EDA disaster supplemental grant discussed as possible funding pathway for irrigation and channel work

County leaders heard a briefing on a new Economic Development Administration disaster supplemental grant program and discussed whether it could fund irrigation and ditch repairs.

Speaker 5 described the EDA program and three eligible tracks — readiness, implementation and industry transformation — and told the board the readiness path has a $250,000 minimum application size. "The minimum that you can apply for is 250,000," Speaker 5 said, and noted the program is first-come, first-served with a finite national pool of funds. The presenter added that applications could be structured at the county level to aggregate multiple affected sites.

Commissioners and Beartooth representatives discussed local ditch failures, including an embankment beginning to corrode in the Fox Area, and identified the need for feasibility studies and channel-migration analysis before construction work could proceed. County staff noted an existing countywide channel-migration study with the Yellowstone Valley Partnership — a Department of Commerce grant-funded effort — that might be usable as match or to support a phased application.

Speakers cautioned that some grants have program-specific eligibility and matching requirements; commissioners asked whether state DEQ studies or other in-kind matches could satisfy EDA match rules. Speaker 6 observed that having about 20% match would make applications easier to structure. The board agreed to consider the opportunity and requested staff follow up with technical assistance and next steps for an application if there is county support.

Next steps: staff said they would include interested stakeholders in the kickoff for the channel-migration study and follow up on EDA application details and match options.