Discusses recent investments in economic development and housing

BUTTE, MT – Governor Greg Gianforte on Aug 28th, continued his 56 County Tour in southwest Montana, highlighting recent investments in economic development and to increase the supply of affordable, attainable housing.

“It’s great to see Montana communities coming together to revitalize their economies and support vulnerable populations,” Gov. Gianforte said. “With the burden of inflation and rising costs nationwide, we will continue to come alongside Montanans to help them create good paying jobs, increase the supply of housing, and support our leading industries.”

Starting off with a visit to Anaconda, the governor met with community partners to celebrate a recent $1.25 million grant from the Montana Department of Commerce Pilot Community Grant Program to upgrade infrastructure and build new recreational facilities to boost tourism in the winter.

Through the Pilot Community Tourism Grant Program, several communities across Montana received funding to boost their economies, improve the quality of life for residents, and provide unique experiences for visitors.

As one of seven Montana communities selected to receive a grant, Anaconda outlined a plan to improve visitation and longer-term stays for visitors in the winter months through investments in activities such as downhill and cross-country skiing, sledding, ice skating, and hockey, as well as in hotels and restaurants.

Meeting with a dozen community members on the grant steering committee, the governor heard more about the plan.

“We had to ask ourselves – how do we get more people here in the winter? We are rocking and rolling in the summer, but wanted to look at what appealing attractions we could offer in the winter,” Anaconda-Deer Lodge County CEO Bill Everett said.

During a visit to Butte, the governor met with stakeholders to learn more about the city’s plans for a recent $1.4 million award from the Montana Department of Commerce to help community partners provide stable housing.

Discussing their focus on a housing-first model, representatives from Action, Inc, Butte-Silver Bow County, and the Butte Housing Authority highlighted their plan to build a four-plex facility that will help serve individuals identified as frequent users of crisis programs.

Highlighting the importance of stable housing as it relates to the mental health and drug abuse crisis, Butte-Silver Bow Chief Executive J.P. Gallagher shared, “Currently, for folks experience a mental health crisis, there is no other place for them to go other than the emergency room or, when applicable, the jail. This project adds another tool in our toolbox that we need to have to address the mental health and drug crisis.”

Expanding access to affordable, attainable housing and investing in the state’s behavioral health system are top priorities for Gov. Gianforte.

To continue support for Montana’s behavioral health system, the governor last year proposed and secured a historic $300 million investment to support needed repairs at the Montana State Hospital and expand intensive and community-based behavioral health care and developmental disabilities services across Montana.

As part of his commitment to expanding access to housing, the governor announced in July an investment of up to $1 million to conduct a statewide study to determine the appropriate level of funding needed to help supplement housing costs for low-income Montanans served in the state’s behavioral health system.