Department of Commerce

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Community Development Block Grant Program

• CDBG Program
• Funding Categories
• Eligible Applicants
• Eligible Activities
• Grant Ceilings & Deadlines
• CDBG Administrative     Rules Memo
• CDBG Program Income     Manual for Revolving Loan     Funds
  
• Funding History
• Required Application     Forms

Community Technical Assistance Program

• Community Technical Assistance Program (CTAP)
• Meet the Staff
• Contact Information

Treasure State Endowment Program

• Treasure State Endowment Program
• Eligible Projects
• Eligible Applicants
• Construction Grants
• Emergency Grants
• Preliminary Engineering Grants
• Applying For Grants - Application Forms
• Projects Funded by TSEP

Coal Board

• About Coal Board
• Coal Board Grant Program
• Selection of Board Members
• Board Composition
• Board Meetings
• Eligible Projects
• Eligibility Requirements
• Application Procedures
• Ranking & Approval Process
• Application Process Flow Chart
• Pre-Application Form
• Application Form
• Preliminary Engineering Grants
• Previously Funded Projects
• Coal Board Map
• Coal Mines Map

Hard Rock Mining Impact Board

• Hard-Rock Mining Impact Act
• Selection of Board Members
• Board Composition
• Board Meetings
• Property Tax Base Sharing Act
• Board Responsibility & Action
• Reclamation Grants and Loans

Publications

• Directory of Planning, Grant Writing, and Grant Administration Consultants
• Community Needs Assessment
• Documenting Benefit to LMI
• County Bridge & Road Capital Improvement Planning & Financing Manual
• Building It Right - A Public Facilities Construction Administration Manual
• Designing and Initiating A Small Community Housing Program
• Montana Subdivision and Surveying Laws and Regulations
• Do You Want To Request a Publication?

Application Materials

• TSEP Application Guidelines
• CDBG Planning Grant Guidelines
• CDBG Public Facilities Grant Guidelines
• CDBG Housing Grant Guidelines
• Uniform Application for Public Facility Projects
• Uniform Application for Housing

Grant Administration Manuals

• TSEP Administrative Manual
• CDBG Grant Administration Manual

Resources

• Census & Target Rate Info
• W2ASACT
• Upcoming Workshops

Community Development Division

• Home Page
• About Us
• Programs
• Mission
• Goals & Objectives
• FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Questions:

1. Can people or communities out-side of Montana receive funds from one of these Community Development Programs?
2. Where is the most helpful source of information about these programs?
3. Do these Programs charge for their technical assistance or financial assistance?
4. Are these program's operations all a matter of public record?
5. Do these Programs have any state regulatory authority or responsibiltiy?
6. Do these programs only work with government agencies?

Answers:

1. Can people or communities out-side of Montana receive funds from one of these Community Development Programs?
   
   No.
2. Where is the most helpful source of information about these programs?
   
   A direct connection through phone, FAX, email, or in person to a program staff person.
3. Do these Programs charge for their technical assistance or financial assistance?
   
   No.
4. Are these program's operations all a matter of public record?
   
   Yes.
5. Do these Programs have any state regulatory authority or responsibiltiy?
   
   No.
6. Do these programs only work with government agencies?
   
   No, we work with all individuals and groups both public and private.

CDBG

Questions:

1. Who is eligible to apply for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)?
2. Where can we get grants to fix our community's water, wastewater, or solid waste system?
3. Are senior centers eligible for grant assistance under the CDBG program?
4. Can I get a grant to fix up my house?
5. How many grants can our communities apply for?

Answers:

1. Who is eligible to apply for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)?
   
   Only units of general purpose local government in Montana can apply for grants to the Montana Community Development Block Grant Program administered by the Montana Department of Commerce - this includes counties, cities, and towns. However, local governments can apply for assistance on behalf of nonprofit organizations or special purpose government agencies such as a water or sewer districts.
   
   The Montana Department of Commerce CDBG Program administers the CDBG program under contract with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Congress allocates CDBG funds annually for local governments under 50,000 in population. In Montana, the cities of Billings, Great Falls and Missoula are "entitlement" communities and receive their funds directly from HUD.
2. Where can we get grants to fix our community's water, wastewater, or solid waste system?
   
   The Department of Commerce Community Development Division maintains a description of federal and state funded programs within Montana that offer low interest loans and grants to counties, cities, towns, Indian tribes, and water and sewer districts.
   
   Call (406) 841-2770 and request a copy of the handout titled "Financial Assistance Programs Funding Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste Projects in Montana".
3. Are senior centers eligible for grant assistance under the CDBG program?
   
   Yes, however, the application for assistance must be made by a county, city, or town on behalf of the senior citizen organization.
4. Can I get a grant to fix up my house?
   
   Not directly from the Department of Commerce, only counties, cities, or towns in Montana can apply for grants from the Montana CDBG program. Local governments can apply to the CDBG program for funding to make grants and low interest loans available to homeowners to rehabilitate their homes. Individuals interested in housing rehabilitation assistance should contact their local officials to see if they are interested in developing a grant application for a CDBG housing rehabilitation project.
5. How many grants can our communities apply for?
   
