Renewable Resource Grant & Loan Program

The Montana Legislature established the Renewable Resource Grant and Loan Program to enhance Montana's renewable resources. Administered by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), the program provides both grant and loan funding for eligible renewable resource and public facility projects.

Eligible Applicants

Political subdivisions of state or local government including counties, cities, incorporated municipalities, conservation districts, water and/or sewer districts, irrigation districts, state government, and tribal governments.

Eligible Projects

Renewable resource and public facility projects including water, wastewater, and solid waste are eligible for grant and loan funding. Projects must benefit Montana through the conservation, management, development, or protection of renewable resources.

Types of Financial Assistance

  • funding for feasibility
  • design
  • research and resource assessment studies
  • design and construction of public facility
  • renewable resource projects.

Grants for technical feasibility studies and for qualified emergencies are also available.

One application per project may be submitted per biennial funding cycle. Applications are accepted by the DNRC once every two years and are reviewed and approved by the Legislature. The deadline for RRGL applications to be considered by the 2003 Legislature is May 15, 2002. Renewable Resource grants are limited to $100,000 with no specified match requirement. RRGL loans are limited only by the debt capacity of the applicant.

DNRC also has $300,000 available for the 2003 biennium for renewable resource planning grants. Applications are accepted at any time. Grants are limited to $10,000 and require that 50% of the cost of the planning study be paid by the applicant. Matching grants in lieu of cash may be used by applicants that do not produce revenues through assessments or fees.

$125,000 is also available each biennium to provide grant funding for emergency projects that cannot wait for legislative approval. Emergency grants are limited to $30,000 per project.