Zinke Nominates 19 Western Montana Projects for Federal Funding Totaling Over 100 Million Dollars

Washington, D.C. - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke announced that he requested $102,554,449 of federal funding for 19 projects in Western Montana to improve infrastructure, boost affordable housing construction, improve water dependability, disaster preparedness, and law enforcement and first responders' capabilities. The requests were submitted to the House Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member. The projects would benefit communities in the following counties and tribes: Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Beaverhead, Butte-Silver Bow (2), Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Flathead (4), Gallatin, Glacier, Granite, Lake (5), Lincoln (2), Missoula (2), Pondera, Ravalli (2), Sanders (2). The projects are posted on Congressman Zinke's website for public inspection here and listed below.

"My mission as Representative of Montana's Western district is to listen to the front lines and make their priorities my priorities," said Zinke. These projects come directly from Montana's county commissioners, sheriffs, fire chiefs, and city officials. They support our law enforcement and first responders, repair aging critical infrastructure, secure water systems, and improve disaster readiness across the region. Working shoulder to shoulder with local leaders, I am putting forward shovel ready projects that meet the real needs of our communities and make disciplined use of taxpayer dollars. This is about telling D.C. what Montana needs, and not the other way around, preserving our Montana way of life, while making sure that our communities have the resources they need to succeed.

The submissions were made through the U.S. House of Representatives Community Project Funding program, which allows Congress to direct appropriations from specific grant accounts to eligible projects. All projects must meet the published grant requirements and pass a series of legislative hurdles. Every project must be approved by the House Appropriations Committee, the full House of Representatives and be included in the joint funding package approved by the House and Senate to then finally be signed by the President. In Fiscal Year 2026, Zinke successfully secured over $36 million in funding for Western Montana.

Proposed projects include:

*Projects listed by county in alphabetical order

Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Beaverhead, Butte-Silver Bow, Glacier, Lake, Lincoln, Pondera, Sanders, $4,607,739 - Law Enforcement 8 County Memorandum of Understanding

Western Montana's rural counties have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to purchase much-needed law enforcement vehicles and equipment which allows each county sheriff and local law enforcement agency to negotiate lower prices and save tax dollars. By buying communications equipment in bulk, this also ensures the different law enforcement agencies can effectively communicate with each other when jointly responding to emergencies and incidents. This funding will purchase patrol vehicles, body scanners, radios, telecom equipment, and protective gear, as well as provide much needed safety upgrades to facilities.

Butte-Silver Bow County, $15,000,000 - Critical Minerals Extraction Advancements by Montana Tech

Our national and economic security rely on a reliable supply of critical and rare earth minerals. Unfortunately, the U.S. sources many of those materials from adversarial countries which have the ability to manipulate global prices, drive out U.S. and allied competitors, and simply turn off the supply. Increasing domestic supplies of these minerals is vitally important. This funding will allow Montana Technological University, a global leader in mining engineering, to develop a critical minerals recovery facility which will provide a late-stage testing ground for technologies and methods aimed at extracting critical minerals from ores and mining-related wastes. This will increase the U.S. mineral output and improve our environmental stewardship by recycling previously discarded materials from existing mines.

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, $250,000 - Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Emergency Comms

This funding will support law and order and enhance officer safety for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes by replacing antiquated emergency services dispatch communications systems and equipment. The improvements to the dispatch center will be a benefit to all residents of the Flathead Reservation spanning Lake, Sanders, Missoula, and Flathead Counties. Clear communication among tribal, local and state emergency service dispatch centers, first responders, law enforcement, and other emergency service providers during any and all emergency situations is paramount to a successful and safe outcome for all involved. CSKT provides primary law enforcement and investigative services on the Flathead Reservation which encompasses four Montana counties: Lake, Sanders, Missoula and Flathead. Similarly, CSKT provides critical wildland fire protection on the Reservation and throughout the region. CSKT's dispatch center is critical to engaging appropriate emergency service providers on the Reservation and in western Montana.

Flathead County, $3,000,000 - Bigfork Water Sewer District West Trunk Sewer Project

The West Trunk Sewer Project is a critical investment in modernizing aging wastewater infrastructure serving the Bigfork community and protecting the water quality of Flathead Lake. Key portions of the existing system date back to the 1960s and are increasingly prone to failure, creating risks of sewer overflows and environmental contamination. This funding will support the replacement of deteriorating sewer mains, construction of a properly sized lift station, and targeted improvements to reduce groundwater infiltration into the system. These upgrades will improve reliability, support future residential and commercial growth, and ensure the wastewater system can meet current and long-term demand. Federal support will also help reduce the financial burden on local ratepayers while addressing a critical infrastructure need.

