Planning Grants

The MCEP Planning Grant Program is accepting 2025 biennium applications now!  Application cycle will remain open until funding is allocated.

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.

Updated Process! Effective immediately, there is a new option to submit your grant application through the Montana Grants and Loans Portal. To submit your application through the new Montana Grants and Loans Portal, please watch the instructional video below.

2025 Biennium Planning Grant Guidelines & Application (Word) (PDF)

If you have difficulties submitting your application or have any questions, please contact division staff via our online contact form.

Applying for a Montana Coal Endowment Program (MCEP) Planning Grant Online

MCEP grant recipients are required to enter into a grant agreement with Commerce. Commerce will establish a termination date in the contract. Infrastructure Planning grant contracts won’t be extended past the contract expiration date unless reasonable progress can be shown. Grant recipients that have not procured an engineer or professional services within six months of a signed grant agreement will cause the grant to be terminated, unless the grant recipient can demonstrate substantial progress in obtaining an engineer or planning professional.

Grant recipients must be in compliance with the state’s auditing and reporting requirements provided for in 2-7-503, MCA.

No MCEP funds will be appropriated for the 2025 biennium until after July 1, 2023.

Commerce will reimburse the MCEP grant recipient a maximum of 50% of the total grant amount for incurred expenses within 30 days of receipt of an approved draft infrastructure planning document. A draft PER must generally address each item required in the PER outline as presented in the most current edition of the . While it is not expected that the document will be complete, it must show clearly that all applicable items required for a PER are being addressed and that the engineer is proceeding toward the preparation of a complete and acceptable final product.

Commerce reimburse the MCEP grant recipient the balance of the grant within 30 days of receipt of an approved final document for any additionally incurred expenses not claimed in the first payment. The final version must be complete and have been reviewed by Commerce staff; an electronic version of the final product will be required.

Grantees that plan to submit a MCEP Project grant application should contact Community MT Division staff for guidance on environmental requirements.

For guidance on Preliminary Engineering Reports and Capital Improvements Plans, please visit the Toolkit page.

Commonly Used Forms

• Certificate of Completion
• Designation of Depository for Direct Deposit Form
• Invoice Tracking
• Request for Funds
• Signature Certification Form

---

Technical Document Guidelines

• Uniform Preliminary Engineering Report For Montana Public Facility Projects (PDF)
• Preliminary Engineering Report Outline For Bridge Projects
• Capital Improvements Planning Manual