Missoula County approves eight rural impact grants totaling $24,465

At its April 28 administrative meeting, the Missoula County Board of County Commissioners approved eight rural 2026 "impact grant" contracts totaling $24,465, awarding small grants to projects in multiple county communities, presenter Claire Biddick said.

Biddick, who presented the grants to the board, said the county created the rural grant program to support community-driven projects that improve quality of life in rural areas. The program, she said, is offered once a year and is intended for projects that can be completed by Dec. 31. She told the board the round attracted more interest than in prior years, noting on the record: "we had 20, uh, 23 applications." "We're super excited to support rural communities and see these projects come to fruition," she added.

The board approved eight contracts described by Biddick: a $2,000 contract with Clearwater Resource Council to support Seeley-area community pollinator garden improvements, including a new fence and an ADA-accessible gate; a $2,000 grant to Frenchtown Little League to improve field fencing; a $4,000 contract to the NM Community Center for site improvements including hazardous-tree removal and a new heater for a schoolhouse used for community events; a $2,211 award to River of Life Ministries for a new freezer and a laptop to expand and streamline East Missoula food-bank operations; a $4,000 grant to Swan Valley Community Foundation to purchase a secure enclosed trailer for outreach and events; a $2,254 award to Swan Valley Connections to create a native-plant and pollinator learning garden and pathway outside the Condon Visitor Center; a $4,000 contract to Swan Valley Elementary School for a multi-stage library renovation (insulation and modern lighting); and a $4,000 award to Woodman School to purchase new aluminum soccer goals for students and community use.

A motion to approve items one through eight was made and recorded in the transcript; no public comment on the items was offered and the items were approved by the board as reflected in the meeting record (no roll-call tally is included in the transcript). Board members thanked staff and asked for photos of completed projects for outreach or record-keeping.

The meeting proceeded to a brief clarification about the Swan Valley library locations (the presenter clarified the elementary school houses one library and the community center hosts a Missoula Public Library presence), and then adjourned. The approved contracts are intended to be completed by Dec. 31, 2026, per the program guidelines mentioned in the presentation.