Flathead County, $3,100,000 - City of Columbia Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Phase 1

Columbia Falls is a working-class family neighborhood in Northwest Montana, home to much of the region's teachers, law enforcement officers, and railroad, timber and manufacturing workforce. While many people work in towns 15-20 miles away, Columbia Falls remains an affordable option with good schools for many working families. However recently the city has been forced to limit new commercial and residential development because the existing wastewater treatment plant is nearing its effective treatment capacity. This not only limits the supply of affordable family housing in the area but it also puts water quality at risk. This funding will allow for upgrades to the existing wastewater treatment plant, allowing it to increase capacity and meet higher environmental and public health standards.

Flathead County, $3,653,000 - Evergreen Flood Resiliency and Groundwater Quality Improvements

Flathead County's Evergreen area sits within the Flathead River floodplain, where aging septic systems and wastewater infrastructure are highly vulnerable to flooding and groundwater infiltration. These conditions create a serious risk of untreated sewage entering and contaminating drinking water sources, threatening public health, local fisheries, and the broader Flathead watershed. While a portion of this project has been funded, critical areas remain unaddressed due to limited resources. This funding will replace outdated septic systems and failing wastewater infrastructure with modern, flood-resilient sewer facilities, reducing health risks and improving long-term system reliability. Investing in this project will protect water quality and prevent more costly emergency repairs in the future.

Flathead County, $3,000,000 - Lakeside Wastewater System Improvements Project Phase 1

The communities of Lakeside and Sommers, Montana, sit on the shores of Flathead Lake. Since 1987 when their sewage treatment plant was constructed, these communities have grown by roughly 700%. The plant, originally built to support roughly 400 residents, now services more than 3,400 residents and hundreds of businesses. This project would upgrade the nearly 40-year-old wastewater treatment facility to provide reliable and safe drinking water and also strengthen environmental safeguards related to the protection of Flathead Lake. Flathead Lake is an important economic engine in Northwest Montana. In 2023, an estimated more than 320,000 people visited Flathead Lake State Park. Visitors generated tens of millions of dollars in consumer spending which in turn supported local tax revenue and jobs. Maintaining the water quality of Flathead Lake is important to Montana's tourism industry, which significantly contributes to the State's economy. This project solves a county wide need by producing a centralized location to dispose of septage and a more thorough treatment of this waste.

Gallatin County, $2,000,000 - Belgrade Police Department Emergency Operations Center

The City of Belgrade, Montana, is the fastest growing city in the state and has rapidly outgrown its existing public safety facilities. The current police department building was designed to serve a much smaller community and no longer provides adequate space, security infrastructure, or operational capability for modern law enforcement and emergency management needs. To address this issue in a fiscally responsible manner, the City entered into a land swap agreement with the Belgrade School District and acquired a former elementary school originally constructed in the 1950s. The building provides an opportunity to convert an existing public structure into a modern police station and local Emergency Operations Center (EOC). This funding will allow the Belgrade City Police to make significant improvements to the building and make it operational as a public safety facility.

Granite County, $2,000,000 - Granite County Clean Water Infrastructure Project Phase II

The primary source of drinking water for the isolated town of Philipsburg, Montana, is an alpine reservoir surrounded by densely forested mountains. The water is pumped through a 7-mile pipeline. This pipeline recently experienced a catastrophic failure. Congress provided Phase I funding to replace the pipeline in FY25; additional funding will allow the project's completion and restore water security for the people of Philipsburg.

Lake County, $100,000 - Charlo Volunteer Fire Department

The communities of Charlo and Moiese (population ~400) are isolated rural towns tucked between densely forested mountains in Northwest Montana. The area is severely wildfire prone and cellular reception is sporadic at best. This funding would purchase 10 mobile radios for Charlo-Moiese Volunteer Fire Department as equipment that is used by area fire and emergency response crews.

Lake County, $400,000 - Lake County Office of Emergency Management Communication Tower Replacement

Rural communities across Lake County rely on a patchwork of aging communications infrastructure that is increasingly unreliable during emergencies, particularly in areas with limited cellular coverage and challenging terrain. First responders, law enforcement, and emergency medical services, depend on clear and consistent communication to coordinate responses to public safety incidents. This funding will modernize Lake County's emergency communication tower sites to ensure interoperability between agencies and improve response times. Strengthening these systems will enhance public safety and provide more reliable emergency services for residents across this large and rural region of Northwest Montana.

Lake County, $3,000,000 - Charlo Water and Sewer District Wastewater Lagoon Rehabilitation

Charlo is a rural, agriculture-based community of 98 residents in Northwest Montana. The people work hard and support the community however the tax base alone is not sufficient enough to provide the necessary funds to rehabilitate the town's wastewater treatment facility. Providing access to clean water and modern infrastructure for waste disposal is a high priority nationally and locally - no matter the community size. This funding will leverage state grants and loans to fully rehabilitate the treatment facility to ensure reliable and safe drinking water for residents.

