Commissioners approve public-health grant amendments and multiple grant applications totaling $432,766

The Lewis and Clark County Board of Commissioners on March 17 approved a series of public-health funding actions, including an amended task order with the Montana Department of Health and Human Services that raises Chronic Disease Prevention funding to $283,316, and an Amendment No. 1 to a subrecipient agreement with Jefferson County for $43,950 for tobacco-use prevention work.

Fred Sargeson, Public Health Operations Manager, presented both items and said staff recommended approval. The amended MDHHS task order extends the grant period to June 30, 2026 and increases the total award; the Jefferson County amendment extends that subrecipient term through June 30, 2026 and authorizes $43,950 in compensation. Both motions were approved unanimously, 3-0.

Public Health Grants Specialist Sarah Sandau presented additional grant applications that the Commission approved on the consent of action items: a $1,500 Community Engagement grant to the Montana Public Health Institute; a $5,000 Montana Arts Council award for an Arts in Health Lab Pilot Program (early June through Nov. 30, 2026); and a $100,000 application to the Grace and Harold Sewell Memorial Fund for a Learning Partnership program (June 2026–June 2027). Each application was recommended by staff and approved 3-0.

The approvals allow Public Health to continue and expand local chronic-disease prevention, tobacco-use prevention collaboration with Jefferson County, and several programmatic pilot and engagement efforts funded by outside grants. No public comment was recorded on these items.