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Missoula County Awards Grants for Eight Community Projects in Rural Areas

Posted on April 29, 2026

Mission Mountains in the Swan Valley on a spring day

The Missoula County commissioners this week awarded $24,465 to eight community projects that will enhance the quality of life in rural areas from the Swan Valley to Lolo.  

The funding comes from the County’s Rural Grant Program, which supports community-driven projects in the rural areas of Missoula County outside Missoula city limits. Established in 2023, it includes two unique funding opportunities: Micro Grants, with awards between $100 to $500, and Impact Grants, with awards from $501 to $4,000.  

The following awardees received Impact Grants for the 2026 cycle:  

  • Nine Mile Community Center: $4,000 to remove 15 hazardous trees near the historic buildings and replace the schoolhouse water heater.  
  • Swan Valley Community Foundation: $4,000 for a new enclosed trailer to use for community outreach, mobile operations and events. 
  • Swan Valley Elementary School: $4,000 for a multi-stage project to renovate the school library with better insulation and lighting. 
  • Woodman School: $4,000 to install new goals on the soccer field at the school. 
  • Swan Valley Connections: $2,254 to create a native plant and pollinator learning garden at the Condon Visitor Center. 
  • River of Life Ministries: $2,211 for upgrades to the food bank location in East Missoula. Upgrades include a new freezer for food storage and a new laptop to streamline client intake.  
  • Clearwater Resource Council: $2,000 for improvements to the Seeley Community Pollinator Garden. Improvements include a new fence, an ADA-accessible gate, new raised garden beds, a trellis and seating for visitors. 
  • Frenchtown Little League: $2,000 for safety improvements to the fences at the little league field.  

"This grant for the Nine Mile Community Center is worth way more than the $4,000 award," said Julie Van Hise with the Nine Mile Community Center. "These buildings are so important to our valley’s heritage, and we’re grateful this grant will help preserve this history and help our local community."

The application for the Impact Grant is open once a year. These grants are intended for larger community projects that may take longer than 90 days to implement but can be completed by the end of the year. The Micro Grants are open monthly, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.  

For additional information, visit http://missoula.co/ruralgrant or contact [email protected].  

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