RFPs: Renewable Resource Planning Grant Program 2024-25 (United States)

The purpose of the RRGL Planning Grant Program is to provide funding to governmental entities for professional and technical services necessary to produce a high quality RRGL grant application which leads to a project that conserves, manages, develops, or protects Montana’s renewable resources.

Funding Information

• House Bill 6 includes $3,500,000 for Planning Grants. Application funding is available as revenue is received.
• Grant Limits:
  • Infrastructure PER $40,000
  • Irrigation PER/ Technical Narrative $30,000
  • PER or Technical Narrative Update $20,000
  • Resource Services (Plans or Studies) $15,000
  • Watershed Restoration Plan $40,000
  • Watershed Restoration Project Plan $30,000

Eligible Expenses

• DNRC grants reimburse eligible project costs:
  • Contracted technical or engineering services.

Ineligible Expenses

• RRG Planning Grants will not reimburse:
  • Grant administration costs.
  • Program Costs, aka indirect costs:
    • “Program costs” means non-reimbursable costs not directly related to the project. Program costs include but are not limited to: office rent that will be incurred whether or not the project is implemented; salaries of existing fully funded staff positions unless the workhours associated with the project are accounted for; or any other costs that pay for ongoing or general services of the applicant. For example: rent, utilities, licenses, reoccurring/regular meetings/newsletters (unrelated to planning or specific capacity development), staff time (unrelated to planning or specific capacity development), ongoing cost deemed necessary to continue business (operations).
  • Political lobbying or litigation
  • Land or property acquisition
  • Food or beverages
  • Activities that limit lawful access to property

Eligible Projects

• “Either grants or loans may be provided to fund the following types of projects:
  • feasibility, design, research, and resource assessment studies; and
  • preparation of construction, rehabilitation, or production plans.
• Example Projects:
  • Water, Wastewater or Storm water Infrastructure Preliminary Engineering Reports (PER)
  • Irrigation Infrastructure
  • PER Updates

Ineligible Projects

• RRGL Planning Grants will not be awarded to applications that are eligible for grant funds within another grant program in DNRC, such as Reclamation Development Grants, Aquatic Invasive Species Grants, etc.
• If a project is determined to have adverse environmental impacts that cannot be mitigated and do not preserve the state’s renewable resources per 85-1-601, MCA, it is ineligible for a grant.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible applicants include any division of state government, tribal government, or other county, city, or local political subdivision MCA. These governmental entities have included:
  • cities,
  • towns,
  • counties,
  • water and/or sewer districts,
  • conservation districts,
  • irrigation districts,
  • school districts and universities,
  • regional water authority,
  • state agencies, and
  • tribal governments

For more information, visit DNRC.