   Each local government can apply for one CDBG grant annually within the three CDBG categories administered by the Community Development Division: Planning Grants, Public Facilities Grants, and Housing Grants. However, if a local government has previously received a CDBG grant, the project must be substantially completed before the local government can re-apply for another grant. If a local government already has an open CDBG project they should call 841-2770 to see if they have met CDBG requirements to be able to re-apply for a CDBG grant.

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COAL BOARD

Questions:

1. Does the Coal Board do mining or power plant permitting?
2. Who is eligible to receive Coal Board grants?
3. Does that mean individuals or businesses may not receive grants?
4. When & where does the Board meet?
5. Does the Coal Board have information about coal resources in Montana?

Answers:

1. Does the Coal Board do mining or power plant permitting?
   
   No. All state regulatory responsibilities for such issues would be found in the Montana Department of Environmental Quality or the Department of Natural Resources.
2. Who is eligible to receive Coal Board grants?
   
   Montana local governments - for public projects needed as a result of coal impacted local growth or decline.
3. Does that mean individuals or businesses may not receive grants?
   
   Yes
4. When & where does the Board meet?
   
   Once every calendar quarter (usually third month of quarter) and most often in Billings, Montana.
5. Does the Coal Board have information about coal resources in Montana?
   
   No. Such information is available from either the Montana Bureau of Mines in Butte or the private association of coal companies called the Montana Coal Council located in Helena.

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Hard-Rock Mining Impact Board

Questions:

1. What is the Hard-Rock Mining Impact Act?
2. How does the Hard-Rock Mining Impact Act work?
3. What happens if the Mineral Developer and Local Government Unit don't agree about their plan?
4. What is the Hard-Rock Mining Impact Board?
5. Where can I get more information about the Hard-Rock Mining Impact Act, Related Statutes, and Hard-Rock Mining Impact Plans?

Answers:

1. What is the Hard-Rock Mining Impact Act?
   
   The Hard-Rock Mining Impact Act establishes a procedure for identifying and paying for all increased local government service and facility costs that result from new, large-scale hard-rock mines in Montana. The Act ensures that these increased costs will not be borne by the existing local taxpayers in the impact area.
2. How does the Hard-Rock Mining Impact Act work?
   
   The large-scale mineral developer works with the affected local government units to prepare and implement a local government impact plan. In the plan they identify the result from the proposed new, large-scale hard-rock mine. The mineral developer commits to pay all increased local government capital and net operating costs resulting from the mineral development, as identifed in the plan. The local government commits to provide the needed services and facilities.
3. What happens if the Mineral Developer and Local Government Unit don't agree about their plan?
   
   The mineral developer submits the plan for formal review by the affected local government units. The county holds a public hearing on the proposed plan. During the review period the governing body of an affected local government unit may file objections to the proposed plan with the Hard-Rock Mining Impact Board. If the dispute is not resolved by negotiation, the Board holds a contested case hearing and adjudicates the dispute. The Board may amending the plan, if necessary.
4. What is the Hard-Rock Mining Impact Board?
   
   The Hard-Rock Mining Impact Board is a five-member quasi-judicial board appointed by the Governor according to specific statutory criteria. The HRMI Board administers the Hard-Rock Mining Impact Act, adjudicates disputes between mineral developers and affected local government units about their impact plans, and carries out other duties resulting from the HRMI Act, the companion Property Tax Base Sharing Act, and statutes pertaining to the allocation and distribution of metal mines license tax revenue.
5. Where can I get more information about the Hard-Rock Mining Impact Act, Related Statutes, and Hard-Rock Mining Impact Plans?
   
   For a summary of the hard-rock mining impact statutes and program information write, phone, or e-mail:
   
   Hard-Rock Mining Impact Board
   PO Box 200523
   Helena, MT 59602-0523
   Program Assistant: (406) 841-2782 or ehanpa@mt.gov

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TSEP

Questions:

1. When is the deadline to apply for Treasure State Endowment Program (TSEP) construction financing?
2. Can individual homeowners or homeowner associations apply for TSEP grants?
3. Are grants available immediately to fix emergencies related to our water or sewer system?
4. Are there grants available to help finance preliminary engineering studies?
5. How do you calculate the target rate?

Answers:

1. When is the deadline to apply for Treasure State Endowment Program (TSEP) construction financing?
   
   May 5, 2006. Since TSEP is a competitive funding program no applications or additional information will be accepted after that date, until the next funding competition.
2. Can individual homeowners or homeowner associations apply for TSEP grants?
   
   No, private individuals and private associations are not eligible for TSEP assistance.
3. Are grants available immediately to fix emergencies related to our water or sewer system?
   
   Yes, TSEP has a limited amount of funds for real emergencies.
4. Are there grants available to help finance preliminary engineering studies?
   
   Yes
5. How do you calculate the target rate?
   
   A community's target rate is computed by multiplying the community's median household income (MHI) by the combined target percentage (2.3%) divided by twelve and then multiplied times 90% ([MHI x 2.3%] / 12 x 90% = combined monthly target rate).

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