnerships with the USDA Forest Service. Awards range from $10,000-$150,000 and currently run on an 11-month timeline. The Community Catalyst Fund is a post-project reimbursement-based grant.

Eligible organizations include the following entities that serve historically underserved communities and whose work involves climate resilience:
● Regional and local collaborative efforts
● Fire Safe Councils and/or Wildfire Councils
● Nonprofit groups
● Fire Departments
● Conservation Districts
● Tribal Authorities
● City or county government
● Universities or Colleges

The community and/or project area must meet criteria for historically underserved communities. Applications that demonstrate meeting multiple criteria defined below will be prioritized. Communities defined as historically underserved as outlined by the Community Navigator Program include:
● Tribal governments and Indigenous communities
● Communities of color
● Communities at high risk of wildfire
● Communities at risk of extreme climate change impact
● Low-income rural communities
● Underserved communities of small acreage forest landowners (<2500)

The Western Native Trout Initiative (WNTI) is an initiative of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and a recognized National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) that seeks to cooperatively restore and recover 21 western native trout and char species and subspecies across their historic range by funding efforts that raise awareness for the importance of native trout and focus limited financial and human resources toward the highest-impact, locally-led, on-the-ground projects.

The focus of WNTI’s Small Grants Program is on projects with a strong element or primary focus on community outreach, education and/or volunteer engagement; or design/planning/monitoring work. Outreach is our top priority for this program and outreach projects will be ranked the highest, all other things being equal. WNTI’s Small Grants program funding is not intended to pay for a small portion of a large habitat restoration or construction project. Approximately $20,000 in funding is available for projects in the 12 western states that are WNTI’s focus. Individual projects can be funded at a maximum of $5,000.

Through federal funding opportunities of up to $5,000, NOAA Planet Stewards supports educators working in formal and informal educational settings to carry out hands-on action-based stewardship projects with elementary through college age students, as well as the general public. Stewardship projects must make a substantive, measurable impact on an environmental issue related to the educator’s community. Projects should focus on the conservation, restoration, and/or protection of human communities and/or natural resources from environmental issues in one of the four focus areas (Marine debris, Habitat conservation and restoration, Carbon footprint reduction, Carbon sequestration).

NOAA Planet Stewards project funds Will Not Be Allocated directly to educators. Project funds Will Only Be Allocated to a school, a school district, a not for profit organization, or institution affiliated with the educator applicants.

NOAA Planet Stewards funds are disbursed to support the implementation of stewardship projects and must be directly applied toward resources and activities leading toward the successful completion of the project. Funds cannot be used for:

• Salaries (except for substitute teachers in formal education settings)
• Transportation/lodging/fees for attendance at professional conferences or personal professional development
• Overhead costs

The Foundation’s next grant cycle will open on May 1st and close on June 1st, 2024. Grant decisions will be announced by July 30th. The Foundation will continue to focus on our two current priorities: 1. Rural BIPOC youth; and 2. Organizations focused on climate change, biodiversity, and wildlife and habitat preservation.

Promoting Biodiversity in a Changing Climate:

Conservation efforts that utilize the impacts of climate change when selecting areas for protection.

Engaging a community of citizens, scientists, and conservationists in educating the public about biodiversity and climate change.

Restoring important lands for biodiversity, focal species, and landscape connectivity. Including but not limited to:

• Assessments to identify species and communities at risk, including strategies to work toward ecosystem resilience.
• Identification of barriers to migration and mitigation measures to enhance landscape connectivity.
• Adaptive restoration strategies based on predicted species range expansion and contraction.
• Promoting the biodiversity of the marine and freshwater environments.

