infrastructure

Dozens of rural communities are reaching a critical point with infrastructure at risk of crumbling. Many small towns can’t afford upgrades to things like water lines and sewers on their own. Limited funds leave some towns searching for solutions.

Montana’s statewide infrastructure got a "C minus" on a report card issued this month by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Montana will get nearly $72 million in federal funding to help repair aging infrastructure; A section of a popular hiking trail in Glacier National Park remains closed after a bear bit a hiker last week.

The state will allocate nearly $629 million for high-speed internet projects. Gov. Greg Gianforte has approved about 60 projects that will provide internet to areas with no internet or slow speeds.

The federal government has awarded millions of dollars to nine Montana communities to improve local infrastructure, housing and educational opportunities.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has removed $23 million in infrastructure projects passed by the state Legislature, claiming the projects weren’t thoroughly vetted.

The Montana House of Representatives has endorsed a package of bills directing $1.4 billion in state spending for public works projects.

Republican Rep. Mike Hopkins, R-Missoula, is the sponsor of House Bill 8, the bill that would authorize state loans for local projects and use the coal-severance tax, or taxes collected on coal mined in Montana, to back those loans.

The Biden administration is urging Montana’s governor to encourage more residents to sign up for a federal program offering assistance for broadband service.

Later this year, Montana tribes will receive the first round of funding for water and sewer projects on tribal land from Congress’ bipartisan infrastructure bill. On Thursday, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Lake County announced that the two governments will work to jointly fund road and infrastructure projects.