Montana Governor Greg Gianforte announced yesterday that the Montana Department of Commerce has obtained a $7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to expedite the building of affordable housing in Montana.

Governor Gianforte stated, “The influx of residents to Montana, coupled with insufficient housing construction, has caused housing prices to surge, rendering a fundamental aspect of the American dream unattainable for many.” “In collaboration with the legislature, we implemented significant pro-housing reforms in 2023, positioning Montana as a national leader in augmenting housing supply.” With this award, we will assist Montana towns in augmenting the availability of affordable, accessible housing.

The $7 million award obtained by the Montana Department of Commerce is sourced from The Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) program. PRO Housing assists communities in overcoming restrictive land use or regulatory rules, enhancing and executing housing initiatives, investing in local areas, and bolstering community resilience.

“The Montana Department of Commerce persistently seeks innovative methods to enhance the availability of affordable and accessible housing in our state,” stated Paul Green, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. The eleven municipalities allocated these money will serve as exemplars for other areas in our state facing expansion and heightened housing demand. The remaining money from the grant will allow Commerce to assist municipalities around the state in augmenting housing supply, so making this essential aspect of the American dream more accessible to Montanans.

Commerce will allocate $5 million from PRO Housing funds to collaborate with the Montana League of Cities and Towns and 11 municipalities, including Billings, Belgrade, Columbia Falls, Great Falls, Helena, Laurel, Lewistown, Missoula, and Kalispell. The remaining $2 million will be allocated by Commerce to establish a Housing Technical Assistance Program (HTAP) aimed at assisting towns throughout Montana in promoting and executing affordable housing construction. Access the list of PRO Housing grants conferred by the city here.

HTAP will offer incentives to housing developers, including reduced interest rate loans for new development, preservation of affordable housing, or innovative home building methods. Furthermore, it will provide incentives to assist low- and middle-income households, prioritize projects that optimize density, and additional measures.

“This PRO Housing grant signifies a pivotal opportunity for municipalities in Montana,” stated Mayor Russ Nelson of Belgrade and President of the Montana League of Cities and Towns Board. Belgrade is eager to employ this funds for our Master Planning initiative, in accordance with legal modifications, to establish a framework that meets both present and future housing requirements. We appreciate the chance to collaborate with the State and other communities to enhance the housing scene in Montana and express our gratitude to the Commerce Department and the League for obtaining these funds.

Moreover, Commerce will offer statewide services by creating a toolbox and training opportunities to assist all Montana municipalities in their endeavors related to comprehensive community planning, including housing.

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Governor Gianforte initiated a multifaceted, nonpartisan Housing Task Force in July 2022 to address the housing supply deficit in the state. The Task Force generated three reports that pinpointed the underlying issues contributing to the state's housing deficit and proposed solutions that might be enacted administratively or via legislative amendments.

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