Coal Communities Invest in Their Future with $240,000 in State Grants

HELENA, Mont. — For years, coal communities have found themselves caught between shifting federal energy priorities—supported as essential to America’s energy independence under some administrations, then rapidly transitioned away from coal under others, often without sufficient consideration of local economic impacts or realistic timelines for alternatives to fill the gap.

As Montana’s coal industry navigates the rollercoaster of policy shifts, communities that have long depended on coal revenue are taking proactive steps to secure their economic stability. The latest steps comes in the form of $240,000 in state grants awarded this week by the Montana Department of Commerce through the Montana Coal Board to three coal-impacted communities, with projects ranging from economic diversification planning to critical infrastructure upgrades.

The City of Colstrip received $30,000 to prepare an updated economic diversification strategy, a forward-thinking investment that acknowledges the reality facing coal-dependent communities across the state. The grant represents more than just planning money—it’s a lifeline for a community working to reinvent itself in a changing energy landscape.

“Commerce is proud to support these projects, which will have a positive impact on the residents of Montana’s coal country,” said Montana Department of Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio. “In the last five years, more than $12 million of Coal Board grant funding has been awarded to eight counties, eight school districts, seven cities or towns and one tribe.”

The remaining grants address the practical challenges of maintaining essential services and quality of life during economic transition. Fergus County’s Roy Water and Sewer District will receive $50,000 for a service truck, ensuring reliable water infrastructure in a rural community where such services are critical for both residents and any future economic development.

The City of Hardin received the largest award—$113,457.80 for communications equipment for its police department. Such investments in public safety infrastructure demonstrate how coal communities are working to maintain the basic services that keep residents confident in their towns’ future.

Perhaps most telling is Hardin Public Schools’ $50,000 grant to resurface tennis courts. While it might seem like a small project, it represents something larger: a community’s commitment to providing quality amenities for its young people. In towns facing economic uncertainty, keeping youth engaged and invested in their community becomes crucial for long-term survival.

The Montana Coal Board was created by the Legislature in 1975 to help communities cope with the impacts of coal development—both the booms and the busts. The board awards Coal Board Impact Grants to help governmental units provide services needed as “a direct consequence of an increase or decrease in coal development.”

The strategy appears to be working. Last year, Musselshell County received $182,000 for its Wier Building renovation project, which Commissioner Robert Pancratz described as “an important step forward in the revitalization of our community and recovery of our economy.”

“This project will create an anchor development for our main street and will help address our workforce housing and retail service space needs,” Pancratz said.

The combination of strategic planning, infrastructure maintenance, and quality-of-life investments reflected in this week’s grants shows coal communities actively building resilience, one project at a time.