The Joint Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning convened on January 17, 2025, to discuss critical infrastructure needs in Montana communities, focusing on a significant wastewater treatment project. The meeting highlighted the challenges faced by a small town with a population of just 66 residents, which is seeking to improve its sewer system to meet both community needs and grant requirements for employee housing.

During the discussion, a representative detailed the history of the project, noting that in 2017, a community meeting identified sewer improvements as the highest priority. The representative explained that the town has broken the project into phases due to its size and cost. Phase 1 has been completed, and Phase 2, which involves the collection system, is expected to be finished by the end of the year.

The third phase, which includes the construction of a treatment system and the purchase of Forest Service property, is particularly crucial. The town has secured a funding package totaling over $9.4 million, which includes a $750,000 MSAP grant, a $500,000 RDGP, and a substantial $7 million EDA grant, one of the largest awarded to date. Additionally, the town has received $640,000 in SRF loan forgiveness.

The representative emphasized the importance of the MSAP grant for the project's success, noting that the town's median household income is approximately $36,800, which underscores the financial challenges faced by the community. The discussion concluded with an invitation for comments and questions from committee members, reflecting the collaborative effort to address the town's pressing infrastructure needs.