Marissa Kozel, PIO, Montana Department of Commerce HELENA
Montana Department of Commerce Director Anthony Preite will visit Chinook and Harlem on today to present checks totaling more than $1.8 million for community infrastructure projects in Blaine County. Director Preite will present Blaine County Commissioners with $617,017 in funding from the Treasure State Endowment Program, at the Blaine County Courthouse in Chinook at 1:00 p. m. Director Preite will present Harlem City Officials with a total of $1.2 million in funding from the Treasure State Endowment Program and the Community Development Block Grant Program, at Harlem City Hall at 2 p.m. The $617,017 in TSEP funding will help replace three Blaine County bridges in need of critical repair. The Battle Creek Bridge will be replaced with a new concrete bridge, and the Bagan Road Bridge and Cherry Road Bridge will be replaced with aluminum box culverts. The $1.2 million in TSEP and CDBG funding will be used for a drinking water project for the City of Harlem. The project will help protect the city water system against flood events and create components that will help better treat water from the Milk River. The Treasure State Endowment Program assists local governments in improving or constructing vital drinking water and wastewater treatment systems, sewer and storm water collection, and bridges. Grants are funded through interest earned from the Coal Tax Trust Fund, and are matched by local funds, loans and grants from other state and federal programs. Grant recommendations range from $97,079 to $750,000 per project. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is a federally funded grant program designed to help communities with their greatest community development needs. All projects must be designed to principally benefit low and moderate-income families. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and managed by the Montana Department of Commerce.
