Sen. Tim Sheehy announced that Montana projects will receive $12.2 million under a federal funding bill passed by the U.S. Senate and sent to President Donald Trump for signature.
The measure is part of a recently approved appropriations minibus and directs funding toward higher education, public safety, water and wastewater infrastructure, and local law enforcement needs across the state. Sheehy said the allocations reflect an effort to prioritize core infrastructure, public safety, and research capacity while advancing a return to regular order in the federal budgeting process.
The funding package includes major investments for Montana’s public universities, with $3 million designated for equipment upgrades at Montana State University’s VITAL and bioinformatics facilities and $750,000 for the Montana Regional Incubator in Drought Resiliency at the University of Montana. Gallatin College at MSU is slated to receive $320,000 to support its law enforcement academy.
Several local law enforcement agencies will also receive funding for vehicles and equipment. Prairie County will receive $140,000 for police vehicles, while the St. Ignatius Police Department is set to receive $185,000 for vehicle upgrades. Search and rescue equipment funding includes $100,000 for the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office and $127,000 for the Treasure County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office. The Glacier County Sheriff’s Office will receive $420,000 to upgrade public safety communications equipment.
Infrastructure projects make up the largest share of the funding. Missoula County is allocated $1.75 million for water well upgrades, while the St. Ignatius Wastewater Collection System Replacement Project will receive $4.625 million. An additional $825,000 is designated for the 12th Street BNSF Railroad sanitary sewer crossing replacement project.