River Network and the United States Forest Service are excited to announce the sixth year of funding for nonprofit and tribal organizations working on or planning for stewardship activities on Forest Service administered Wild & Scenic Rivers (WSR) and surrounding lands. There is $200,000 available to be divided roughly equally between the two types of awards:

1. Stewardship Impact Awards – these awards are for WSR stewardship projects for groups with established relationships with the Forest Service, and can cover a range of stewardship activities. Funding will range from $5,000 to $20,000 to be used for up to an 18-month period between July 1st, 2024, and February, 28th, 2026. There is a suggested, but not required, matching contribution of at least 50% of the award. This funding is to support Wild & Scenic River stewardship and partnership building activities, which include, but are not limited to: 

• Stream monitoring/community watershed science (including development of new projects and initiatives that build capacity for longer term data collection) 
• River cleanups  
• River channel restoration and enhancement 
• Promoting native fish populations 
• Riparian habitat restoration 
• Invasive species management 
• Stormwater/sewage discharge management 
• Trail delineations 
• Erecting signage 
• “Leave no trace” trainings (including virtual) 
• Environmental education and outreach (including virtual), including recreational programs 
• Cultural preservation activities

2. Relationship Building and Planning Awards – these planning awards are intended to support relationship building between organizations led by and/or supporting communities who historically lack access to outdoor education, recreation, and stewardship opportunities and their local Forest Service offices. The awards can support the time for capacity building to develop these relationships and start planning for work together. River Network and Forest Service can facilitate introductions and connections with local USFS district offices for awardees to support relationship development. Groups in this category may be eligible to apply for full stewardship funding the following year. Funding is $5,000 per award.

 This new funding opportunity represents an efficient approach to streamline the WaterSMART application process by combining three funding opportunities into one.  This funding opportunity includes the existing Drought Contingency Planning funding opportunity, expands the existing water marketing funding opportunity to create Water Strategy Grants, and introduces a new funding category for Project Design Grants.   

Water Strategy Grants are projects to conduct planning to support water management solutions, such as domestic water supply projects for disadvantaged communities, water marketing, water conservation, drought resilience, and ecological resilience.  Project Design Grants are to develop the site-specific final design of on-the-ground water management construction and restoration projects, and Drought Contingency Planning projects are for the development or update a Drought Contingency Plans. 

Reclamation can provide up to $400,000 in federal funds.  Projects will require a 0, 25, or 50% non-federal cost-share, depending on project type.  Please see the funding opportunity for more information regarding cost-share.  

New deadline is May 23, 2024

EPA’s Columbia River Basin Restoration Program released a Request for Applications for entities interested in improving the understanding of toxics and their effects on water quality in the Columbia River Basin by increasing the number, type, and scientific rigor of toxics monitoring projects in three program priority areas: 1) characterization and spatiotemporal trend analysis; 2) pathway identification; and/or 3) novel methods and approaches.

Total Available Funds: $15M

Minimum Application Amount: $300,000

Maximum Application Amount: $3M

Project Length: up to 5 years

Number of Awards Anticipated: 5 – 10

The grantee will be responsible for a 25% non-federal cost share/match. Tribal applicants can cost share/match with either non-federal and/or federal funds. Tribal applicants who are selected under this competition can ask EPA to fully waive this match requirement.

Eligible applicants include state governments, Tribal governments, regional water pollution control agencies and entities, local government entities, nongovernmental entities, soil and water conservation districts, public or nonprofit institutions of higher education, as well as hospitals operated by state, Tribal, or local governments or that meet the definition of nonprofit at 2 C.F.R. § 200.1.

The EPA will host an informational webinar for prospective applicants on March 28 from 10:00-11:30 AM Pacific. EPA staff will provide an overview of the RFA and answer frequently asked questions. The webinar will be recorded and made available upon request.

The Renewable Resource Grant and Loan Program (RRGL) funds the conservation, management, development, and preservation of Montana’s renewable resources. The RRGL Project Grant Program has funded numerous public facility projects including drinking water, wastewater and solid waste development and improvement projects have received funding through this program. Other renewable resource projects that have been funded include irrigation rehabilitation, dam repair, soil and water conservation and forest enhancement.

Eligible applicants include any division of state government, tribal government, or other county, city, or local political subdivision MCA 85-1-605. These governmental entities have included:

• cities,
• towns,
• counties,
• water and/or sewer districts,
• conservation districts,
• irrigation districts,
• school districts and universities,
• regional water authority,
• state agencies, and
• tribal governments

Private or non-profit entities are NOT ELIGIBLE for funding but may partner with a local government to submit an application if the project aligns with the sponsor’s organization.

The Montana Legislature appropriates funds directly to each project, based on amounts recommended by DNRC. DNRC limits grant funding recommendations to a maximum of $125,000 for a renewable resource project.

