Water projects selected for federal grants

Lincoln County was selected for two federal grants to help fund local water and wastewater projects.

The Libby Creek Community Water and Wastewater Improvements project was flagged to receive a $1.36 million competitive grant from American Rescue Plan Act disbursements. The project is estimated to cost $2.4 million.

Meanwhile, the Troy Wastewater System Improvements Project was selected to receive a $2 million competitive grant and $93,558 in a minimum allocation. The project is estimated to cost $2.2 million.

The two grants are a part of $127 million the state received with the second round of ARPA water and sewer funding, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester’s office noted in a press release announcing the grants. The state’s ARPA Infrastructure Advisory Commission approved $118.2 million for 95 water and sewer projects, and $8.8 million for 34 irrigation projects in Montana.

The second round of grant applications closed in January. Local cities and counties were solicited to apply for grant funds up to $2 million per project. A local match is required with the disbursements.

“For Montana communities to have economic certainty and job growth, water infrastructure has to keep pace,” Tester said in the press release. “I’m proud to have secured these investments through the American Rescue Plan to upgrade and rebuild water and sewer systems across the state that have been outdated and unreliable for far too long. Now that the state has determined the funding for these projects, I’ll be working to ensure that money gets to the folks on the ground without delay.”