Missoula County commissioners Josh Slotnick and Dave Strohmeyer used the State of Missoula forum to outline infrastructure projects intended to unlock industrial and housing development in the county.

“We worked closely with two Montana companies, Montana Knife Company and Grass Valley Industrial, to put in a public water system,” said Commissioner Josh Slotnick. He described a private‑funded construction of what will become a public water system that the county will purchase afterward using tax‑increment financing. Slotnick said that arrangement will create enough water to support about 500,000 square feet of industrial space and an estimated 304 new jobs as users tie in and costs are apportioned across the special district over time.

On housing, Commissioner Slotnick said the county is negotiating sewer and water upgrades in Lolo. He said American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds covered roughly half of a needed sewer upgrade and that county leaders are working to expand capacity to accommodate another 800 sewer users and about 400 additional water users, with current users and new users sharing costs.

“By statute, it takes a bunch of time to create a special district,” Slotnick said, explaining why the county accepted private funding for the water system and then will use tax‑increment financing to purchase it when complete.

Commissioner Dave Strohmeyer added a regional perspective and highlighted longer‑term projects and recent federal actions. He noted a $24,000,000 Reconnecting Communities grant for Highway 200 infrastructure in East Missoula is currently paused and reported that the Federal Railroad Administration recommended the Big Sky Passenger Rail route through Missoula as one of 15 routes being considered for restoration — a development Strohmeyer called “a big deal for Missoula and Missoula County.”

Both commissioners stressed flexibility amid uncertain national economic conditions and said the county will proceed carefully on borrowing and capital projects given higher interest rates.

No formal votes or binding commitments were made at the forum; commissioners described ongoing negotiations and staged financing plans.