Grants up to $500,000 are available to any city, county, Tribe, state agency, University, conservation district, or other political subdivision in Montana

The RDG Program funds activities for the following project types:

Reclamation: Projects that repair, reclaim, and/or mitigate environmental damage to public resources from non-renewable resource extraction (mining, hazardous waste, and oil and gas)

Drought Mitigation: Projects that address drought as the main purpose AND have been identified in an existing drought/watershed management plan that ties the need to a specific watershed or region of the state.

High Hazard Dams:  High hazard dam (Montana Dam Safety Act, MCA 85-15-106) projects that will mitigate damage to natural resources as a result of failure.

Other Crucial State Need: Other projects that meet the criteria as a crucial state need project as described above. Projects must clearly be identified in an existing plan that identifies the need for the project to a specific watershed/region of the state or include a letter of support from a knowledgeable and authoritative source, preferably a state agency, describing the need for the project.

The Future Fisheries Improvement Program provides funding to projects that restore essential habitats for the growth and propagation of wild fish populations in lakes, rivers, and streams. Any entity with a good on-the-ground project that benefits wild fish can apply for funding through the Future Fisheries Improvement Program, including (but is not limited to) landowners, anglers, civic groups, conservation districts, or governmental agencies.

Talk to your regional fisheries biologist about your project idea prior to filling out an application. Contact the Future Fisheries Coordinator at (406) 444-2432 or email FWPFFIP@mt.gov if you are not sure whom to contact. The local biologist typically knows the limiting factors associated with fish populations in their management area.

Project applicants must also affirm that work would be conducted with the approval of the landowner on whose property the project is being completed, and would not interfere with water or property rights of adjacent landowners. Applications must be completed in entirety and signed by the applicant.

Education Mini-Grants for student and adult education that focus on local conservation issues. These grants are part of DNRC’s Conservation Districts Bureau state-funded grants provided by the legislature and awards can total up to $5000. CD grants are only available to Montana’s 58 conservation districts. Implementation for the funded project begins no sooner than 3 months following application submission.

The purpose of the RRGL Planning Grant Program is to provide funding to governmental entities for professional and technical services necessary to produce a high quality RRGL grant application which leads to a project that conserves, manages, develops, or protects Montana’s renewable resources.

Eligible applicants include any division of state government, tribal government, or other county, city, or local political subdivision MCA 85-1-605. These governmental entities have included:

• cities,
• towns,
• counties,
• water and/or sewer districts,
• conservation districts,
• irrigation districts,
• school districts and universities,
• regional water authority,
• state agencies, and
• tribal governments

Private or non-profit entities are NOT ELIGIBLE for funding but may partner with a local government to submit an application if the project aligns with the sponsor’s organization.

Example Projects:

• Water, Wastewater or Stormwater Infrastructure Preliminary Engineering Reports (PER)*
• Irrigation Infrastructure PER*
• PER* Updates
• Resource Services (Plans or Studies)
  • Capital Improvement Plans (CIP)**
  • Growth Plans**
  • Sample Collections
  • Surveys
  • Studies
  • Technical Assessments
• Watershed Restoration Plans*
• Watershed Restoration Project Plans*

Grant Limits

Infrastructure PER $40,000

Irrigation PER/ Technical Narrative $30,000

PER or Technical Narrative Update $20,000

Resource Services (Plans or Studies) $15,000

Watershed Restoration Plan $40,000

Watershed Restoration Project Plan $30,000

DNRC will be offering local governments technical assistance to apply for planning grants. These funds are designed to assist local governments that:

1. Do not have an established relationship with a professional engineering firm. OR
2. Have not been successful in applying for DNRC planning grants in the prior biennium.

DNRC will evaluate requests from local governments for technical assistance based on demonstrated need. If approved, DNRC will assign a contracted technical service provider to assist the local government with a planning grant application. Technical assistance is limited to $3,000 or 20 hours. Technical service providers will be contracted directly with DNRC and assigned at random as local government requests are approved.

The purpose of the Catalyst Fund is to accelerate the pace and practice of landscape conservation and stewardship across the United States. The Fund makes strategic investments in strengthening the collaborative capacity of place-based, community-grounded Landscape Partnerships.

