Montana Awards $1.3 Million in Coal Board Grants

Five Montana areas will receive Coal Board Impact Grant funding for library, fire, school, road and public safety needs.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Philanthropy

Montana Awards $1.3 Million in Coal Board Grants

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The Montana Department of Commerce announced more than $1.3 million in Montana Coal Board grant awards on Nov. 4. The grants go to counties, cities, school districts and a regional port authority to fund services and facilities tied to changes in coal development or consumption.

Why it matters

The Coal Board Impact Grants are designed to help governmental units cover needs created by shifts in coal activity in their communities. The awards bring total Coal Board grant funding to about $16 million over the last five years.

Individual awards range from $60,000 for a Hardin sewer and stormwater camera system to $300,000 for a Crow Agency Schools bus loop, with Big Horn County receiving $308,000 across two projects. The Coal Board has distributed about $16 million over the past five years.

The players

Montana Department of Commerce

The state agency that announced the Coal Board grant awards and administers economic development programs for Montana.

Montana Coal Board

A state board created by the Legislature in 1975 that awards Coal Board Impact Grants to communities affected by coal development or consumption.

The details

Big Horn County will receive $108,000 for library upgrades and window replacement and $200,000 for two road graders. The City of Colstrip will receive $150,000 for breathing apparatus equipment, Hardin will receive $60,000 for a sewer and stormwater inspection camera system, and Hardin Public Schools will receive $300,000 for a bus loop at Crow Agency Schools. Rosebud County will receive $150,000 for patrol vehicles, Ryegate Public Schools will receive $225,000 for a boiler replacement, and the Snowy Mountain Development Regional Port Authority will receive $200,000 for building repairs at the Snow Mountain Business Incubator and Hi-Tech Training Center.

1975: The Montana Legislature created the Montana Coal Board.
March: Custer County received $140,000 in Coal Board funding for breathing apparatus equipment.
Nov. 4: The Department of Commerce announced more than $1.3 million in Coal Board grant awards.

Philanthropy Context

The awards continue a grant program the Legislature created in 1975 to help local governments respond to changes in coal activity. The program has distributed about $16 million over the last five years, following the same statutory model used for earlier awards such as Custer County's $140,000 breathing apparatus grant.

Residents in Big Horn County, Colstrip, Hardin, Rosebud County, Ryegate and the Snowy Mountain region will see funded equipment, vehicles, facility repairs and school improvements. The awards support local services without a stated change to taxes or fees.

The takeaway

Local governments facing impacts from coal activity can apply for Coal Board Impact Grants to fund essential services and facilities. Residents interested in how these funds are used can track project progress through their county or city officials.