Lake County, $3,000,000 - Ronan Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade Phase 1

The City of Ronan is a rural agriculture community with limited financial capacity and aging wastewater infrastructure that requires significant upgrades to meet federal regulatory standards. Reliable wastewater treatment is essential for protecting public health, maintaining environmental quality, and supporting the long-term sustainability of the community. Community Project Funding will allow the city to complete critical wastewater infrastructure improvements while maintaining affordable utility rates for Tribal and non-Tribal residents alike. The project will protect local waterways, support regulatory compliance under the Clean Water Act, and ensure reliable wastewater treatment service for approximately 2,800 residents and local businesses in the Mission Valley.

Lincoln County, $3,000,000 - City of Libby Water Filtration Phase 1

Libby, Montana, was once a thriving timber and mining town boasting more than 3,000 kids in the school system. Today, less than 1,000 kids are enrolled as families and employers moved out of the area with the decline of extraction industries. With the deterioration of the tax base came the deterioration of public infrastructure to include the public water system. This funding will provide the city of Libby with the funds to improve the safety, reliability, and quality of the community's drinking water supply by implementing a phased water treatment strategy. Phase 1 will focus on long-term repair of the existing treatment basins, designed to remove particulate matter, turbidity, and other contaminants identified in the preliminary engineering report (PER). This phase establishes the foundation for future treatment enhancements while delivering immediate public health benefits in a town that is still reeling with the lingering effects of the Libby Asbestos Superfund Site and the entire town being put under a Public Health Emergency by the EPA.

Missoula County, $2,240,000 - Lolo Wastewater Well Upgrades Phase II

Like many small towns across the west, Lolo is suffering growing pains, particularly when it comes to aging rural infrastructure. The Lolo water system continually fails to meet the needs of the growing rural community, putting the town at risk of degraded drinking water quality, frequent water shortages for agriculture and residential use, and increases the danger of inadequate supply for wildfire suppression. Congress allocated funding for Phase I of this project in FY25. Additional funding for Phase II will allow completion of the pumps in two wells which will increase treatment capacity and allow the system to meet the needs of the community through 2040.

Missoula County, $18,616,710 - Seeley Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant Project Phase II

The largest employer in Seeley Lake and one of the largest in Missoula County recently closed citing it was "crippled" by labor shortages driven by a lack of affordable housing, inflation, and lack of reliable timber harvests. The town of Seeley Lake is a rural, isolated town that is unable to build additional housing because it does not have a municipal water system and the existing septic system is beyond capacity and is contaminating the groundwater. Building a water system will allow developers to invest in working families housing which would support reopening of the mill and other residual businesses driving economic growth in the valley.

Ravalli County, $3,500,000 - Old Corvallis Road Repair Phase II

The Bitterroot Valley in Ravalli County is one of the fastest growing areas in Montana. The valley is suffering growing pains related to a lack of modern infrastructure to support the growing demand, especially with the arrival of a new 140-home residential development and the expansion of two major pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities on the horizon. The valley has a single 4-lane road that carries the entirety of the county's workforce, school buses and commerce. Old Corvallis Rd has the potential to provide a second north-south corridor for Ravalli County, complete with safe walking and bike paths for commuters, and provide a much-needed secondary route for manufacturing facilities to get their product to interstate 90 to the north.

Ravalli County, $11,587,000 - Ravalli County Water Treatment Plant Phase II

Ravalli County is one of the most rapidly developing counties in Montana, and one of the greatest in need of affordable housing for working families. One of the most significant barriers to addressing the housing shortage is a lack of capacity for water and sewage treatment. After the neighboring county terminated their agreement to treat Ravalli County's sewage, septic seepage in Ravalli County has reached a dangerous level which risks water quality and environmental integrity. To address these issues and allow for further development, the county must build a water treatment plant.

Sanders County, $20,500,000 - Sanders County Noxon Bridge Replacement Phase II

This funding would replace a failing 104-year-old bridge that is on an important emergency service, school bus, and commodity transportation route. The century-old structure is now facing serious structural concerns, leading to intermittent emergency closures. This is the only bridge which links Highway 200 to the town of Noxon, an isolated town susceptible to wildfires and extreme weather events. It has developed cracks in its foundation and holes in the roadbed the size of manhole covers have opened. State and County inspectors have deemed the bridge in dire need of replacement rather than rehabilitation. Intermittent closures have already caused disruptions to daily life including delayed food deliveries and emergency services to the isolated town. Fully loaded school buses are unable to traverse the bridge; students must unload and walk across the bridge with the empty bus following after the children are safely on the other side. The Congress funded phase 1 of Noxon Bridge construction in FY25. This funding proposal covers phase II of construction which will allow the County to finish the bridge and finally restore safe and reliable transportation for the good people of Noxon.

###