Through generous support from the Doris Duke Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Catalyst Fund will distribute approximately $335,000 this year through competitive grants to Landscape Partnerships that stand at pivotal points in their development. Funded Partnerships will also be invited to participate in a two-year peer learning program.

A portion of the Catalyst Fund is dedicated to supporting Indigenous leadership in landscape conservation and stewardship. We especially invite Partnerships that are led by Tribes and/or Indigenous peoples, organizations, and communities to apply.

An informational webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, March 26 at 2 pm ET. This webinar will offer a brief overview of the RFP, but will be dedicated primarily to responding to your questions. We encourage you to submit questions ahead of time via the webinar registration form. 

The U.S. Economic Development Administration will award investments in regions experiencing severe economic distress or other economic harm resulting from Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, and of wildfires, flooding, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2021 and 2022 (42 U.S.C. §§ 3149(c)(2), 3233. EAA funds can be awarded to assist a wide variety of activities related to disaster recovery, including economic recovery strategic planning grants, and public works construction assistance.

Closing Date: There are no submission deadlines. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the publication of a new Disaster Supplemental NOFO, cancellation of this Disaster Supplemental NOFO or all available funds have been expended.

Award Amounts: $0- 30,000,000

Eligible Applicants:

• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• City or township governments
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• County governments
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

The Watershed Management Grant (WMG) Program goals are to provide financial support for the development and implementation of locally led watershed related planning and capacity building activities that conserve, develop, manage, or preserve state renewable resources.

Eligible applicants include any division of state government, tribal government, or other county, city, or local political subdivision. A government entity may sponsor a non-government entity for a Watershed Management Grant. The governmental entities have included:

• cities,
• towns,
• counties,
• water and/or sewer districts,
• conservation districts,
• irrigation districts,
• school districts and universities,
• regional water authority,
• state agencies, and
•  tribal governments

Watershed Management Grants to a local government entity do not require financial match. However, DNRC is required to evaluate project applications’ financial and technical feasibility which considers reasonable project costs and committed matching funds. A 50% cost share is required for non-government entities.

FUNDING LIMIT and PROJECT TYPES
Watershed Group Formation up to $40,000

Grant funding to establish a watershed group. A watershed group is a self-sustaining, non-regulatory, consensus-based group that is composed of a diverse array of stakeholders, which may include, but is not limited to, private property owners, non-profit organizations, federal, state, or local agencies, and tribes. Grant funds awarded in this category may fund development of bylaws, a mission statement, complete stakeholder outreach, and develop a strategic plan.

Watershed Organization Strategic Plans up to $25,000

Strategic plans focus on the mission and goals of an organization that helps groups define the organization’s priorities. Strategic planning is a process culminating in a 3-5 year planning document that addresses an organization’s current state, identifies future goals, and can then be used to develop annual work plans. The Conservation District Bureau at DNRC has tools to assist CDs https://dnrc.mt.gov/Conservation/Conservation-Programs/Conservation-Districts/cd-resource-documents . The Montana Nonprofit Association provides resources for nonprofit organizations online: https://www.mtnonprofit.org/.

Watershed Strategic Program or Initiative up to $50,000

Strategic programs or initiatives are identified in an organization’s Strategic Plan. These programs or initiatives will need to be clearly tied to the organization’s mission and align with the purpose of the Watershed Management Grants. Examples may include watershed group expansion, staff support of a Watershed Restoration Plan, staff time for project management or contracted services to prepare a Watershed Restoration Project Plan, staff time for project management to oversee a non-point construction project, staff time to coordinate volunteers, purchase of materials for education and outreach.

Hosting a Big Sky Watershed Corps member $8,000

Grants will support a portion of the local host site cost share to support a Big Sky Watershed Corps member. This will be a one-time grant application and award and will require submission of a final report at the end of the BSWC term. MCC Fellows and interns are not eligible under this category, as they would eligible under the other categories for staff time in Watershed Management Grants, and costs for their salaries are ongoing throughout the life of the project or grant.

The goal of the mini-grant program is to provide support for locally-led education and outreach activities that address nonpoint sources of pollution to Montana’s surface waters. A priority of this program is to promote new education activities, improve community awareness, and engage stakeholders in watershed management.

Eligible Applicants: local governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, conservation districts, schools, local watershed or volunteer group (if a legal entity), counties, and extension service.