Twenty-two local organizations will get county funding for supportive services and rural communities through two Missoula County annual grant programs, the county announced Wednesday.
The money comes from the county’s Community Assistance Fund and voter-approved Substance Abuse Prevention Mill Levy, worth $895,000 and $368,920, respectively.
The Community Assistance Fund is meant to provide basic levels of food, shelter, medical care and more for at-risk county populations, the county said in a press release.
The Substance Abuse Prevention Levy was first approved by voters in 2008 and is meant to support young people and families while reducing the consequences of substance abuse, the county said.
Both programs are funded each year with local property taxes. Applications for the awards opened in April.
Each application is reviewed and ranked by a citizen advisory board with a Missoula County commissioner before a final decision is made, according to Melissa Gordon, Grants and Community Resources director.
The largest recipient of the two grants is Missoula Public Health, the city-county health department, which received $280,785 for fiscal year 2026.
Some recipients of either grant the money is crucial to funding programs like Meals On Wheels. Missoula Aging Services Community Services Director Ria Overholt said in the release the money is needed to support those who are aging in their homes.
“This dream can be difficult when mobility or health issues arise,” Overholt said. “Meals on Wheels provides support with nutritious meals, friendly check-ins and warm smiles.”
Gordon provided the Missoulian a list of the recipients with an exact amount of funding awarded.
Community Assistance Fund:
Crosswinds Recovery – Residential Support Services – $49,439
Farm Connect Montana – SNAP support – $66,968
Garden City Harvest – Community Gardens – $32,000
Homeword – Homebuyer Education – $21,000
Hope Rescue Mission – Temporary Safe Outdoor Space – $32,323
Human Resource Council – Assistance Program – $40,000
Missoula Aging Services – Home Delivered Meals – $40,000
Missoula Food Bank – Child Program – $75,000
Missoula Food Bank – Rural Pantry Program – $70,000
Missoula Interfaith Collaborative – Housing Advocate Network – $10,000
Missoula Public Health – Community Health Workers – $60,972,
Missoula Public Health – Foster Child program, $32,090,
Mountain Home Montana – Supportive Housing Program – $15,404
Partnership Health Center – Dental Services – $25,000
Poverello Center – Homeless Outreach Team – $34,494,
Poverello Center – Medical Respite Care Services – $42,122
Seeley Lake Community Foundation – Medical Shuttle – $20,212
United Way of Missoula County – Housing Solutions Fund – $97,027
YWCA of Missoula – Family Housing Center – $76,556,
YWCA of Missoula – Pathways Domestic Violence Shelter – $54,393
Substance Abuse Prevention Mill Levy:
All Nations Health Center – Youth Mental Health Programming – $69,082
Big Brothers Big Sisters – One-on-one Mentoring – $33,089
Boys and Girls Club – Emotional Wellness Program – $35,080
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Missoula – Community Volunteer Training – $10,000
EmpowerMT – Youth Leadership Pathways Program – $15,000
Friends of the Children – Youth Mentoring – $25,100
Missoula Public Health – Substance Abuse Prevention Program – $187,723
Mountain Home Montana – young mother community center – $14,624
The county said in its release the local government’s Grants and Community Resource Department facilitated the grant program and administers several other county-funded grants worth more than $2 million.
Griffen Smith is the local government reporter for the Missoulian.
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