Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing And Community Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Missoula County seeks input on housing, infrastructure as survey nears March 4 deadline
Summary
Missoula County Grants and Community Resources is collecting responses to its annual housing and community development survey through March 4 to shape local priorities for federal and state funding, including CDBG and HOME programs; 458 responses have been received so far and a public meeting is set for March 27.
Heidi West, grants coordinator with the Missoula County Grants and Community Resources Department, urged residents to complete the county’s housing and community development survey, which is open through March 4 and is intended to inform applications for potential state and federal funding.
The survey opened Feb. 10 and, as of West’s report to the All-Community Council, 458 people had responded. “If anyone has struggles with completing the survey online, get ahold of us. Call our number (406) 258-4657, or you can email grants@missoulacounty.us, and we will find a way for you to participate,” West said.
The survey is a first step in the county’s annual community needs assessment and is tailored to funding programs the county uses to support local projects, West said. She named the Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG) and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) as examples. The county uses those funds for housing, public facilities and infrastructure projects; West gave examples including veterans housing on Broadway and Scott, community planning in Seeley, and a sewer upgrade in a resident-owned trailer park.
West cautioned that the survey is not a statistically valid sample but is designed to gather actionable information for grant applications. She described standard response differences the county has seen: across city and county respondents last year, the top priorities were improving existing infrastructure, increasing the supply of affordable housing and expanding infrastructure. County residents additionally emphasized land preservation, road repair and rural transit options; city respondents emphasized affordable housing, infrastructure and public facilities such as mental health centers and homeless shelters.
After the survey closes, the county will hold a public meeting during the commissioners’ regular public meeting on Thursday, March 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the SoFEMA East Room at the Missoula County Courthouse. The meeting will be both in-person and virtual; West said written comments will also be accepted once the report compiling results and priorities is available. West asked council members to “share this survey far and wide so we can get as many responses as possible.”
On federal funding uncertainty, West told councilors the county’s state grant administrators had not been directed to stop funding and that some projects already have committed funds from prior years. She added that individual residents who feel strongly about the programs should contact their congressional representatives to express support. West said, “As of right now, they have not received any directives to stop funding… and they are moving forward as is.”
The county provides a QR code and a Missoula County “voice” site link for the survey; residents without internet access are asked to call the Grants office for assistance. The county also plans to publish the completed needs-assessment report and the identified funding priorities after the public meeting.
Details: Survey open Feb. 10–March 4; public meeting March 27 (2–4 p.m., SoFEMA East Room and via Teams); contact Grants & Community Resources at (406) 258-4657 or grants@missoulacounty.us.
