Montana office would help public bodies and nonprofits seek grants

The Department of Administration would run an office that lists grant opportunities and helps organizations apply for and manage grants. The office would assist local governments, nonprofits, school districts, state agencies, and tribal governments with federal and state grants. The online list would include every grant administered by a state agency. The act would take effect July 1, 2027.

State agencies would supply grant information, and the Department of Administration would report on the office's work. Each state agency would provide information needed for the grant list. The department would report to the local government interim committee. Reports would cover services, costs, organizations served, estimated federal funding secured, and strategies to reduce repeated work and paperwork and improve grant access. Agencies would provide information by July 1 each fiscal year. The department would report by July 1 of each even-numbered year.

The bill would set aside $500,000 from the state's general fund for the Department of Administration to carry out the act. The money would cover the department's costs of carrying out the act. The legislature intends this funding to be included in the starting budget for the next legislative session. The funding would cover the two-year period beginning July 1, 2027.